Hadiths
The Messenger of God - may God’s prayers and peace be upon him - said: (Whoever treads a path in search of knowledge, God will make easy for him a path to Paradise).
The Messenger of God - may God’s prayers and peace be upon him - said: (Whoever God wants good for, He makes him understand the religion)
The Messenger of God - may God’s prayers and peace be upon him - said: (Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim).
The Messenger of God - may God’s prayers and peace be upon him - said: (If a person dies, his work is cut off except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who
Faith Belief in the Day of Judgment 1431 2026-11-01

Will a Disbeliever Be Held Accountable for His Deeds on the Day of Resurrection?

Question
A believer will be held accountable for his deeds on the Day of Resurrection. How, then, will a disbeliever also be held accountable, even though he does not adhere to the religious obligations that the believer observes?
Answer

 

Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.

This question is based on an incorrect understanding. A disbeliever is addressed by the rulings of Islamic law, even if he does not abide by them in this world, and therefore he will be held accountable for them on the Day of Resurrection.

Allah تعالى says, describing the people of Hell:

“What has landed you in Saqar? They will say, ‘We were not among those who prayed, nor did we feed the needy, and we used to indulge in vain discourse with those who did so, and we used to deny the Day of Judgment.’” [Al-Muddaththir: 42–46]

This indicates that they were punished for abandoning prayer and failing to feed those in need, in addition to their denial of the Day of Judgment.

A disbeliever is also held accountable for the blessings Allah bestowed upon him and for which he did not show gratitude. Allah تعالى says:

“There is no blame upon those who believe and do righteous deeds concerning what they consumed.” [Al-Ma'idah: 93]

And He سبحانه says:

“Say: ‘They are for those who believe during the worldly life, exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection.’” [Al-A'raf: 32]

Therefore, the disbeliever will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection for his disbelief, his deeds, and the obligations he neglected, but his reckoning differs from that of the believer.

A believer may undergo an easy reckoning, in which his sins are brought before him, then Allah conceals them and forgives him. As for the disbeliever, he will be exposed for his sins before all creation and humiliated because of them, as Allah تعالى says:

“And the witnesses will say, ‘These are the ones who lied about their Lord. Surely, the curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers.’” [Hud: 18]

And Allah knows best.