—take the example of a man who resolves to steal, but then remembers Allah and, overcome by fear of Him, abandons the theft. For that, a complete good deed is entered in his record, because he refrained from disobedience for Allah’s sake, and so he is rewarded. This is explained in another wording of the hadith: “He only left it for My sake.” Likewise, a person may be about to commit a forbidden act—backbiting, for instance—but then recalls that it is unlawful and desists for Allah’s sake; he, too, is granted a full good deed.

If, however, he goes on to commit the sin, only a single evil deed is written against him—no more—because the Exalted One says: “Whoever comes with a good deed shall have ten times the like thereof, and whoever comes with an evil deed will be repaid only with its like, and they will not be wronged” (al-Anʿām 6:160).

This hadith, therefore, proves the weight of intention and that a sound intention can lead its possessor to great good.

We have already noted that if a person intends an evil deed, undertakes the steps that lead to it, yet is ultimately unable to carry it out, he still incurs the sin of the doer. This is exemplified in the case of two Muslims who confront each other with swords: “When two Muslims meet with their swords, both the killer and the one killed are in the Fire.” They asked, “Messenger of Allah, we understand about the killer, but what of the one who is killed?” He replied, “He was keen to kill his companion.” And Allah alone grants success.