[Surah al-Talāq: 7]

He also commanded that He be feared to the extent of one’s ability, saying:

“So fear Allah as much as you are able.”

[Surah al-Taghābun: 16]

The believers also supplicated to Him, saying:

“Our Lord, do not lay upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, do not burden us with what we have no strength to bear.”

[Surah al-Baqarah: 286]

He replied, “I have done so.” (1)

These revealed texts therefore show that He does not burden any soul with what it is incapable of, contrary to the compulsionist Jahmiyyah (2). They also show that He does not hold accountable one who errs or forgets, contrary to the Qadariyyah and the Muʿtazilah. This is the decisive word on this matter.

Thus, when one who exercises independent reasoning and seeks evidence—whether an imam, judge, scholar, investigator, disputant, mufti, or anyone else—exerts his reason, considers the evidence, and fears Allah to the best of his ability, he has done precisely what Allah required of him. He is obedient to Allah and deserving of reward when he fears Him to the best of his ability, and Allah will never punish him, contrary to the compulsionist Jahmiyyah (3). He is correct in the sense that he is obedient to Allah; nevertheless, he may know the truth as it actually is, or he may not.

This is contrary to the Qadariyyah and the Muʿtazilah, who maintain that everyone who exhausts his utmost effort comes to know the truth. This is false, as previously explained. Rather, everyone who exhausts his utmost effort deserves reward.

The same applies among the unbelievers: whoever, in the abode of disbelief, is reached (4) by the call of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—recognizes that he is the Messenger of Allah, believes in him and in what was revealed to him, and fears Allah to the best of his ability, as the Negus and others did, yet is unable to migrate to the abode of Islam,