and was sincere in it, and Allah knew that his resolve was firm, such that only a lack of ability prevented him from acting. This is why the two were equal in reward or punishment.
This does not apply to everyone who says:
“If I had what so-and-so has, I would do as he does.”
It applies only if his resolve is firm and would necessarily lead to action if he had the ability. Otherwise, many people say this with a resolve that would dissolve if they actually gained the ability, just as people commonly make pledges and then break them. Not everyone who firmly resolves to do something before being able to do it, and in the absence of anything dissuading him, retains that resolve when he gains the ability but encounters things that dissuade him. As Allah Most High says:
“You certainly wished for death before you encountered it. Now you have seen it with your own eyes.”
And as Allah Most High says:
“O you who believe, why do you say what you do not do?”
And as He says:
“Among them are those who pledged to Allah, ‘If He gives us of His bounty, we will surely give charity and be among the righteous.’”
“But when He gave them of His bounty, they withheld it and turned away in aversion.”
The hadith of Abū Kabshah concerning intentions is like the hadith of the card concerning words. This is the hadith narrated by al-Tirmidhī and others from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr, from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace):
“For a man from the nation of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), Allah will spread out ninety-nine records on the Day of Resurrection, each extending as far as the eye can see. He will be asked, ‘Do you deny any of this? Have I wronged you?’ He will say: