Sin for being determined to carry out a sinful action

Q: Is the following correct:

If you think about committing a sin (like to watch a movie), but do not act upon it due to a barrier (e.g. WiFi goes off or you fell asleep) - you GET the sin because if it hadn’t been for that barrier you would have done it. But if you think about it, and do not act upon it due to your conscious or you feel bad to commit the act then you do NOT get the sin. 

A: If one was absolutely determined to commit a sin, then one will be sinful for his determination to commit the sin (though he will not be sinful for committing the actual sin as he did not do it). On the contrary, if only the thoughts of committing a sin remained in the mind, but one was not absolutely determined to commit it (and one did not commit the sin thereafter), then one will not be sinful.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

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