Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 37920 — The words of al-Hasan al-Basri

It is narrated from al-Hasan that he said: May Allah Almighty have mercy on the servant who stands firm at his intention and resolve. For every servant who acts first forms an intention; then if that intention is good, the servant carries it out, and if it is evil, the servant holds back from it.