Allah has burdened them only with what they are able to bear, and they are able to bear only what He has burdened them with. That is, they act by their own choice, and in this lies a refutation of the Jabariyyah (those who deny human volition). Yet the divine caveat, “except if Allah wills” (al-Insan 76:30), is a rebuttal of the Qadariyyah (those who deny predestination).

Allah says, “Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity” (al-Baqarah 2:286); “Our Lord, do not lay upon us a load we have no strength to bear” (al-Baqarah 2:286); and, “Allah intends ease for you and does not intend hardship” (al-Baqarah 2:185). Thus He never assigns His servants what they cannot endure—except by way of punishment. Because of their stubbornness He burdened the Children of Israel, as He said: “So for the wrongdoing of those who were Jews We forbade them good things that had been lawful to them … and for their taking of usury” (al-Nisa 4:160-161). In retribution He imposed upon them obligations they could not carry, which is why we are instructed to pray, “Our Lord, do not place upon us a burden such as You placed upon those before us” (al-Baqarah 2:286).

Out of pure grace and kindness, Allah places upon His servants only what they can bear; it is mercy from Him, for “Indeed, Allah is Most Kind and Most Merciful to the people” (al-Baqarah 2:143).

Even so, this requires some consideration: people are in fact capable of more than what He has enjoined, but Allah desires ease for them and not hardship. He has removed excessive difficulty, legislated an accommodating religion, and prohibited going beyond moderation. A person is therefore not allowed to spend the entire night in prayer, nor is he permitted to forgo marriage. The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “As for me, I pray and I sleep; I marry women, and I fast …”