and burdensome hardship.”

He said: “He thus addressed the Arabs in terms they understood. One of them might say to another, ‘I cannot bear to look at you,’ although he is capable of doing so; looking at him is simply burdensome to him.” He said: “The same applies to His words: ‘They were unable to hear.’”

I say: This usage is not peculiar to the Arabs; rather, it is recognized by all rational people. “Ability in the revealed law” means being able to act without incurring overriding harm, as with the ability to fast or stand in prayer. Whenever doing so would aggravate an illness or delay recovery, a person is not considered able, because of the overriding harm involved.

Those people, by contrast, were unable to hear because they hated the truth and found it burdensome, whether out of envy of the one proclaiming it, or because they followed their desires and disbelief and sins had encrusted their hearts. This is no excuse. Had He commanded His servants to do only what they desired, the heavens, the earth and all who inhabit them would have fallen into ruin.

The point is that none of the early generations maintained that a person is able to act only while actually performing the act, and that before acting he was unable to do so. This has never been taught by revelation, supported by language, or indicated by reason. Indeed, reason indicates the opposite, as has been explained at length elsewhere. The Lord Most High knows that a person will not perform an act even though he is able to do so. What is known is that he will not do it and does not will it—not that he lacks the ability to do it. And knowledge corresponds to