What I forbid, avoid

Arabic

دَعُونِي مَا تَرَكْتُكُمْ، فَإِنَّمَا أَهْلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ كَثْرَةُ سُؤَالِهِمْ وَاخْتِلَافُهُمْ عَلَى أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ، فَإِذَا نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ شَيْءٍ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ، وَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ.

Translation

Leave me as I leave you. Those before you were destroyed by their excessive questioning and disputing with their prophets. If I forbid you from something, avoid it; if I command you with something, do of it what you are able.

Narrator

Abū Hurayrah

Source

Bukhārī 7288 · Muslim 1337

Commentary

Two principles: prohibitions are absolute, commands are scaled to capacity. You cannot choose to commit a little ḥarām because you feel weak; but you may pray sitting if you cannot stand. The religion is exacting on what you must leave, forgiving on what you must do.