اسلامی عبادات میں یسر کا تصور: بدنی و مالی عبادات کا منتخب تفاسیر کی روشنی میں تحقیقی مطالعہ

THE CONCEPT OF EASE IN ISLAMIC WORSHIP: A RESEARCH STUDY OF PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL ACT OF WORSHIP IN THE LIGHT OF SELECTED QURANIC EXEGESIS

Abstract

The principle of yusr (ease) constitutes a fundamental dimension of Islamic law and worship, reflecting the Divine intent to remove hardship and facilitate human obedience. This study examines the concept of ease in both physical (badani) and financial (mali) acts of worship through a comparative analysis of four classical and contemporary Qur’anic exegeses: Tafsir al-Qurtubi, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Rawa’i ‘al-Bayan, and Tibyan al-Qur’an. The research focuses on key juristic concessions (rukhas) that embody this principle, including tayammum as an alternative to ablution in the absence of water or in cases of harm, qasar (shortening of Salah) during travel, and the exemptions or flexibility granted to travelers and the ill in fasting during Ramadan. Furthermore, the study explores the conditional obligation of Hajj, emphasizing the requirement of financial and physical capability (istita‘ah), and the resulting exemptions for those unable to fulfill these criteria. It is further argued that the consistent emphasis across these tafasir demonstrates that ease is not incidental but an essential objective (maqqsad) of Islamic worship. The findings reinforce that Islamic ibadaat are structured upon balance, ensuring spiritual discipline without imposing undue hardship, thereby aligning religious obligations with human capacity and circumstances.