Divine Burdens

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Imam Abu Manswur Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Maturidi (r.a.) believed that being Legally Ordered with that in which there is no capacity to endure is impermissible, whereas being Burdened with that which cannot be borne is permissible.  This meant that the principles of shari’ah precluded burdening anyone for something they had no capacity to fulfill, whereas it is possible that we are given challenges we cannot bear as an Exercise of Divine Sovereignty, so that we recognise Allah (s.w.t.), as the only Succour. 

Thus, Imam al-Maturidi (r.a.) distinguished between being legally ordered, and being burdened.  According to Imam Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali ibn Isma’il al-Ash’ari (r.a.), both are permissible since the Ash’ari school of theology did not recognise the distinction.