implies precisely that. The verse thus indicates that what He has required of them is within their ability, without hardship, constraint, or distress. This differs from what a person is merely capable of doing, for something may be within a person’s ability yet entail constraint and distress. By contrast, a person’s capacity—within which there is ease—falls short of the limits of strength and exertion. It leaves ample room and scope, which is incompatible with constraint and distress:

“He has placed no hardship upon you in religion.”

Rather:

“Allah intends ease for you and does not intend hardship for you.”

Commenting on His words, “Except within its capacity,” Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah said: “Only what it can do with ease, not with hardship. He did not require it to exert its full strength; had He done so, it would have been stretched to its limit.”

Such is the understanding of the leading scholars of Islam. How far removed this is from the claim that He has required of them what they are utterly unable to do and have no power to accomplish!

Then the Most High explained that the fruits and ultimate benefit of these obligations return to them, and that He is far above benefiting from the good they earn or being harmed by the evil they commit. Rather, the good they earn and its benefit are theirs, while the evil they commit and its harm fall upon them. He did not command them out of any need for them, but out of mercy, kindness, and generosity. Nor did He forbid them anything out of stinginess toward them, but to shield, preserve, and protect them, and keep them free from harm.

The verse also indicates that no soul is punished for the evil another commits or rewarded for the good another earns. It thus conveys the meaning of His words:

“And that a person will have nothing but what they strive for.”

“No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another.”