Intending to Perform a Good or an Evil Deed

“Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, set for Adam in his offspring the following rules about their deeds: whoever intends to perform a good deed but does not do it, still (the reward for) one good deed will be written for him. Whoever intends to perform a good deed and actually performs it, (the reward for) ten good deeds will be written down for him. Whoever intends to commit an evil deed but does not do it, nothing will be written against him. Whoever intends to commit an evil deed and actually performs it, only one evil deed will be written against him.’”

“A believer may intend to perform a good deed but does not do it, still (the reward for) one good deed will be written for him and if he actually completes it, (the reward for) ten good deeds will be written in his favor. A believer may intend to commit an evil deed but if he does not do it, nothing will be written against him.”

“Once I asked him (a.s.) if the two angels know the sin or good deed that a servant (of Allah) may intend to perform. The Imam said, ‘Are the smell of a trash collection site and a sweet smelling substance the same?’ I said, ‘No, they are not the same.’ The Imam said, ‘Whenever a servant (of Allah) intends to perform a good deed his breath comes out with a good smell and the angel on the right side says to the one on the left side, ‘Stand up; he intends to perform a good deed.’ When he performs it his tongue serves as his pen and his saliva as ink and he writes it down for him. Whenever he intends to commit an evil deed his breath comes out with a foul smell. The angel on the left says to the one on the right, ‘Stop; he intends to commit an evil deed.’ For an evil act his tongue serves as the pen and his saliva as ink and he writes it down against him.’”

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If four things are found in a person Allah will not allow his destruction to take place unless he is one of those doomed to destruction: (1) a servant (of Allah) intends to perform a good deed and actually does it, (2) even if he does not do it Allah still writes for him one good deed because of his good intention, but if he actually does perform it Allah will write ten good deeds for him. (3) One may intend to commit an evil deed and if he does not do it nothing will be written against him, however, (4) if he does commit such act he will be given seven hours. The angel for the good deeds will say to the one for the evil deeds who is on the left side, ‘Do not hurry, perhaps he may perform a good deed that will cancel the evil deed as Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, ‘The good deeds remove the bad deeds,’ (11:115) if he may say, ‘I ask forgiveness from Allah, besides whom no one deserves to be worshipped. He knows the unseen and the manifest, He is the most majestic, the most wise, the forgiving, the merciful, glorious and honorable and 1 turn in repentance to Him,’ nothing will be written against him. If seven hours pass, and he performs no good deed or repentance the angel for the good deeds will say to the one for the evil deeds, ‘Write it down against the wicked and deprived one that he is.’”