The ruling on thinking about forbidden matters without acting on them
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Q: What is the ruling on thinking about doing forbidden things, such as a person thinking about stealing, or thinking about committing unlawful sexual intercourse, while knowing from his own state that he will not do it if the means become available?
A: The bad thoughts that occur in a person’s mind, such as thinking about unlawful sexual intercourse, stealing, drinking intoxicants, or the like, if he does not act on any of them, he is excused and no sin attaches to him because of them. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 8:133 It is agreed upon as authentic. And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): In another wording: It is agreed upon from the hadith of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both).
The meaning is that if a person leaves the evil he intended for the sake of Allah, Allah records it for him as a good deed. If he leaves it for other reasons, no evil is recorded against him and no good is recorded for him. This is a favor from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and a mercy for His servants. So to Him belongs all praise and gratitude; there is no deity but Him and no Lord besides Him.
A: The bad thoughts that occur in a person’s mind, such as thinking about unlawful sexual intercourse, stealing, drinking intoxicants, or the like, if he does not act on any of them, he is excused and no sin attaches to him because of them. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Allah, the Most High, has forgiven my followers what they contemplate on within themselves (i.e. evil thoughts) as long as they do not act upon or speak about them.
إن الله تجاوز عن أمتي ما حدثت به أنفسها ما لم تعمل أو تتكلمIf one intends an evil deed and does not do it, it is not recorded against him
من هم بسيئة فلم يفعلها لم تكتب عليهA good deed is recorded for him because he left it for My sake
كتبت له حسنة لأنه تركها من جرائيThe meaning is that if a person leaves the evil he intended for the sake of Allah, Allah records it for him as a good deed. If he leaves it for other reasons, no evil is recorded against him and no good is recorded for him. This is a favor from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and a mercy for His servants. So to Him belongs all praise and gratitude; there is no deity but Him and no Lord besides Him.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.