Is a person legally obligated to perform tasks beyond their capability?

Chapter on Maintenance of Slaves

Al-Mughni

Book of Maintenance (Nafaqāt)

Book 46 · Issue 1 · Bab 4

Open in Qurani

Primary text

One is not legally obligated to perform actions that are beyond one's capability, meaning actions that cause extreme difficulty and approach inability. This is based upon the hadith narrated by Abu Dharr, and because imposing such burdens results in harm and distress to the individual, and causing harm to the individual is prohibited.