The Meaning of Following Dispensations and the Phrase "Reward is Proportional to Effort"

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, this brother Abu Sami says: There are jurisprudential phrases, and I hope Shaykh Salih (may Allah preserve him) will speak about them. Following the dispensations in jurisprudential rulings, what does that mean? Also, the phrase "reward according to the degree of difficulty."

The Shaykh:
May Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Following dispensations (rukhas) falls into two categories. The first is the legal dispensations issued by Allah, Glorified and Exalted, to make things easy for His servants, such as shortening the prayer while traveling, wiping over leather socks, breaking the fast in Ramadan for the traveler and the sick, and performing dry ablution (tayammum) when water is unavailable. Allah loves for these to be taken when there is a need for them. He said, peace and blessings be upon him: "Indeed, ."
The second type is the dispensations that are the opinions of scholars regarding an issue and their disagreement on its ruling. It is not permissible to take from their opinions except what is supported by evidence from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. As in His saying, the Exalted: and His Messenger is the Messenger . Referring to Allah means referring to the Book, the Noble Qur'an, and referring to the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, after his death means referring to his established Sunnah. We take what is supported by evidence from the words of the scholars, not because so-and-so said it, but because the evidence points to it. And not because our souls desire it, but out of love for following the evidence, whether it agrees with what our souls desire or not.
We follow the evidence wherever it leads. As for taking what pleases some people from the opinions of scholars, following their desires and what they like, even if it contradicts the evidence, this is blameworthy. Allah has blamed the People of the Book for this, where He said, the Exalted: . When 'Adi ibn Hatim, may Allah be pleased with him, asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about the meaning of their taking lords besides Allah, the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, explained to him that they legalize what Allah has forbidden and their followers legalize it, and they forbid what Allah has permitted and their followers forbid it, following their words. This is taking scholars as lords besides Allah. This is not specific to the Christians, but it is general for everyone who does this act. Yes.

The questioner:
And the phrase "reward according to the degree of difficulty."

The Shaykh:
There is a consideration regarding this phrase, and Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, discusses it and says that the reward is proportional to sincerity, the sincerity of intention for Allah, Mighty and Majestic, in that matter. His saying, peace and blessings be upon him: . Otherwise, how many difficult deeds are there that have no reward, but rather contain sin, if the deed is not in obedience to the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and contradicts the Sunnah of the Messenger. He said, peace and blessings be upon him: . He said, peace and blessings be upon him: . So the reward is proportional to what came in the Book and the Sunnah, following it and the sincerity of the heart for Allah, Mighty and Majestic. So two things come together in it: sincerity for Allah, Mighty and Majestic, with no showing off, no seeking reputation, and no intention for other than Allah, and it is not also following so-and-so or so-and-so or what the souls love and desire, but rather what is established from the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, in accordance with what the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, was upon, or what came from him, peace and blessings be upon him, of the Sunnah. Yes.