for he did not ever say: My Lord, forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment · Explained ḥadīths

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رضي الله عنها قَالَتْ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، ابْنُ جُدْعَانَ كَانَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ، وَيُطْعِمُ الْمِسْكِينَ، فَهَلْ ذَاكَ نَافِعُهُ؟ قَالَ: «لَا يَنْفَعُهُ، إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَقُلْ يَوْمًا: رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي خَطِيئَتِي يَوْمَ الدِّينِ».

‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: I said: "O Messenger of Allah, Ibn Jud‘ān used to uphold kinship ties and feed the poor during the Jāhiliyyah (pre-Islamic era of ignorance). Will this benefit him?" He said: "It will not benefit him, for he did not ever say: My Lord, forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment."

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Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reported about ‘Abdullah ibn Jud‘ān, one of the chiefs of Quraysh before Islam. His good deeds include that he used to uphold kinship ties, feed the poor, and do other noble acts commended by Islam. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that these deeds will not benefit him in the Hereafter because of his disbelief in Allah and the fact that he did not ever say: My Lord, forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment.

Benefits

The Hadīth points out the merit of belief and that it is a requirement for accepting people's good deeds.
It shows the evil impact of disbelief and that it renders virtuous deeds worthless.
The good deeds of the disbelievers will not avail them in the Hereafter due to their lack of belief in Allah and the Last Day.
The honorable deeds of a disbeliever will be recorded for him if he embraces Islam, and he will be rewarded for them.

Reference

صحيح مسلم (1/ 196) (214)، شرح النووي على مسلم (3/87)، المفهم لما أشكل من تلخيص كتاب مسلم (1/ 459)، إرشاد الساري لشرح صحيح البخاري (4/ 170)، التنوير شرح الجامع الصغير (2/364)، فتح المنعم (2/54)، البحر المحيط الثجاج في شرح صحيح الإمام مسلم بن الحجاج (3/ 455).

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com