A man had three friends, some of whom were closer to him than others. He was struck by a calamity and met the closest of the three to him and said, “Such and such calamity has befallen me, and I would appreciate your help.” His friend refused, so the man went to his second closest friend and said, “Such and such calamity has befallen me, and I would appreciate your help.” His friend said, “I will accompany you to where you want to go, but leave you there and come back.” So he went to his third friend and said, “I have suffered such and such calamity, would you help me?” His friend said, “I will go wherever you go and be wherever you may be.”
The first friend was his wealth, which remained with his family and none of it followed him [to the grave]. The second was his family and tribe, they accompanied him to his grave and then went back, leaving him there. The third was his actions, and one’s actions are always with him wherever he goes and exist wherever he may be.
(Ubaid ibn Umair)