to do all of this, unlike someone who assisted in some of these matters but not others, and intended some of them but not others.
Furthermore, someone who has a firm resolve and does all that is within his power is equivalent to someone who performs the deed in full, even if he is not a leader or someone who calls others to it. As Allah, Glorified is He, says:
“Those believers who remain behind—except those with disabilities—are not equal to those who strive in Allah’s cause with their wealth and their lives. Allah has raised those who strive with their wealth and their lives one degree above those who remain behind. To both Allah has promised the best reward, but Allah has favoured those who strive over those who remain behind with a tremendous reward: ranks from Him, forgiveness and mercy. And Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.”
Allah Most High thus denies equality between the one who fights and the one who remains behind despite being able to fight. He does not deny equality between the one who fights and the one who remains behind because he is unable. Indeed, one may say that the implied contrast entails their equality. The wording of the verse is explicit: those with disabilities are excepted from the denial of equality. The exception here is thus to a negation, which entails that those with disabilities may equal those who remain behind, even if they do not equal them in every respect. This is supported by the established report that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said during the expedition to Tabūk:
“There are men in Medina who have been with you whenever you travelled any distance or crossed any valley.”
They asked, “Even while they are in Medina?”
He replied, “Even while they are in Medina. A valid excuse held them back.”
He thus stated that someone who remained in Medina, held back only by a valid excuse, was like those accompanying them on this expedition. It is well known that each person accompanying him on the expedition receives the reward of a fighter according to his intention