Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : Then the author mentioned several verses in this context, including the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Ali 'Imran 3:102] The command is directed to the believers because a believer’s faith compels him to fear Allah. He said: [Ali 'Imran 3:102] and the right of taqwa. The author (may Allah have mercy on him) followed this verse by saying: [At-Taghabun 64:16] meaning that the sense of His saying: is that you should fear Allah as much as you are able, for Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. This verse [At-Taghabun 64:16] is not intended to encourage negligence in fearing Allah, but rather to urge one to fear Allah to the best of one’s ability. That is, do not withhold your effort in fearing Allah, but Allah does not require a person to do something he is unable to do, as He the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:286] And His saying: [At-Taghabun 64:16] This is exemplified by the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to 'Imran ibn Husayn: Sunan Abi Dawud 952Sahih (Al-Albani) Thus, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arranged prayer according to one’s ability: one prays standing, and if he cannot, then sitting, and if he cannot, then on his side. The same applies to the remaining commands. Regarding fasting, if a person is unable to fast in Ramadan, he postpones it: [Al-Baqarah 2:185] In Hajj as well: [Ali 'Imran 3:97] If you are unable to reach the House, there is no Hajj required of you. However, if you are able with your wealth but not with your body, it is obligatory for you to appoint someone to perform Hajj and 'Umrah on your behalf.
The conclusion is that fearing Allah, like other matters, is tied to one’s ability. So if a person cannot do any of Allah’s commands, he turns to what he can do. And if a person is compelled by necessity to do something of Allah’s prohibitions, it becomes permissible for him to take what he needs to remove that necessity, as Allah the Exalted said:[Al-An'am 6:119] So much so that if a man is compelled to eat carrion, or eat pork, or eat donkey meat, or any other of the prohibited things, it is permissible for him to eat what is sufficient to remove his necessity. This is the meaning of fearing Allah: to do His commands as much as you are able, and to avoid His prohibitions as much as you are able. May Allah bring the verses that explain the reward of the one who fears Allah, the goodness of his outcome, and his final destination.
The reader: He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “In the chapter on fearing Allah, Allah the Exalted said:[Ali 'Imran 3:102] And He said: [At-Taghabun 64:16] This verse clarifies the intended meaning of the first one. And He said: [Al-Ahzab 33:70] The verses regarding the command to fear Allah are numerous and well known. And He said: [At-Talaq 65:2-3] And He said: [Al-Anfal 8:29] The verses in this chapter are numerous and well known.”
O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared
يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله حق تقاتهfear Allah as He should be feared
اتقوا الله حق تقاتهSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فاتقوا الله ما استطعتمas He should be feared
حق تقاتهSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فاتقوا الله ما استطعتمAllah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لا يكلف الله نفسا إلا وسعهاSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فاتقوا الله ما استطعتمoffer prayer in standing condition; if you are unable to do so, then in sitting condition: if you are then at your side
صل قائما فإن لم تستطع فقاعدا فإن لم تستطع فعلى جنبand whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days
ومن كان مريضا أو على سفر فعدة من أيام أخرAnd [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way
ولله على الناس حج البيت من استطاع إليه سبيلاThe conclusion is that fearing Allah, like other matters, is tied to one’s ability. So if a person cannot do any of Allah’s commands, he turns to what he can do. And if a person is compelled by necessity to do something of Allah’s prohibitions, it becomes permissible for him to take what he needs to remove that necessity, as Allah the Exalted said:
while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled
وقد فصل لكم ما حرم عليكم إلا ما اضطررتم إليهThe reader: He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “In the chapter on fearing Allah, Allah the Exalted said: