However, if performing the deed was not part of his regular practice, he is granted only the reward of the intention, not the reward of the deed itself.

The evidence for this lies in what happened when the poor among the Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—said, “O Messenger of Allah, the people of great wealth have outstripped us in the highest ranks and everlasting bliss,” meaning that the rich had surpassed them through charity and the emancipation of slaves. The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Shall I not tell you of something which, if you do it, you will catch up with those who have preceded you, and no one will surpass you except one who does the same as you?” He said, “Declare subḥān Allāh (Glory be to Allah), Allāhu akbar (Allah is the Greatest), and al-ḥamdu lillāh (Praise be to Allah) thirty-three times after every prayer.” They did so. When the wealthy heard of it, they did the same. The poor then returned to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, “O Messenger of Allah, our wealthy brothers have heard what we did and they have done the same.” He replied, “That is the favor of Allah; He grants it to whom He wills,” and Allah is the Possessor of great bounty. He did not tell them, “You have attained the reward of their action,” though there is no doubt that they did receive the reward of their intention.

For this reason the Prophet ﷺ mentioned the case of a man whom Allah has given wealth and who spends it in paths of goodness, while another man who is poor says, “If I had the wealth of so-and-so, I would do what he does.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “They are equal in reward, because of his intention.”