among the friends of Allah. If a person has employed sound ijtihad, he is excused for what he has concluded and will be rewarded for his effort; yet whenever his view conflicts with the Book and the Sunnah he is mistaken. Such an error, however, is pardonable provided he has feared Allah as much as he can, for Allah the Exalted says:

“So fear Allah as much as you are able.” (Q 64:16)

[Meaning: “Fear Allah with the fear that is due to Him.”]

This is the explanation of His statement:

“O you who believe, fear Allah with the fear that is due to Him.” (Q 3:102)

Ibn Masʿūd and others said: “The fear that is due to Him” means that He is obeyed and never disobeyed, remembered and never forgotten, thanked and never denied.

That is to say: do so according to your capacity, for Allah does not burden any soul beyond what it can bear. The Exalted also says:

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity; it will have the good it has earned and will bear the evil it has wrought.” (Q 2:286)

And He says:

“But those who believe and do righteous deeds—We burden no soul except according to its capacity; such are the inhabitants of Paradise, abiding therein forever.” (Q 7:42)

And He says:

“Give full measure and weight with justice; We burden no soul except according to its capacity.” (Q 6:152)

[How the Pretenders to Sainthood Fall into Unbelief]

Allah, exalted is He, has mentioned faith in what the prophets brought in many places, such as His saying:

“Say: We believe in Allah and in what…"