Verily, Allah does not treat a believer unjustly in regard to his virtues. He would confer upon him (His blessing) in this world and would give him reward in the Hereafter. And as regards a non-believer, he would be made to taste the reward (of virtue in this world) what he has done for himself so much that when it would be the Hereafter, he would find no virtue for which he should be rewarded.
Exposition of the Hadith
This noble tradition from Sahih Muslim (2808a) elucidates the divine justice in rewarding believers and disbelievers for their virtuous deeds. The believer receives immediate blessings in this temporal world for their righteous actions, while simultaneously accumulating eternal rewards reserved for the Hereafter. This dual recompense manifests Allah's boundless generosity toward the faithful.
Divine Justice for Disbelievers
As for the disbeliever, any virtuous deeds performed are compensated exclusively in this worldly life. They may experience temporal blessings, health, or prosperity as immediate recompense for their good actions. However, in the eternal realm of the Hereafter, they shall find no remaining virtue for which to receive reward, having exhausted their compensation in the ephemeral world.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars explain that this demonstrates Allah's perfect justice. No good deed goes unrewarded, yet the ultimate distinction lies in the recipient's faith. The believer's deeds are magnified through sincerity and faith, while the disbeliever's deeds, lacking proper intention and faith, receive only limited worldly compensation. This underscores the paramount importance of correct belief as the foundation for eternal reward.