Shaykh Abu Ja’far said that on this issue our belief was the same as Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (‘a) had said in reply to a visitor who had asked him, “O Son of the Prophet, is there any proof for the people having a capacity and empowerment (to do whatever they want)?” Imam replied, “Yes, he becomes capable if he fulfils four conditions. Firstly, there should not be any impediments in his way. Secondly, he should not be physically handicapped i.e. he should be physically fit. Thirdly, his body parts should be in a functioning order. Fourthly, he should possess a special favour from God”.

When all of these conditions were fulfilled, then a person is declared capable (Mustatee). For example, a free man who had no restrictions and his body parts were fighting fit, desired to commit adultery, he could not do it unless he found a woman. Suppose he found a woman, he could avoid the intercourse, with God’s help as Joseph had done, when Zulaikha incited him. Or, he would commit adultery with the woman in solitude. He was therefore, not under any compulsion to obey God, nor did he have to overpower God to commit that sin.

Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (‘a) had said in response to God’s directive,

خَاشِعَةً أَبْصَارُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ وَقَدْ كَانُوا يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَالِمُونَ

“Their eyes will be cast down - ignominy will cover them; seeing that they had been summoned aforetime to bow in adoration, while they were whole [and had refused]” (68:43).

that people were only assessed (in their tasks) when they were fully capable of carrying out His instructions in the acts of obedience and prohibitions.

Our fifth Imam had said that it was written in the Torah, “After creating you, I have chosen you among the people and guided you to obey My Commandments, and told you to keep way from the prohibitions. If you now obey Me, I shall help you. Otherwise, my help will be withdrawn. In acts of obedience, my facilitations are a gesture of kindness, and in disobedience (I shall send) a sign (warning) to remind you.”