يَذْهَبُ الصَّالِحُونَ الْأَوَّلُ فَالْأَوَّلُ، وَتَبْقَى حُفَالَةٌ كَحُفَالَةِ الشَّعِيرِ أَوِ التَّمْرِ، لَا يُبَالِيهِمُ اللَّهُ بَالَةً
Translation: Righteous people will pass away one after another, leaving behind people compared to the worthless husks of barley or dates; Allah will pay them no regard.
Source: البخاري
يَذْهَبُ الصَّالِحُونَ says that righteous people pass away. الْأَوَّلُ فَالْأَوَّلُ conveys succession, one after another. حُفَالَةٌ compares what remains to inferior remnants separated in processing barley or dates.
The point is not to mock people’s appearance. The image emphasizes the loss of upright character and the resulting weakness of the community.