Question:
In the hadith (Bukhari 39) it is mentioned that “This religion is easy. If anyone makes it difficult upon himself, it will overcome him.” What does it mean when it says, “it will overcome him”?
Answer:
It says: “Indeed this religion is easy. If someone makes the religion difficult for himself, it will overpower him.”
What does this mean?
If you impose hardship upon yourself — if you push yourself beyond the limits that have been set — then eventually that burden will defeat you. The meaning of “it will overcome him” is that the religion will win and you will lose. In other words, you will not be able to continue.
For example, suppose normally a person prays eight rak‘ahs at night. Another person decides, “No, I will pray forty rak‘ahs.” He refuses to sleep, spends the entire night praying, and pushes himself to extreme levels.
Perhaps he may manage it one day. Perhaps two days. But eventually what will happen? He will become exhausted and stop. He will not be able to continue.
So, what happened then? The burden defeated him.
That is the meaning of “it overcomes him.” You lose; the burden wins.
When you exceed the limits set by the religion, you will not be able to sustain it. At first, enthusiasm may push you forward. Out of excessive zeal you may increase acts of worship beyond what is prescribed.
But can you continue it consistently? No.
Eventually you will abandon it. And once you abandon it, you have been defeated.
So why create unnecessary hardship?
The religion has been given in a balanced and easy form. It is better to remain within the limits taught by the Prophetﷺ. If you create difficulty for yourself, that difficulty will overpower you.
Therefore, the Prophetﷺ teaches us to act moderately and sensibly. That is the meaning of this hadith.