is able to make the journey to it” (Q 3:97). Whoever is unable: if he has sufficient wealth he may appoint someone to perform the pilgrimage on his behalf; but if he possesses neither the money nor the physical strength, the obligation of Hajj is lifted.

In short, the religion is ease—ease in its very legislation and ease whenever a situation arises that calls for facilitation. The Prophet ﷺ said to ʿImrān ibn Ḥuṣayn, “Pray standing; if you cannot, then sitting; and if you cannot, then on your side.” The religion, therefore, is ease.

He ﷺ also said, “No one over-taxes himself in the religion except that it overwhelms him.” That is, anyone who seeks to be overly strict will be overcome and defeated: he will grow weary, lose interest, and ultimately give up. This is the meaning of his words, “No one over-taxes himself in the religion except that it overwhelms him.” If you turn the faith into hardship and demand severity, the faith will overpower you and you will perish—just as the Prophet ﷺ said in another report, “The extremists have perished.”

He ﷺ then said, “So aim right, come close, and rejoice.” “Aim right” means perform the act correctly and accurately; if that proves impossible, then “come close.” Hence he followed with “and come close,” the conjunction here carrying the sense of “or”: aim accurately if you can, or else approximate. “And rejoice” means be glad, for whether you hit the mark or draw near to it, rejoice in the abundant reward, goodness, and assistance from Allah. The Prophet ﷺ frequently employed this approach, gladdening his companions with what would please them,