When does the saying of Allah Almighty apply: "Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity"?

Among the conditions for religious accountability (taklif) is capability (istita'a), and it is a principle that hardship brings ease (al-mashaqqa tajlibu al-taysir). Thus, there is no obligation with incapacity, and nothing forbidden in case of necessity. The criterion for this is either incapacity or the occurrence of considerable hardship. Whatever a servant is unable to do is waived for him, or if its performance becomes considerably difficult, then it is lightened for him or waived for him to the extent of that hardship. As for hardship that causes no harm, the Lawgiver (Shari') has encouraged enduring it.

Al-Qarafi divided hardships into two categories:

First: Hardship that is inseparable from the act of worship; this does not necessitate alleviation.

Second: Hardship that is separable from it, and this is of three types:

1. Extreme hardship: such as threatening one's life or limbs; this necessitates alleviation. 2. Minor hardship: such as a slight pain; this does not necessitate alleviation. 3. Moderate hardship: its ruling varies depending on its proximity to the extreme or minor hardship.

Al-Walati divided hardship into two categories:

First: Hardship that is inseparable from the act of worship; this does not necessitate alleviation.

Second: Hardship that is separable from it, and this is of three types:

1. At the level of necessities (daruriyyat): universally excused by consensus. 2. At the level of embellishments (tahsiniyyat): universally not excused by consensus. 3. At the level of needs (hajiyyat): a matter of scholarly disagreement.