(4) باب فِي الأَمَلِ وَطُولِهِ
Narrated `Abdullah:
The Prophet (ﷺ) drew a square and then drew a line in the middle of it and let it extend outside the square and then drew several small lines attached to that central line, and said, "This is the human being, and this, (the square) in his lease of life, encircles him from all sides (or has encircled him), and this (line), which is outside (the square), is his hope, and these small lines are the calamities and troubles (which may befall him), and if one misses him, an-other will snap (i.e. overtake) him, and if the other misses him, a third will snap (i.e. overtake) him."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6417
In-book reference: Book 81, Hadith 6
USC-MSA web (English) reference(deprecated numbering scheme): Vol. 8, Book 76, Hadith 426