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, including the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Ali 'Imran 3:102] The command is directed to the believers because a believer’s faith drives him to fear Allah. And He said: [Ali 'Imran 3:102] The author (may Allah have mercy on him) followed this verse with his statement: [At-Taghabun 64:16] Meaning that the meaning of His saying: is that you should fear Allah as much as you are able, because Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. This verse, [At-Taghabun 64:16] is not intended to encourage negligence in fearing Allah, but rather to encourage fearing Allah to the extent of one’s ability. That is, do not withhold your effort in fearing Allah, but Allah does not burden a person with what he cannot do, as He said: [Al-Baqarah 2:286] And His saying: [At-Taghabun 64:16] implies that if a person cannot perform the command of Allah in a perfect manner, he should do what he is able to do. Among this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to 'Umar ibn al-Husayn: Sunan Abi Dawud 952Sahih (Al-Albani) And so it is with the rest of the commands. Regarding fasting, if a person cannot fast in Ramadan, he postpones it. [Al-Baqarah 2:185] In Hajj as well: [Ali 'Imran 3:97] If you cannot reach the House, then there is no Hajj upon you. But 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 the fear of Allah, like other matters, is tied to ability. So whoever cannot do something from the commands of Allah, he turns to what he can do. And whoever is compelled to something from the prohibitions of Allah, it becomes permissible for him to take what he needs to remove the 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 other prohibited things, it is permissible for him to eat what removes his necessity. This is the fear of Allah: that you do His commands as much as you are able, and that you avoid His prohibitions as much as you are able. And the verses explaining the reward of the one who fears Allah, and the goodness of his outcome and his end, will come, if Allah wills.
The reader: He said (may Allah have mercy on him): "In the chapter on the fear of Allah, Allah the Exalted said:[Ali 'Imran 3:102] And He said: [At-Taghabun 64:16] And this verse clarifies the meaning of the first one. And He said: [Al-Ahzab 33:70] The verses commanding the fear of 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 استطعتمthe right fear of Him
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 the fear of Allah, like other matters, is tied to ability. So whoever cannot do something from the commands of Allah, he turns to what he can do. And whoever is compelled to something from the prohibitions of Allah, it becomes permissible for him to take what he needs to remove the 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 said (may Allah have mercy on him): "In the chapter on the fear of Allah, Allah the Exalted said: