The Ruling on Multiple Fatwas for the One Seeking a Ruling

Question:
May Allah reward you. The questioner asks: What is obligatory for the one seeking a ruling when there are multiple fatwas? And is a fatwa considered a difference in religion?

Answer:
First, a person should not ask many scholars about one single issue; he should not ask this one and that one and another about the same issue. He should choose one scholar in whom he trusts his knowledge and his religion, ask him, and act according to his statement. Allah the Exalted said: He should choose one in whom he trusts his knowledge and religion, ask him, and not ask the others except about other issues, which is fine. As for one single issue, if he asks several shaykhs about it, some confusion and disagreement will result. The layperson should choose one in whom he trusts his knowledge and religion, ask him, and act on what he guides him to, because this is what is within his capacity and what he is able to do.
As for the student of knowledge, when there is a difference in fatwas and a difference in opinions, he presents the fatwas and the opinions to the evidence from the Book and the Sunnah. He takes what agrees with the evidence from the fatwas and opinions, and he leaves what contradicts the evidence. This is if the student of knowledge is able to weigh the opinions against the evidence. As for the layperson who does not know, he chooses one in whom he trusts his knowledge and religion, asks him, and is content with his answer.