Hadith # 664
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Whenever we took a pledge of allegiance to Messenger of Allah (PBUH) to hear and obey, he (PBUH) would say to us, "As far as you are capable of."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Commentary
Obedience to a Muslim ruler calls for two conditions: First, his command must not infringe upon the canonical sanctity; second, it ought not to outweigh people's limitations. In case, he fails to meet these two prerequisites, his obedience will also become non-obligatory. This Hadith conveys a warning to rulers that they must not put people to a hardship unbearable to them.
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