📌THE FOUR CASES as it relates to ABANDONING SIN

Sheikh ’Uthaymīn raḥimahullāh said (slightly Paraphrased): If a person has the desire to commit a sin - whether that be abandoning an obligation or perpetrating something forbidden - but he gives up this desire, does what he is obligated and abandons the sin, he will be rewarded for this abandonment; because he left it for the sake of Allāh, and it is established in the authentic ḥadīth that: “Whoever intends to do a bad deed and does not do it, it will be recorded as a complete good deed for him,” due to him leaving it off for the sake of Allāh. Here it is befitting to elaborate further on whether a person who abandons ḥarām is rewarded or not? So we say: The one who abandons ḥarām falls under one of FOUR cases: 1⃣. Either he abandons it due to being rendered incapable to commit the sin although he has taken the possible means to leading to it, in this case he will have the sin of a perpetrator recorded against him; based on the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: “If two Muslims meet with their swords, the killer and the killed will both be in Hell. They said: O Messenger of Allāh! That is the case of the killer, what about the one killed? He said: [he too will be in Hell] because he was keen to kill his Companion.” 2⃣. He abandons the sin out of fear and awe of Allāh Almighty. As a result, he will have a complete good deed recorded for him; because he left it for Allāh’s sake. 3⃣. He abandons the sin because it did not occur to him and he had no desire to engage in it in the first place, hence this is neither for him nor against him; meaning, he has no reward, just as there is no sin upon him. 4⃣. He abandons the sin due to his inability to do it but without taking the means leading to it. He merely intends and desires to commit the sin. This one bears the sin in accordance with his intention, but he is not like the one who took the means and was keen on doing it but was unable. Rather, this person is of a lesser degree, i.e. less sinful than the first case mentioned. Source: https://binothaimeen.net/content/8905