عَنْ أُمِّ الدَّرْدَاءِ قَالَتْ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ: أَلَا تَبْتَغِي لِأَضْيَافَكَ مَا يَبْتَغِي الرِّجَالُ لِأَضْيَافِهِمْ؟ فَقَالَ: إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: " إِنَّ أَمَامَكُمْ عَقَبَةً كَئُودًا , لَا يُجَاوِزُهَا الْمُثْقِلُونَ , فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ أَتَخَفَّفَ لِتِلْكَ الْعَقَبَةِ "

Umme Darda (R.A) says, I asked Abu Darda R.A., “What is wrong with you? You are not seeking wealth and position from Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam as certain people have done.” He replied, “I heard Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam saying, “There is a difficult mountain pass before you, and those carrying a heavy load will not be able to pass it.” He said, “I desire to remain light (in weight) to climb this mountain pass and not have the heavy burden of wealth and position.”

The difficult mountain pass refers to death and the grave and the fearful things of the plains of resurrection which every human being has to pass.