Imam Ahmad: “Inclination is of two kinds: passing thoughts and persistent resolve.” Joseph—peace be upon him—experienced an inclination which he abandoned for Allah’s sake, and he was rewarded for doing so. Her inclination, however, was a persistent resolve: she did whatever she could to attain her desire, even though she did not achieve her aim.

Those who hold that a person is punished for an intention cited the Prophet’s words—may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“When two Muslims confront one another with their swords, both the killer and the one killed are in the Fire.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, we understand about the killer, but what of the one killed?” He replied, “He intended to kill his fellow.”

Another version reads:

“He was eager to kill his fellow.”

This man had a resolute intention and did whatever he could, even though he did not achieve his aim. His case is therefore like that of the minister’s wife. Whenever an intention is resolute, the person necessarily does whatever he can to achieve his aim. If he can attain it by a direct route, then, with a complete intention, he cannot seek to attain it by a distant route in the opposite direction.

For this reason, when Allah’s servants are in distress, supplicate to Him, and direct their intention fully toward Him, they can only turn directly toward Him. They therefore turn upward, rather than in any other direction, because that is the straight, near path; every other route entails distance, deviation, and length. With the complete intention characteristic of the supplicant, the worshipper, and the petitioner in desperate need, a person cannot turn toward Him except upward. He cannot turn toward Him in any other direction, just as he cannot lower a rope that would descend to Him. The two cases are thus alike, and Allah knows best.

As for revelation, the messengers—may Allah’s blessings be upon them—were sent to perfect and affirm the innate disposition, not to replace or alter it. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said in the hadith recorded by both al-Bukhārī and Muslim: