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when the latter two entered a state of major ritual impurity; and the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—did not order any of them to make up the missed prayers (1).
There is no doubt that many Muslims in Mecca and the desert regions continued praying toward Jerusalem until word of the abrogation reached them, yet they were not ordered to repeat their prayers. There are many examples of this.
This accords with the principle upheld by the early generations and the majority: “Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity.” Obligation is therefore conditional upon ability, and punishment is incurred only for neglecting something commanded or committing something prohibited after the proof has been established.
(1) Ibn al-Athīr cited in Jāmi al-Usūl, 5/153–155, a hadith reported by Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, and al-Nasāī from Abū Dharr—may Allah be pleased with him—who said: “I would enter a state of major ritual impurity and remain so for five or six days. Then I came to the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—and he said, ‘Abū Dharr?’” The narration continues and includes the words: “Clean earth is a Muslim’s means of purification, even for ten years. When you find water, let it touch your skin, for that is better.”
He likewise cited another hadith reported by al-Bukhārī, Muslim, Abū Dāwūd, and al-Nasāī from Abd al-Rahmān ibn Abzā, from his father: A man came to Umar and said, “I entered a state of major ritual impurity and could find no water.” Umar replied, “Do not pray.” Ammār then said, “Do you not remember, O Commander of the Believers, when you and I were on a military expedition and entered a state of major ritual impurity but found no water? You did not pray, whereas I rolled about in the dust and prayed. The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—then said, ‘It would have sufficed for you to strike the ground with both hands, blow on them, and then wipe your face and hands with them.’” The hadith is found in al-Bukhārī, 1/71, Book of Tayammum, chapter: “Should One Performing Tayammum Blow on His Hands?”
لَمَّا أَجْنَبَا، وَلَمْ يَأْمُرِ النَّبِيُّ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - أَحَدًا مِنْهُمْ بِالْقَضَاءِ
(١)
.
وَلَا شَكَّ أَنَّ خَلْقًا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بِمَكَّةَ وَالْبَوَادِي صَارُوا يُصَلُّونَ إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ حَتَّى بَلَغَهُمُ النَّسْخُ وَلَمْ يُؤْمَرُوا بِالْإِعَادَةِ. وَمِثْلُ هَذَا كَثِيرٌ.
وَهَذَا يُطَابِقُ الْأَصْلَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ السَّلَفُ وَالْجُمْهُورُ:
أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى لَا يُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا. فَالْوُجُوبُ مَشْرُوطٌ بِالْقُدْرَةِ؛ وَالْعُقُوبَةُ لَا تَكُونُ إِلَّا عَلَى تَرْكِ مَأْمُورٍ أَوْ فِعْلِ مَحْظُورٍ بَعْدَ قِيَامِ الْحُجَّةِ.
(١) ذَكَرَ ابْنُ الْأَثِيرِ فِي جَامِعِ الْأُصُولِ ٥/١٥٣ - ١٥٥ حَدِيثًا رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ فِيهِ: فَكَانَتْ تُصِيبُنِي الْجَنَابَةُ، فَأَمْكُثُ الْخَمْسَ وَالسِّتَّ فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: أَبُو ذَرٍّ؟ فَقَالَ. . . الْحَدِيثَ وَفِيهِ: (الصَّعِيدُ الطَّيِّبُ وُضُوءُ الْمُسْلِمِ وَلَوْ إِلَى عَشْرِ سِنِينَ، فَإِذَا وَجَدْتَ الْمَاءَ فَأَمِسَّهُ جِلْدَكَ، فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ) كَمَا ذَكَرَ حَدِيثًا آخَرَ رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ وَمُسْلِمٌ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبْزَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى عُمَرَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَجْنَبْتُ وَلَمْ أَجِدْ مَاءً، فَقَالَ: لَا تُصَلِّ. فَقَالَ عَمَّارٌ: أَمَا تَذْكُرُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِذْ أَنَا وَأَنْتَ فِي سَرِيَّةٍ فَأَصَابَتْنَا جَنَابَةٌ، فَلَمْ نَجِدِ الْمَاءَ، فَأَمَّا أَنْتَ فَلَمْ تُصَلِّ، وَأَمَّا أَنَا فَتَمَعَّكْتُ فِي التُّرَابِ وَصَلَّيْتُ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: (إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَكْفِيكَ أَنْ تَضْرِبَ بِيَدَيْكَ الْأَرْضَ وَتَنْفُخَ، ثُمَّ تَمْسَحَ بِهِمَا وَجْهَكَ وَكَفَّيْكَ) الْحَدِيثَ وَهُوَ فِي الْبُخَارِيِّ ١/٧١ كِتَابُ التَّيَمُّمِ، بَابُ الْمُتَيَمِّمِ هَلْ يَنْفُخُ فِيهِمَا؟)