If a Muslim intends to commit a sin but then abandons it because he is unable to carry it out, does he sin for this?

The questioner : If a Muslim intends to commit a sin, then resolves to commit it, but does not do so—not out of fear of Allah, but because the opportunity for this sin did not present itself—does he sin for this resolution? Because in the hadith:

The Shaykh : If he attempted to do it but it did not come to pass for him, then it is like the sin of the one who did it; so upon him is the sin of the one who did it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): He was eager to kill his companion.

The presenter : May Allah reward you.

The Shaykh : He had resolved to do it but did not carry out the cause, however he is waiting for the opportunity; so upon him is only the sin of the intention, yes.

The presenter : The name of the intention.

The Shaykh : So the one who wished to have like the wealth of so-and-so, which he was earning in a way not pleasing to Allah, the Prophet said:

The presenter : Meaning, like the one who committed the sin.

The Shaykh : Not by the intention alone.

The presenter : Meaning, it is the name of the intention, not the name of the sin.

The Shaykh : And it is not the sin of the sin unless he had striven in its causes and was unable to do so.