Thinking About Doing unlawful Without Actually Doing it
Question :
What is the ruling regarding someone who thinks about doing evil deeds? For example, someone thinks about stealing or fornicating, even though he knows that if he had the opportunity to do these two deeds, he would not.
Answer:
When a person thinks about doing evil deeds - such as stealing, drinking alcohol, or fornicating - but then he does not do them, there e is no sin upon him, for the Messenger of Allâh ﷺ said:
"Indeed Allâh has pardoned the people of my nation for what their souls incite them to do, as long as they don't do or speak."
He ﷺ also said:
"Whoever intends to do an evil deed but then refrains from doing it, it will not be written against him."
And in another narration:
"A good deed is written for him because he abstained from it for My sake."
The meaning is that when a person avoids doing an evil he intended, avoiding for the sake of Allah, then Allah records a good deed for him. If he avoided it for other reasons, then neither a good nor an evil are recorded for him. This is Allah's favor and mercy for His servants; we praise and thank Him, and none has the right to be worshipped, and there is no Lord, except Him.
Source:
Ibn Baz
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 8 Pages 379-380
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