the Sharia. Indeed, the Sharia may exempt those whose faculties of understanding and action are not yet fully developed, both to ease their burden and to establish a clear criterion for legal responsibility, even when imposing obligations upon them would be possible. Thus, the pen is lifted from a child until he reaches puberty, even though he possesses understanding and discernment. This is because his understanding is not yet complete, and because reason develops gradually in people, who differ in this respect. Since the underlying consideration is difficult to ascertain and varies widely, puberty was made the defining criterion.

Likewise, according to the majority of scholars, Hajj is obligatory only upon someone who possesses provisions and a mount, even if walking is possible, because of the hardship involved. Similarly, a traveller is not obliged to fast, even if able to do so, as a concession to ease his burden. Obligations are also waived because of an illness when performing them is feared to worsen the illness and delay recovery, even though their performance remains possible.

These, however, are matters in which revealed laws differ. In one revealed law, Allah may make obligatory something difficult and prohibit something that is difficult to forgo—as with the burdens and shackles imposed upon the Children of Israel—while granting relief in another revealed law. Thus the believers said:

“Our Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, do not lay upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us.”

And Allah Most High said:

“Allah intends ease for you and does not intend hardship for you.”

He Most High also said:

“Allah does not intend to impose hardship upon you.”

And He said:

“He has imposed no hardship upon you in religion.”

And He said:

“Allah intends to lighten your burden.”