in, and so became hypocrites inwardly. Unable to declare their apostasy openly, they instead voiced their hypocrisy among their close associates. This is as Allah described them concerning jihad, saying:

“But when a clear, decisive surah is revealed and fighting is mentioned in it, you see those in whose hearts is disease looking at you like someone overcome by death. So woe to them!

Obedience and fitting words would have been better. Then, when the matter was settled, had they been true to Allah, it would have been better for them.”

In short, it is beyond dispute that people’s circumstances differ with respect to the faith Allah has enjoined, and their faith and religious practice differ in degree accordingly. Hence the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, described women as “deficient in intellect and religion.” Explaining the deficiency in their religion, he said: “When a woman menstruates, she neither fasts nor prays.”

This is something Allah has commanded. Thus, this is not a deficiency in her religion for which she is punished. Rather, it is a deficiency insofar as she has not been commanded to perform these acts of worship in this condition, whereas the man’s religious practice is complete in this respect, since he is commanded to worship in every condition. This shows that someone who is commanded to perform an act of obedience and performs it is superior to someone who is not commanded to perform it, even though the latter is not disobedient. The former is superior in religion and faith, while the latter is neither deserving of punishment nor blameworthy.

This increase resembles the increase in faith attained through voluntary acts of worship. Here, however, the increase comes through something obligatory for one person but not obligatory for another. If he were to forgo this additional measure on this basis, he would not deserve punishment for forgoing it; the other person likewise would not deserve punishment for forgoing it. Yet the former’s faith is more complete. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “The believers most complete in faith are those best in character.”