on the Day of Resurrection according to his intention, as related in an authentic hadith from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“An army will march against this House, and while they are in an open tract of land, the earth will swallow them up.” He was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what about those among them who were compelled?” He replied, “They will be resurrected according to their intentions.”

This concerns his outward status. Even if he is killed and subjected to the rulings applicable to disbelievers, Allah will resurrect him according to his intention. Likewise, the hypocrites among us are outwardly subject to the rulings of Islam, yet they will be resurrected according to their intentions. Recompense on the Day of Resurrection is based on what is in people’s hearts, not merely on outward appearances. Hence it is narrated that al-‘Abbās said, “O Messenger of Allah, I was compelled.” He replied, “Outwardly, you were against us; as for what was in your heart, that is left to Allah.”

In short, there is no disagreement among Muslims that someone who has embraced faith while living in a land of disbelief and is unable to emigrate is not required to fulfil religious obligations beyond his ability. Rather, obligation is proportionate to ability. The same applies to matters whose rulings he does not know. If he did not know that prayer was obligatory for him and went for some time without praying, he is not required to make up those prayers according to the stronger of the scholars’ two opinions. This is the position of Abū Hanīfa and the Zāhirīs, and one of the two positions within Ahmad’s school. The same applies to all other obligations, such as fasting the month of Ramadan, paying zakat, and so forth. If he did not know that wine was forbidden and drank it, he is not subject to the prescribed punishment, by the consensus of the Muslims. Rather,