to pray with firm resolve and is able to do so, he prays. If he does not pray despite being able to, this indicates weakness in his resolve. This dispels the confusion concerning “this matter.”
People have disputed at length whether an intention unaccompanied by action incurs punishment. Those who say that it does not cite the Prophet’s saying, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, recorded in the two Sahīh collections:
“Allah has pardoned my community for what crosses their minds, so long as they neither speak of it nor act upon it.”
They also cite the hadith recorded in the two Sahīh collections from Abū Hurayrah and Ibn ‘Abbās, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“If a servant contemplates committing an evil deed, it is not recorded against him. If he commits it, it is recorded against him as a single evil deed. If he contemplates doing a good deed, a complete good deed is recorded for him. If he performs it, ten good deeds are recorded for him, up to seven hundred times as much.”
Another version states:
“If he refrains from it, record it for him as a good deed, for he refrained from it only for My sake.”
Those who say that it does incur punishment cite the Prophet’s saying, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, recorded in the Sahīh:
“When two Muslims confront one another with their swords, both the killer and the one killed are in the Fire.” He was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, we understand the case of the killer, but what of the one killed?” He replied, “He intended to kill his opponent.”
They also cite the hadith narrated and graded authentic by al-Tirmidhī, from Abū Kabshah al-Anmārī, reporting from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, concerning two men: one has been given knowledge and wealth and spends it in obedience to Allah; the other has been given knowledge but no wealth, and says, “If I had wealth like so-and-so, I would use it as he does.” The Prophet said, “They are equal in reward.” Another man has been given wealth by Allah but no knowledge, and spends it in disobedience to Allah; and another has been given neither knowledge nor wealth by Allah, and says, “If I had wealth like so-and-so, I would use it as he does.” The Prophet said, “They are equal in sin.”