and religion required of him, even though it is part of the religion and faith required in principle. This is comparable to the prayer of the sick, those in fear, women experiencing non-menstrual bleeding, and all others with valid excuses who cannot perform the prayer in full. Their prayer is valid according to what they are able to do, and that is what they are commanded to do in those circumstances, although the prayer of someone capable of performing it in full is more complete and meritorious. As the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, though there is good in both.”

Muslim narrated this from Abū Hurayrah in a beautifully worded hadith. There is also his saying:

“The prayer offered sitting is worth half the prayer offered standing, and the prayer offered lying down is worth half the prayer offered sitting.”

If a person could acquire knowledge of it but could not act upon it, he would be required to have faith in it through knowledge and belief, but not through action.

Section

This is a concise statement of the principle governing “the question of designations.” As for “the question of rulings” and the ruling concerning him in the Hereafter, the position of the Companions, those who follow them in righteousness, and all the people of the Sunnah and the united community is that no one possessing any faith will remain in Hell forever. Rather, whoever possesses a grain’s weight or an atom’s weight of faith will emerge from it. As for the Khawārij and those of the Muʿtazilah who agree with them, they hold that eternal punishment is inescapable for anyone who