If a person intends to give charity but does not do so, what is required of him?

The questioner : The asking sister also says: Shaykh, a woman intended to give her colleague three hundred riyals as assistance from her. Afterwards, violations occurred, so this woman held back. Does she sin by doing so, or should she give it to her?

The Shaykh : I mean, she only made the intention.

The questioner : The intention, yes, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : If a person intends to give charity to a poor person or to give a gift to a rich person, and the money is in his hand and he has not delivered it to the other, he is free to do as he wishes: if he wishes, he may carry out what he intended, and if he wishes, he may leave it. This is a general rule: whatever a person intends but does not do, he is at liberty regarding it.