Wealth and Children Are the Adornment of Worldly Life — The Adornment Versus the Enduring Good Deeds

Verse: "Wealth and children are the adornment of worldly life, but the enduring good deeds are better in reward with your Lord and better in hope." (18:46) — "Adornment" — wealth and children are not condemned — they are adornment. Adornment is something beautiful but not the essence. A beautiful garment is not the body. Adornment is added and removed. "The enduring good deeds" — the majority say: Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar. And it is said: every righteous deed whose effect endures. The enduring does not fade with death. "Better in reward with your Lord" — the superiority is in reward: the comparison is not in this world (wealth may surpass there) but in what is with Allah. "And better in hope" — what you hope for from the enduring is greater than what you hope from wealth. Lesson: enjoy the adornment but do not build upon it. Adornment is for the eye; enduring deeds are for the soul.