Allah has placed certain responsibilities upon the servants with regards to worship. However, based on His perfect knowledge, He knew at some points in their lives, human being may be incapacitated to fulfill those obligations due to circumstances such as illness and travel. Thus Allah provides facility for such situation. To capture the comprehensive facility Allah has provided for His slaves, scholars have derived a number of principles and these include the following:
I. Ability is a Condition for Accountability Allaah will not unjustly punish His servants for being unable to do things that He did not give them the ability to do. Also, out of His infinite mercy, He does not impose on His servants a burden heavier than what they can bear. He says:
"Allaah does not burden a person beyond his capacity." (Q2[Baqarah]: 86),
Allaah granted us fairness and justice in Islam to facilitate our life rather than complicate it. He says:
"Hehas chosen you (0 Muslims) and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty." (Q22 [Hajj]: 78)
He also says:
"Allaah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship." (Q2[Baqarah]: 185)
Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allaah's Messenger (salallahu al yhi wa sallam) said:
"Indeed this religion is easy. Whoever overburdens himself in the religion will surely be overpowered by it. So act correctly and moderately, and give glad news and make things easy [upon the people]. And take advantage of the mornings. afternoons and late-night hours [to attain excellence in worship]." (Bukhari)
AI-Buraydah al-Aslarnee (RA) also reported that the Prophet
(salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Follow a moderate approach. Indeed. whoever acts excessively in this religion. the religion will defeat him." (Ahmad)
Thus, Allaah requires from us to exhibit submission and obedience to Him to the best of our ability and not more than this. Allaah says:
"And fear Allaah as much as you are able." (Q64[at- Taghaabun]: 16)
This was also emphasized by the Prophet (salallahu layhi wa sallam). Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that _the Prophet (salallahu' alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Leave me as I have left you [i.e. spare me your questions while I spare you additional obligations]. Indeed, the people before you were destroyed because of their excessive questions and their oppositions to their Prophets. When I command you to do something. do as much of it as you are able. And when I forbid you from something, abstain from it." (Muslim)
Therefore, the obligations of the healthy do not necessarily apply to the ill,the disabled or the one who is handicapped.
2. Sanity is a Condition for Accountability Sanity, which is the ability for cognition and comprehension, is a prerequisite for accountability in regard to matters of Eemaan (faith), Islam and the various acts of worship. A mentally retarded person is only accountable in accordance with his sanity, and a totally insane person is totally unaccountable. Alee (RA) and Ibn 'Umar (RA) reported that the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"The pen of accountability is held off three individuals: A sleeping person until he wakes up; a youngster until he reaches adulthood (or puberty); and an insane until he regains his sanity. " (Ahmad)
3. Willingness and Lack of Coercion is a Condition for Accountability A person who is forced to do something (unwillingly) is not accountable for that thing. Ibn 'Abbaas (RA) and Thawbaan (RA) reported that the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sa am) said:
"Indeed Allaah overlooks for my Ummah their (involuntary) errors, forgetfulness, and what they are compelled to do." (Ibn Majah)
4. There is Relativity in Disability Deficiency or disability does not totally abrogate accountability. An accountable person. Should perform the obligations as much as he can. For example, a person who lost his hand should still wash the remaining part of his arm up to the elbow, during wudoo' (ablution). Also, asick person who cannot stand should pray while sitting. 'Imraan ibn Husayn (RA) reported that Allaah's Messenger (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Pray standing. If you cannot, pray sitting. if you cannot, pray on your side." (Bukhari)
5. Every Individual is a Witness over Himself A sick or afflicted person should seek an accurate evaluation of his condition from those with knowledge and experience, both medically and Islamically. Based on this information, he (or those taking care of him) should determine his degree of sickness and the regulations applicable to his condition. He should then comply with these equirements remembering that Allaah knows his true condition and realizing that he will be a witness over himself on the Day of Judgement. Allaah says:
"Nay, the human being is a witness over himself. (Q75[al-QiyaamahJ 14)
A person may find himself in a dilemma whether to observe fast or not with regards to his medical condition or health status. If he observes the fast and it harms him and is injurious to his health, then he should forgo fasting and repay it back when his health improves or as the case may be. However, if he lies and claims that fasting harms his health while it does not, then Allaah knows his true state of health, for Allaah cannot be deceived, and he will be a witness over himself on the Day of Judgment.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited