Meaning of the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) concerning those who will be brought forth from Hell, “[They] never did anything good”
Question

                The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, will say: ‘The angels have interceded and the Prophets have interceded and the believers have interceded, and there is no one left but the Most Merciful of those who show mercy. And He will seize a handful from the Fire and will bring forth from it people who never did anything good.” Narrated by Muslim. What is the meaning of the words “[they] never did anything good”?.
Praise be to Allah.
      What is meant by the words “[they] never did anything good” 
      is that they did not do any righteous deeds apart from believing and 
      affirming in their hearts. These people either died before they were able 
      to act, so they believed and then died before they were able to do 
      anything, so in that case it is true to say that they never did anything 
      good; 

    Or this hadeeth is to be understood in the light of other 
    hadeeths which indicate that forsaking some righteous deeds constitutes 
    kufr, such as prayer, so the one who does not pray is a kaafir even if he 
    claims to believe in Allah and His Messenger. The kaafir will not be 
    benefited by the intercession of any of those who intercede on the Day of 
    Resurrection; he will abide in Hell for ever and ever -- Allah forbid. 

    The point is that this hadeeth either applies to people who 
    believe but were not able to do any righteous deeds as they died straight 
    after they believed, so they never did anything good; 

    Or it is general in meaning but an exception is made with 
    regard to matters which the shar‘i texts state are essential, such as prayer 
    -- so the one who does not pray is a kaafir who will not benefit from 
    intercession and will not be brought out from Hell. End quote. 

    Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him)