Is a ruling issued out of precaution considered obligatory?

Question : The opinions differ; it is permissible to deliver the sermon in them, and likewise, it is necessary to marry her off.

Answer : Yes, only the single cause; this single cause is correct. Perhaps this principle prevents this, so it is said: either you say this has an effect, or you say it has no effect. We say it has no effect, but this is merely a matter of precaution. And whenever precaution is mentioned, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah says that it is not on the basis of obligation. Any ruling we have issued, if we said it was out of precaution, it cannot be on the basis of obligation. Because if we said it was on the basis of obligation, it would mean that sin is incurred by violating it, whether by omission or commission, and that is not permissible. The issue is a matter of precaution.