upon it—not because he was commanded to follow that particular view, but because Allah commanded him to act according to the conclusions of his independent judgment and what he could ascertain. Since that view was all he could arrive at, he is commanded to follow it because it lies within his capacity, not because of the view itself.

This is like people who exercise independent judgment to determine the direction of prayer and then pray facing four different directions. Only one has correctly faced the direction of prayer, yet all have done what they were commanded to do, and none incurs sin. The obligation to ascertain the precise direction is waived for those unable to determine it. Each person is instead obliged to exercise independent judgment to the extent of his ability and face what he consequently believes to be the direction of the Kaaba. He is commanded to follow what is actually correct, but on condition that he can ascertain it. He is also commanded to follow what he believes to be correct and within his capacity. When he arrives at that view, it becomes binding upon him not because the Lawgiver—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—has specifically prescribed it, but because it is what he is capable of.

However, if he is following a text and its abrogating text has not reached him, he is commanded to continue following it until he learns of the abrogating text. The abrogated ruling was Allah’s ruling applicable to him, both inwardly and outwardly, and this is not accepted until the abrogating text has reached him.

As for general wording whose scope has been restricted, it may be said that the Lawgiver did not intend to include the excluded case, but the person believed that He intended to include it because he was unaware of the restriction. The same may be said of texts abrogated before the independent jurist became obliged to act upon them, such as texts abrogated during the lifetime of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—whose abrogation remained unknown to some people, although the text abrogated by them had reached the person concerned. It cannot be said that the abrogated text