the reply is: This is contrary to the fundamental principles of the Sharia, for the Sharia is founded upon Allah Most High’s words:

“Fear Allah as much as you are able,”

and upon the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:

“When I command you to do something, do as much of it as you can.”

It is well known that if a woman cannot fulfil an obligation of prayer, fasting, or anything else except by engaging in illicit intercourse, she is not permitted to do so. Allah Most High has not commanded His servants to do anything that can only be accomplished through illicit intercourse. Necessity does not make illicit intercourse permissible as it makes eating carrion permissible. However, if she is forcibly subjected to intercourse and cannot resist it, she herself has performed no act. If, however, she acts under coercion, there are two views, both reported from Ahmad. The first is that coercion makes only utterances permissible, not deeds.

The second, which is the view of the majority, is that a woman coerced into illicit intercourse or drinking wine is pardoned, because Allah Most High says:

“If anyone compels them, then after their compulsion Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

As for a man who engages in illicit intercourse, there are two views within Ahmad’s school and elsewhere, depending on whether coercion prevents an erection. Abū Hanīfah and Ahmad, according to the latter’s explicitly reported ruling, hold that a man cannot be coerced into illicit intercourse.

But if a servant is able to fulfil some obligations and not others, then he