Is a person who intends to do a good deed regarded to have done it?

If a person intends to do a certain good deed but cannot do it for some reason, will he get the reward of that intention? The Details of the Question 1) Some people have different jobs or sometimes they cannot have enough time for a certain prayer that comes once a year. (Example: Fasting on the day of Arafa, performing tahajjud prayer) Sometimes we cannot fast due to travelling or other reasons. In that case, can a man/woman get the full reward of his/her effort because of his/her intention?
2) Once, I made an intention for a highly encouraged prayer and could not perform it for some reason. Will I get the reward of working hard for my intention? I really had a great intention. Somehow, I feel guilty for it.
3) What will happen to those who want to do so in order to get rid of sins and get closer to Allah? Can you show us a way based on the Quran and hadiths about those people who intend to do something but could not do it for some valid reasons?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Yes, if a person intends to do a certain good deed and cannot do it for some reason, he will get the reward of that intention.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) explains this issue in a hadith. “Allah ordered the good deeds and bad deeds to be recorded.” Then, he adds the following:

“If somebody intends to do a good deed and cannot do it, Allah will record for him a full good deed (in his account with Him). And if he intends to do a good deed and actually does it, Allah will record for him its reward from ten to seven hundred times to many more times; and if somebody intends to do a bad deed and he does not do it, Allah will record a full good deed for Him, and if he intends to do that bad deed and actually does it, Allah will record one bad deed for him.” (Bukhari, Riqaq, 31)

That is to say, intending to do something good is also rewarding; even if a person cannot do it, he will get the reward of this good intention.

Accordingly, if a Muslim who intends to fast on the day of Arafa, perform tahajjud prayer, and do other good deeds is unable to fulfill them due to a legitimate excuse, we can hope that this intention will be rewarded by the infinite mercy of our Lord and that He will reward that person as if he had done them.

As a matter of fact, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) mentions this issue as follows in a hadith:

“If a person goes to bed with the intention of getting up at night and performing a nafilah prayer and falls asleep until the time of the morning prayer, the reward of the prayer he intends will be recorded for him and his sleep will be a donation given to him by his Lord.” (Ibn Majah, Iqamah, 177)

Those hadiths encourage doing good deeds. Thus, it always helps us to use our intentions for good things and to act according to our intentions.

However, it does not absolve the person who does not fulfill fard and wajib deeds of worship of responsibility. For example, if a person wants to perform a fard or wajib deed of worship but does not fulfill it, the responsibility of that worship is not lifted; he has to perform it on time; if he cannot perform it on time, he has to perform it later as qada.

Similarly, it is necessary to abandon a haram or makruh tahrimi deed. If a person wants to abandon a sin, but still commits that sin, it does not cease to be a sin; he becomes a sinner. He has to regret and repent so as not to commit that sin again, and if it is a sin that concerns the rights of a person, he has to ask forgiveness from that person.

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