The ruling on one who intends to commit a sin but is unable to carry it out
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Question:
This questioner says, "Your Eminence, is a sin recorded against one who begins the steps to execute the sin, but circumstances prevent him from achieving the sin itself?"
Answer:
Yes, if he proceeds with it, and then is prevented from completing it, he is sinful for the steps he took. But if it is merely an intention, and then it is dispelled, he owes nothing. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 2888b It was said, "O Messenger of Allah, what about the one who was killed?" He said: Sahih al-Bukhari 6875.
So the person who acted, broke down the door, opened the door, but the theft did not succeed for him, and he was trapped in the house, is sinful for these actions, even if the theft did not occur, but he is sinful for his ugly actions. As for a person who intends to steal but does not act, intends to backbite but does not act, intends to hit so-and-so but does not act, he owes nothing. If he leaves it for the sake of Allah, Allah records a good deed for him for this leaving. And if he leaves it out of indifference or inability, and does not do anything, then nothing is required of him.
This questioner says, "Your Eminence, is a sin recorded against one who begins the steps to execute the sin, but circumstances prevent him from achieving the sin itself?"
Answer:
Yes, if he proceeds with it, and then is prevented from completing it, he is sinful for the steps he took. But if it is merely an intention, and then it is dispelled, he owes nothing. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
If one of you intends to do an evil deed and does not do it, it is not recorded against him
إذا هم أحدكم بسيئة فلم يعملها لم تكتب عليهWhen two Muslims confront each other with their swords, both the slayer and the slain are doomed to Hell-Fire.
إذا التقى المسلمان بسيفيهما فالقاتل والمقتول في النارThe killed one was eager to kill his opponent.
لأنه كان حريصًا على قتل صاحبهSo the person who acted, broke down the door, opened the door, but the theft did not succeed for him, and he was trapped in the house, is sinful for these actions, even if the theft did not occur, but he is sinful for his ugly actions. As for a person who intends to steal but does not act, intends to backbite but does not act, intends to hit so-and-so but does not act, he owes nothing. If he leaves it for the sake of Allah, Allah records a good deed for him for this leaving. And if he leaves it out of indifference or inability, and does not do anything, then nothing is required of him.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.