Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 37733 — The words of Ubayd bin Umayr

It is narrated from Ubayd bin Umayr that he said: A man had three friends, some of whom were closer to him than others. He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Then a calamity befell this man. So he met the closest of his friends and said: O so-and-so, such and such a calamity has befallen me, and I would like your help. That friend said: I am not one to do this. So the man went to the next closest friend and said: O so-and-so, such and such a calamity has befallen me, and I would like your help. That friend said: I will walk with you to where you wish to go. Then when you arrive, I will come back and leave you. Then the man went to the lowliest friend and said: O so-and-so, the matter is this: such and such a calamity has befallen me, and I would like your help. That friend said: I will go with you wherever you go, and wherever you enter I will enter. Ubayd said: The first friend is his wealth, which he left among his family; nothing of that wealth follows him. The second friend is his family and clan, who go with him as far as his grave and then leave him and come back. The third friend is his deeds, which are with him wherever he goes and which enter with him wherever he enters.