a prohibited act—such as the lawfulness of property and sexual relations, and the validity of acts of worship—and a form of worship commensurate with committing a prohibited act, such as the imposition of obligations and prohibitions.

When someone does something he has been forbidden to do, his action may render him liable to an expiation, a prescribed punishment, or some other penalty. Likewise, someone may be forbidden to do something, yet doing it may subject him to obligations and prohibitions. But no one is forbidden to do something such that committing it makes good things lawful for him and discharges his obligations. That belongs to “the category of honor and beneficence.” Prohibited acts cannot be a cause of unqualified honor and beneficence; rather, they are a cause of punishment when those who commit them do not fear Allah, Blessed and Exalted.

As the Exalted says:

“Because of wrongdoing on the part of the Jews, We forbade them good things that had been lawful to them.”

And the Exalted says:

“To the Jews We forbade every animal with claws,”

through to His words, Blessed and Exalted:

“Thus We repaid them for their transgression.”

Similarly, what the Exalted relates in the account of the cow—their excessive questioning and their hesitation to obey His command—became a cause for further obligations. Another example is His statement:

“Do not ask about things which, if made known to you, would distress you.”

And the statement of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“The Muslim who commits the gravest offense against other Muslims is the one who asks about something that has not been forbidden, and it is then forbidden because of his question.”

When they asked him about Hajj, “Is it required every year?” he said:

“No. Had I said yes, it would have become obligatory; and had it become obligatory, you would not have been able to bear it. Leave me be so long as you refrain from asking. Those before you perished only because of their excessive questioning and their disagreements with their prophets. When you are forbidden something, avoid it; and when I command you to do something, do as much of it as you can.”

On this basis, a group of scholars said that pronouncing three divorces makes the woman unlawful to her husband as a punishment for him, to deter him from divorcing. Allah hates divorce; it is the devils and sorcerers who urge it. As the Exalted says concerning sorcery:

“They learn from the two of them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife.”

And in