Will good deeds avail a person anything if he dies as a kaafir?

 

When a non-muslim, leads the life in this
world not committing any major sins, doing all good deeds as he can, and lives as a very
good human-being and dies as a non-muslim, will he be going to heaven because of good
deeds or will be led into hell since he was not a muslim and (knowingly or unknowingly)not
accepted the oneness of Allah?
Please clarify.

Praise be to Allaah.

If a person dies following a religion other than Islam, then
Paradise will be forbidden for him, because Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with
Allâh, then Allâh has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode”
[al-Maa’idah 5:72]

Good deeds done by a person whilst he is a kaafir will not
benefit him in the Hereafter at all, because Allaah says (interpretation of
the meanings):

“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will
never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:85]

“And We shall turn to whatever deeds they (disbelievers,
polytheists, sinners) did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating
particles of dust” [al-Furqaan 25:23]

“Those who deny Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses,
lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and the Meeting in the Hereafter (Day of
Resurrection,), vain are their deeds. Are they requited with anything except
what they used to do?” [al-A’raaf 7:147]

‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with
her) asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) a question similar to that asked here. She (may Allaah be
pleased with her) said: “O Messenger of Allaah, during the Jaahiliyyah
Ibn Jud’aan used to uphold the ties of kinship and feed the poor. Will
that be of any avail to him?” He said, “No, that will not be of any
avail to him, because he never said ‘O Lord, forgive me my sins on the
Day of Judgement.’” (Narrated by Imaam Muslim – may Allaah
have mercy on him) in his Saheeh, 214).

But if the kaafir never heard about Islam and Da’wah never
reached him, then Allaah will test him on the Day of Resurrection (please see
Question #1244). And Allaah knows best.