The Prophet ﷺ said, "The righteous (pious people will depart (die) in succession one after the other, and there will remain (on the earth) useless people like the useless husk of barley seeds or bad dates.  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَذْهَبُ الصَّالِحُونَ الأَوَّلُ فَالأَوَّلُ وَيَبْقَى حُفَالَةٌ كَحُفَالَةِ الشَّعِيرِ أَوِ التَّمْرِ لاَ يُبَالِيهِمُ اللَّهُ بَالَةً قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يُقَالُ حُفَالَةٌ وَحُثَالَةٌ