It is narrated that a Bedouin was on a trip when his camel dropped dead. He descended from the camel’s back and circled it saying: "Why don’t you get up? Why do you not come back to life? Your limbs are fine and your body is sound; what is the matter with you? What used to keep you going? What caused you to die? What made you stop moving?" Then he left the camel in amazement, wondering what happened to it.
Ibn Sammaak said, “While a fisherman was fishing, he threw his net in the sea, and it came back with a human skull. He looked at it and started crying and said, ‘If you were honorable; your honor did not delay your death! If you were wealthy; your wealth did not delay your death! If you were poor; your poverty did not delay your death! If you were generous; your generosity did not delay your death! If you were strong; your strength did not delay your death! If you were a scholar; your knowledge did not delay your death!’ He kept repeating these words and crying.”
The Prophet encouraged us to always remember and mention death saying: “Profusely mention the destroyer of pleasures (i.e., death).” [At-Tirmithi]
Imam Qurtubi said, “Our scholars said that this statement from the Prophet is short but includes a great reminder, because remembering death and mentioning it frequently is likely to destroy any pleasure one might feel and prevent him from wishing for any other enjoyment in the future, making him indifferent to the pleasures which he previously craved. However, since people’s hearts have become heedless, we now require longer admonitions with more decorated words; otherwise the words of the Prophet : 'Profusely mention the destroyer of pleasures’ and the Saying of Allah The Almighty (what means): {Every soul shall have a taste of death: and only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): for the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.} [Quran 3:185] is enough for those who listen and reflect.”
Ibn ‘Umar said, “I came to the Prophet along with nine other people, when a man from the Ansaar (residents of Madeenah) stood up and asked, ‘O Prophet of Allah! Who is the wisest person?’ He replied: 'The one who mentions and contemplates death the most, and the one who prepares for his death the most; these are the wise ones; they gain the glory of this life and the honor of the Hereafter.’” [At-Tabaraani, Al-Munthiri]
Ibn Mas’ood said, “The Prophet drew a square and in the center of it he drew a line, the end of which extended beyond the square. Further across the center line he drew a few smaller lines, then he said: ‘This illustrates man (i.e., his ambitions) and the encircling square is death which is encompassing him; the center line represents his desires and the smaller lines are the adversities he faces through life; if one of them misses him, another one distresses him and if that one misses him another one strikes him.’” [Al-Bukhari]
Yazeed ibn Ar-Riqaashi used to address himself saying, “Who will pray on your behalf after you die? Who will pray on your behalf after you die? Who will please your Lord on your behalf after your death? He used to tell people: ‘O people! Why do you not cry for the rest of your lives? How can one’s situation be when death is seeking him … the grave is his abode … the earth is his carpet … worms are his companions … besides the fact that he is waiting for the greatest horror to befall him (the Hereafter)’”, then he would cry.