He has permitted, there is enough to meet the religious and worldly needs of the believer who follows the Sunnah, without his needing to go beyond it into what is forbidden.

As for what you have been charged with, it is what you have been commanded to do. This must be something within your capacity, not something that affords you latitude. One may say, “I am not at liberty to leave it undone”; indeed, leaving it undone is forbidden. Allah Most High has said:

“These are the limits set by Allah, so do not approach them.”

This marks the beginning of what is forbidden. He has also said:

“These are the limits set by Allah, so do not transgress them.”

These mark the outer boundary of what is lawful. He has also said:

“That is because Allah would not change a favor He has bestowed upon a people until they change what is within themselves.”

This change is of two kinds. The first is that they manifest it outwardly, so that it takes the form of words and deeds that incur blame and punishment.

The second is that they replace the faith in their hearts with its opposites—misgivings, doubt, and hatred—and resolve not to do what Allah and His Messenger have commanded. In this latter case, they deserve punishment for neglecting what is commanded; in the former, for doing what is forbidden.

Likewise, whatever is within the soul that contradicts love for Allah, reliance upon Him, sincere devotion to Him, and gratitude to Him is punishable, because all these are obligatory. If the heart is devoid of them and characterized by their opposites, it deserves punishment for neglecting these obligations.