This ḥadith and others like it prove that a believer’s righteous work is not accepted if he does not intend thereby the Face of Allah. Concerning this Allah the Exalted says: “So whoever hopes to meet his Lord, let him do righteous work and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord” ⦗18:110⦘. If this is the condition of the believer, then what of the disbeliever who does not seek Allah’s pleasure in his deeds? The answer lies in His words, Most High: “We shall turn to whatever deeds they did and render them as scattered dust” ⦗25:23⦘.

Even supposing that some disbelievers perform good deeds sincerely for Allah while remaining in unbelief, Allah does not let that go unrewarded; rather, He recompenses them for it in this world. This is stated explicitly and authentically by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:

“Allah does not wrong a believer regarding his good deed: He grants him provision for it in this world (in another wording: He is rewarded with sustenance for it in this world) and He will recompense him for it in the Hereafter. As for the disbeliever, he is fed in this world by the good deeds he performed for Allah; when he arrives at the Hereafter he will have no good deed left for which he may be rewarded.”

53 – “Allah does not wrong a believer regarding his good deed: He grants him provision for it in this world (in another wording: He is rewarded with sustenance for it in this world) and He will recompense him for it in the Hereafter. As for the disbeliever, he is fed in this world by the good deeds he performed for Allah; when he arrives at the Hereafter he will have no good deed left for which he may be rewarded.”

Narrated by Muslim (8/135) and Aḥmad (3/125); al-Tamām recorded the first half in al-Fawāʾid (879).

This, then, is the governing principle in the matter: the disbeliever is recompensed in this worldly life for any righteous act he performs, but his good deeds will not benefit him in the Hereafter, neither lessening his punishment nor saving him from it.