Expectation and Death

Prophet (SAWA) took three sticks and set one of them in front of him, another one next to it, and the third far away from the two. He then asked, ‘Do you know what this is? to which they replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know better. He said, ‘This one is man, and this is death [next to it], while that one is expectation, which man entertains [about his long life], but death falls upon him prior to his expectation.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘If man were to see his death [approaching] and the speed at which it draws near to him, he would despise expectation.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Expectation makes one forget death.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The closest thing is death, and the remotest thing is expectation.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘A soul does not depart from his expectation until it enters the realm of death.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Indeed you are in the days of expectation that is followed by death. So he who works in the days of his expectation before death arrives will benefit from his work and will not be hurt by death.