"Three follow the deceased, two of them return, and one remains. He is followed by his family, his wealth, and his deeds. So his family and his wealth returns, and his deeds remain."
Hadith Commentary: The Three Companions
This profound narration from Jami' at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 2379) in the "Chapters On Zuhd" section presents a powerful allegory about the transient nature of worldly attachments and the permanence of one's deeds.
The Three Followers Explained
Family represents all relatives, friends, and associates who accompany the funeral procession but return to their worldly affairs after burial.
Wealth signifies all material possessions, property, and monetary assets accumulated during life, which remain behind for heirs to inherit.
Deeds encompass all actions - both righteous and sinful - committed during one's lifetime, which accompany the soul into the afterlife.
Spiritual Implications
This teaching emphasizes the Islamic principle of zuhd (asceticism/detachment) by illustrating how worldly attachments are temporary while spiritual consequences are eternal.
The hadith serves as a reminder to prioritize actions that yield eternal benefit over temporary worldly gains, as only one's deeds provide lasting companionship in the grave and hereafter.
Practical Application
Scholars advise investing in righteous deeds that continue to benefit after death (sadaqah jariyah, beneficial knowledge, righteous children).
This understanding should motivate believers to maintain proper priorities, recognizing that family and wealth are merely temporary trusts, while deeds form the eternal record presented before Allah.