Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: "Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear," and this is a rule regarding obligatory acts, with mention of examples
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The Shaykh :[Al-Baqarah 2:286] This is a blessing, a great blessing, similar to the saying of Allah the Exalted: [At-Taghabun 64:16] Anything that you cannot do and are unable to perform is dropped from you, and you are not obligated to do it.
This is a rule, my brothers, a rule regarding obligatory acts. Pay attention tonight, if Allah wills, to rules, for rules are better than branches.[Al-Baqarah 2:286] This is a rule regarding obligatory acts: anything from the obligatory acts that you cannot do is dropped from you. Why? Because Allah said: [Al-Baqarah 2:286] Then, if there is a substitute for this obligatory act, you perform the substitute. And if there is no substitute, it is dropped from you entirely. Correct? Let us give an example. If a man pronounces zihar against his wife and says to her, and may Allah protect us from this: "Your back is to me like the back of my mother." This is an abomination and a lie, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Mujadila 58:2] What is upon me? First, he must free a slave. This obligatory act: he did not find a slave, either because he has no money or because there are no slaves available. If he does not find one, the freeing of the slave is dropped. Then comes the turn of: [An-Nisa 4:92] He must fast for two consecutive months, not breaking the fast in between except for a legal excuse or a natural excuse. Now, what if the man is weak and cannot fast for two consecutive months, neither in winter nor in summer? Is the fasting dropped or not? Answer? It is dropped. To a third thing: [Al-Mujadila 58:4] He did not find [a slave], he is poor and cannot find [the means] to feed sixty poor people. What happens? What is ten? This is from you? Glory be to Allah. It is dropped. That is the end. And the evidence for this is the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:286] I cannot do it, it is dropped from you.
And the story of the man who had intercourse with his wife during the day of Ramadan while fasting. Listen to it, for there is also a benefit in it. A man came to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: What did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) do? Did he rebuke him? He did not rebuke him, nor did he scold him. He ordered him to do what would clear his conscience. Glory be to Allah, the man had greed. "Poorer than me?" So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) laughed. May Allah send prayers and peace upon him. This is how he called people to the religion of Allah with cheerfulness, smiling, laughter, facilitation, and good news. It was not with violence, anger, or irritation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) laughed until his molars were visible, then he said: So the man who had left his wife while afraid returned as a winner, with dates for his family. And did he say: "And if you are able to do so, then feed [the poor]"? No. Even the feeding was dropped from him because he could not do it. And Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: [Al-Baqarah 2:286].
Another example: A man killed a soul by mistake. We told him: "Free a slave." He said: "I do not have one." We said: "Fast for two consecutive months." He said: "I cannot do it." What do we say? My brothers, there is a rule in the Qur'an.
This man killed a soul by mistake. We told him: "Free a slave." He said: "I do not have one." We said: "Fast for two consecutive months." He said: "I cannot do it." What do we say, my brothers? Nothing is upon you. Why is nothing upon him? Because Allah mentioned two characteristics in the expiation for killing, and they are what? Freeing a slave or fasting for two consecutive months. He did not mention feeding. So, if the one upon whom the expiation for killing is obligatory says: "I do not find a slave," we say: "Fast." He says: "I cannot fast." We say: "That is it, nothing is upon you." There is no feeding. Where do we take this ruling from? My brothers, from where? From his saying:[Al-Baqarah 2:286] This is regarding commands.
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْساً إِلَّا وُسْعَهَاSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْThis is a rule, my brothers, a rule regarding obligatory acts. Pay attention tonight, if Allah wills, to rules, for rules are better than branches.
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْساً إِلَّا وُسْعَهَاAllah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْساً إِلَّا وُسْعَهَاAnd indeed, they are saying an objectionable statement and a falsehood.
وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَقُولُونَ مُنْكَراً مِنَ الْقَوْلِ وَزُوراًthen [instead], a fast for two months consecutively
فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِand he who is unable - then the feeding of sixty poor persons
فَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَإِطْعَامُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِيناًAllah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْساً إِلَّا وُسْعَهَاAnd the story of the man who had intercourse with his wife during the day of Ramadan while fasting. Listen to it, for there is also a benefit in it. A man came to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and said:
O Messenger of Allah! I have perished and I have caused [my wife] to perish. He perished himself, and who did he cause to perish? His wife. I had intercourse with my wife in Ramadan while I was fasting.
يا رسول الله! هلكت وأهلكت - هلك هو بنفسه وأهلك من ؟ زوجته - وقعت على امرأتي في رمضان وأنا صائمHe ordered him to free a slave. He said: "I do not find one." He said: "Fast for two consecutive months?" He said: "I cannot do it." He said: "Feed sixty poor people?" He said: "I do not have [the means]." [He was unable to do any of the three ranks.] Then the man sat down, and dates were brought to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Take this and give it in charity. Feed sixty poor people from it." The man said: "To someone poorer than me? By Allah, there is no household between the two banks [of the river] poorer than me."
أمره أن يعتق رقبة قال : لا أجد قال : صم شهرين متتابعين ؟ قال : ما أستطيع، قال : أطعم ستين مسكينا ؟ قال: ما عندي -كل المراتب الثلاث لا يستطيعها- ثم جلس الرجل فجيء بتمر إلى الرسول عليه الصلاة والسلام فقال له الرسول عليه الصلاة والسلام : خذ هذا تصدق به، أطعم منه ستين مسكينا فقال الرجل : أعلى أفقر مني ؟ والله ما بين لابتيها أهل بيت أفقر منيFeed it to your family.
أطعمه أهلكAllah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْساً إِلَّا وُسْعَهَاAnother example: A man killed a soul by mistake. We told him: "Free a slave." He said: "I do not have one." We said: "Fast for two consecutive months." He said: "I cannot do it." What do we say? My brothers, there is a rule in the Qur'an.
This man killed a soul by mistake. We told him: "Free a slave." He said: "I do not have one." We said: "Fast for two consecutive months." He said: "I cannot do it." What do we say, my brothers? Nothing is upon you. Why is nothing upon him? Because Allah mentioned two characteristics in the expiation for killing, and they are what? Freeing a slave or fasting for two consecutive months. He did not mention feeding. So, if the one upon whom the expiation for killing is obligatory says: "I do not find a slave," we say: "Fast." He says: "I cannot fast." We say: "That is it, nothing is upon you." There is no feeding. Where do we take this ruling from? My brothers, from where? From his saying: