is what is stated in the abrogating and specific texts. However, he is not obliged to act upon it until he is able to learn of it; his inability therefore exempts him from that obligation.

Another view holds that Allah’s ruling applicable to him was the underlying ruling, but once he exercised independent judgment and came to believe that a particular conclusion was most likely Allah’s ruling, Allah’s ruling applicable to him changed, and he was now commanded to follow that conclusion.

The correct view is what Ahmad and others have stated: he must exercise independent judgment. That is his obligation; he is not obliged to arrive at the underlying ruling if he is unable to do so. He is required only to exercise independent judgment. If he neglects to do so, he sins. If he exercises independent judgment but is unable to ascertain the underlying ruling, he is not commanded to follow it while unable to do so. Nevertheless, he is commanded to follow it, and it is Allah’s ruling applicable to him, on condition that he is able to do so.

Anyone who says that it is Allah’s underlying ruling in this sense has spoken truthfully. If he exercises independent judgment and Allah makes the underlying truth clear to him, he receives two rewards, as Allah Most High says:

“So We gave Solomon understanding of it.”

We do not say that Allah’s ruling applicable to him changed, such that before exercising independent judgment he was commanded to follow the underlying truth, but afterwards he was commanded to follow what he believed to be correct. Rather, he has always been commanded to exercise independent judgment and fear Allah as much as he can. He was indeed commanded to follow the truth, but on condition that he was able to do so. If he is unable, he is not commanded to do so. He is commanded to exercise independent judgment; if that leads him to a different view, he must act