nawawiDay.arabicText

nawawiDay.englishTranslation

— Abu Hurayrah (RA) (Bukhari & Muslim)

nawawiDay.commentary

An asymmetry: prohibitions are absolute, commands are by capacity. Note: this does not lower the obligation of the five prayers — they are within everyone's capacity in some form.

nawawiDay.extendedExplanation

This hadith establishes a crucial asymmetry between commands and prohibitions:

• Prohibitions (nahy) are absolute — leave them entirely. There is no ‘partial avoidance’ of ḥarām. • Commands (amr) are by capacity — do as much as you are able.

The context of revelation: the Prophet ﷺ was asked repeatedly about ḥajj — ‘every year?’ He warned: ‘If I said yes it would become obligatory and you would be unable. Leave me as I leave you. Those before you were destroyed by their many questions and disputes with their prophets.’

Ibn Rajab clarifies: this asymmetry does NOT lower the obligation of the five daily prayers — they are within everyone's capacity in some form (sitting, lying down, with eye gestures). The principle applies to commands whose performance has degrees.

nawawiDay.fromScholars

"Leaving the ḥarām is upon every able person — there is no partial leaving. Doing the commanded acts is upon every able person to the extent of their ability."

— Ibn Rajab · Jāmi‘ al-‘Ulūm wa al-Ḥikam

"Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity (2:286) — this principle and this hadith are two sides of the same mercy."

— Ibn ‘Uthaymīn

nawawiDay.fiqhRulings

  • •Whoever cannot stand in ṣalāh prays sitting; whoever cannot sit prays lying — the obligation never falls completely.
  • •Necessity (ḍarūrah) permits the ḥarām only to the extent needed to remove the necessity — not as a permanent license.
  • •Excessive questioning about hypothetical religious matters is discouraged — past nations were destroyed by it.
  • •When in doubt about an obligation, ask one of the people of knowledge — do not act on speculation.

nawawiDay.quranCrossRefs

2:286‘Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.’
64:16‘So fear Allah as much as you are able…’
5:101‘Do not ask about things which, if disclosed to you, would trouble you.’

nawawiDay.keyVocab

نَهَيْتُكُمْnahaytukum

I have prohibited you

اجْتَنِبُوهُijtanibūhu

leave it/avoid it (with finality)

اسْتَطَعْتُمْistaṭa‘tum

you are able

nawawiDay.todaysReflection

Are you applying this rule correctly — leaving prohibitions completely, doing commands at your capacity? Or have you reversed it?

nawawiDay.keyBenefits

  • 1Difficulty does not excuse haram, only limits the obligation of commands.
  • 2The religion is reasonable — Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.

nawawiDay.warnings

  • ⚠‘I'm doing my best’ is not a license to commit ḥarām — leaving the ḥarām is absolute.
  • ⚠Conversely, perfectionism that leads someone to abandon ṣalāh because they ‘can't focus enough’ contradicts this hadith — do as much as you can.

nawawiDay.relatedHadiths

Nawawi 21 — ‘Say: I believe in Allah, then be steadfast’

Bukhari — ‘Pray standing; if you cannot, then sitting…’

nawawiDay.memorisation