F. Facilitating things and not making them difficult

“Allah does wish to lighten your (difficulties): for man was created weak (in flesh).” (al-Nisa 4; 28)

 

Facilitation is one of the principles that a preacher of Islam should know and comply with. That the religion has come to facilitate and not to make things difficult is something repeated many times in the Qur’an and in the traditions of the Prophet (pbuh). There are several wisdoms behind this principle. The principle of facilitation is an inherent part of conveying the message of religion and making people accept Islam. This principle is also valid in every other aspect of life.

Human nature is apt to choose that which is easy and is prepared to accept something only after becoming accustomed to it. Offering something difficult to do, on the other hand, may push the listener away, and may even cause complete rejection. This is why it is necessary be equipped with a gradual method of presenting the easiest option and going from easy to difficult, from the essentials to the particulars, and from known to unknown provided that it remains within the boundaries of legality. People have various characters and temperaments, so one needs to take the weakest one into consideration and to act in a way that everyone else can. Allah the Almighty states:

يُرِيدُ اللهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ

“…Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty…” (al-Baqarah 2; 185)

“…He has chosen you and has not laid upon you any hardship in religion…” (al-Hajj 22; 78)

When the surah of Inshirah (94) was revealed, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) became very happy that Allah the Almighty ordained two eases for each difficulty and he said:

“One hardship cannot overcome two eases; because “So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief: Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.” (al-Inshirah 94; 5-6) then he (pbuh) joyfully came to his Companions.^[1] (Hakim, II, 575)

Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) perfectly manifested Allah’s Mercy to His servants in every step of his life. Indeed, it is expressed in a saying of the Prophet (pbuh):

 It was narrated by Anas b. Malik (r.a.):

يَسِّرُوا وَلاَ تُعَسِّرُوا بَشِّرُوا وَلاَ تُنَفِّرُوا

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Facilitate things to people (concerning religious matters), and do not make it hard for them and give them good tidings and do not make them run away (from Islam).” (Bukhari, Ilm, 11)

In order to ensure ease in communicating with people, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said that “we are ordered to talk to people in accordance with their level of comprehension” (Daylami, I, 398/1611; Ali al-Muttaqi, X, 242) and he did not approve speech and behavior which are too hard for the addressee to understand.

Abu Huraira narrates the following incident in this context:

“A Bedouin stood up and started urinating in the mosque. The people caught him but the Prophet (pbuh) ordered them to leave him and to pour a bucket or a cup of water over the place where he had urinated. The Prophet (pbuh) then said,

“You have been sent to facilitate things and not to make them difficult.” (Bukhari, Wudu, 58; Adab, 80)

Taking the Bedouin’s old habits into account Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) was patient with him even under such circumstances where one would become easily upset. He made things easy for him and expressed that his followers should do the same.

Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) often emphasized that he was a tolerant person. Another example occurred in the incident known as “i’la” in which the Prophet (pbuh) stayed separated from his wives for a month. He gave his wives the option to choose between this world and Allah and His Messenger. And he told them to consult their families. He then went first to A’isha (r. anha) and said:

“O A’isha! I want to propose something to you, but wish no hasty reply before you consult your parents.” She said:

“O Messenger of Allah! What is that?” He (the Holy Prophet) recited to her a verse,^٭ whereupon she said:

“Is it about you that I should consult my parents, O Messenger of Allah? Nay, I choose Allah, His Messenger, and the Last Abode; but I ask you not to tell any of your wives what I have said He replied:

“If one of them will ask me, I will inform her. God did not send me to be harsh, or to cause harm, but He has sent me to teach and make things easy.” (Muslim, Talaq, 29)

Allah the Almighty states that His servants will gain honor by means of piety and only by the level of their piety they can be superior to one another. Despite its significance, Allah the Almighty advises His servants to act in moderation even with regards to piety. Thus, He manifests His endless Mercy to His servants. It is stated in a verse

“So fear Allah as much as you can…” (al-Taghabun 64; 16)

When we compared this verse with the following one we can see that there is a great relief for the believers with respect to fearing God: “O ye who believe fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.” (Al-i Imran 3; 102)

When Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) took allegiance from his Companions he would tell them to do good deeds to the extent of their ability and strength. A wonderful example of this is narrated by Umayma bint Ruqayqa (r.anha):

“I went to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) with the women who took an oath of allegiance with him for Islam. They said:

“O Messenger of Allah! We take a pledge with you not to associate anything with Allah, not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to kill our children, nor to produce any lie that we have devised between our hands and feet, and not to disobey you in what is known.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

“In what you can do and are able to do.”

Umayma continued, “They said,

“Allah and His Messenger are more merciful to us than ourselves. Come, let us give our hands (in alliegance) to you, Messenger of Allah!” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,

“I do not shake hands with women. My word to a hundred women is like my word to one woman.” (Muwatta, Bay’ah, 2; Tirmidhi, Siyar, 37)

Allah’s Apostle (pbuh) would ask from his followers even to act moderately in performing acts of worship saying:

“…Do (good) deeds which are within your capacity (without being overtaxed)…” (Bukhari, Iman, 32) Because of this he sometimes had to rebuke some of his Companions who had not been acting according to his command. One of these incidents took place as follows:

“Jabir (r.a.) reported that Mu’adh b. Jabal used to pray with the Apostle (pbuh), then came and led his people in prayer. One night he said the night prayer with the Apostle of Allah (pbuh). He then came to his people and led them in prayer beginning with Surat al-Baqara. A man turned aside, pronounced the taslim (salutation for concluding the prayer), then prayed alone and departed. The people said to him:

“Have you become a hypocrite, so and so?” He said:

“I swear by Allah that I have not, but I will certainly go to Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and will inform (him) about this.” He then came to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and said:

“O Messenger of Allah, we look after camels used for watering and work by day.” Mu’adh said the night prayer with you. He then came and began with Surat al-Baqara. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) then turned to Mu’adh and said:

“Are you there to (put the people to) trial? Recite: “By the Sun and its morning brightness” (al-Shams 91), “By brightness” (Duha 93) “By the night when it spreads” (al-Layl 92), and “Glorify the name of thy Lord most high” (al-A’la 87).” (Muslim, Salat, 178; Bukhari, Adhaan, 60, 63, 66)

A deed which strains people’s limits was not approved by the Prophet (pbuh), even if it was an act of worship. This is why he forbade actions which draw people away from the congregation; whereas he promised salvation from the Hellfire for those who facilitate things to others saying:

اَلاَ اُخْبِرُكُمْ بِمَنْ تَحْرُمُ عَلَيْهِ النَّارُ، عَلَى كُلِّ قَرِيبٍ هَيِّنٍ سَهْلٍ

“Should I inform you whom the Hell will not burn? Hell will not burn those who are affable, kind, and facilitate things to others.” (Tirmidhi, Qiyamah, 45)

Islam, the religion of mercy, compassion, and love, wants goodness for humanity and guides people to the easiest and most appropriate paths according to their standards. Therefore it cannot be allowed that some people who do not understand the true Islam make it difficult and so draw people away from it because of their false views and thoughts. Those who fall into such a mistake will be responsible for a great sin. However, it should not be forgotten that by facilitating things people should not be encouraged to negligence and laziness. One should never make concessions for Allah’s and His Messenger’s commands under the disguise of facilitation.