م

In discussing the major sins (al-Kabaa’ir) and their count, Abu Talib al-Makki, may Allah have mercy on him, stated:

“I gathered them together from the statements of the Sahaba, and I found that they are 4 within the heart, which are:

•Shirk with Allah

•Persistence upon sin

•Despair from the mercy of Allah

•Feeling secure from the plan of Allah (1-4)

And 4 from the tongue, which are:

□False testimony (Shahadah az-Zur)

□Accusing chaste women of lewdness/fornication

□Deliberately swearing to lie (al-Yameen al-Ghamoos)¹

□Sorcery (5-8)

3 are of the stomach, and they are:

●Consuming intoxicants

●Consuming the wealth of the orphan

●Dealing in usury (9-11)

And 2 are concerning the private parts:

■Fornication

■Homosexuality (12-13)

2 are concerning the hands, and they are:

◇Murder

◇Stealing (14-15)

1 is of the feet, which is:

▪︎Fleeing from the battlefield (16)

And 1 is connected to the entire body, and that is:

¤Disobedience to the parents.” (17) 

[الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا]

Wealth and children are just the adornment of this worldly life, but the enduring good deeds are better in the sight of your Lord in terms of reward and better to put one's hopes in. [46]

In one of his lessons, ibn 'Uthaymeen said:

[الذي يبقى للإنسان هو العمل الصالح ، وأما المال والبنون،  فإن استعان بذلك على طاعة الله صارت من الباقيات،  وإلا فهي من الفانيات تفنى بفناء الدنيا.

The thing that lasts and endures for people is their good deeds. As for wealth and children, if a person uses those to help him obey Allah, they becoming enduring and lasting things. If not, then they are merely fleeting temporary things that pass away with the passing of this worldly life.