Allah ﷻ says in His Book:

اَلْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا

“Wealth and children are the adornment of this worldly life, but the everlasting righteous deeds are far better with your Lord in reward and better in hope.”
— Surah al-Kahf (18:46)

Commentary

{الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا}

“Wealth and children are the adornment of this worldly life.”

This is similar to the verse:

{زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنْطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ}

“Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire—women, children, heaps of gold…”
— Surah Aal ’Imran (3:14)

Allah ﷻ also says:

{إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۚ وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ}

“Your wealth and your children are only a trial, whereas with Allah is a great reward (Paradise).”
— Surah at-Taghabun (64:15)

This verse indicates that turning towards Allah and worshipping Him is better for a person than becoming preoccupied with wealth and children—whether by accumulating wealth for them or becoming excessively attached to them.

{وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا}

“But the everlasting righteous deeds are better with your Lord in reward and better in hope.”

Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه), Sa’id ibn Jubayr, and others among the Salaf said that “the everlasting righteous deeds” refer to the five daily prayers.

‘Ata’ ibn Abi Rabah and Sa’id ibn Jubayr narrated from Ibn ’Abbas (رضي الله عنه) that “the everlasting righteous deeds” are:

• Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah)
• Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to Allah)
• La ilaha illallah (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah)
• Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest)

The Commander of the Faithful, ’Uthman ibn ’Affan (رضي الله عنه), was asked:

“Which are the everlasting righteous deeds?”

He replied:

• La ilaha illallah
• Subhan Allah
• Alhamdulillah
• Allahu Akbar
• La hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil-’Aliyyil-’Azim (There is no power and no strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.)

(Recorded by Imam Ahmad.)

Hadith Evidence

Imam Ahmad also recorded from a freed slave of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that he said:

“Excellent! Excellent are five things—how heavy they will be on the Scale: La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, and a righteous child who dies, whose parents patiently seek the reward of Allah.”

The Prophet ﷺ also said:

بَخٍ بَخٍ لِخَمْسٍ مَنْ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ مُسْتَيْقِنًا بِهِنَّ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ

“Excellent! Excellent are five things! Whoever meets Allah with certainty in them will enter Paradise.”

These are belief in:

• Allah
• The Last Day
• Paradise and Hell
• Resurrection after death
• The Reckoning

Further Explanations

Regarding {وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ} (the everlasting righteous deeds):

’Ali ibn Abi Talhah reported from Ibn ’Abbas (رضي الله عنه) that this refers to the remembrance of Allah, including saying:

• La ilaha illallah
• Allahu Akbar
• Subhan Allah
• Alhamdulillah
• Tabarak Allah
• La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
• Astaghfirullah
• Sallallahu ’ala Rasulillah

It also includes acts of worship such as fasting, prayer, Hajj, charity, freeing slaves, jihad, maintaining family ties, and every other righteous deed.

These are the righteous deeds that endure. Their reward remains in Paradise for those who perform them, for as long as the heavens and the earth endure.

Al-’Awfi reported from Ibn ’Abbas (رضي الله عنه):

“They are good words.”

’Abdur-Rahman ibn Zayd ibn Aslam said:

“They are all righteous deeds.”

This was also the opinion preferred by Ibn Jarir (رحمه الله).

Footnote

The everlasting righteous deeds include the five obligatory prayers, every act of obedience to Allah, kind and virtuous speech, and the remembrance of Allah through glorification, praise, gratitude, and supplication.

Reference

Tafsir Ibn Kathir — Commentary on Surah al-Kahf (18:46)

May Allah ﷻ aid us all.

Aameen!