The Ruling on Following Dispensations in Jurisprudential Matters

Question:
We return to the questions of our brother Abu Abdullah. He will ask you, our honorable Shaykh, about the ruling on following dispensations in jurisprudential matters.

Answer:
It is not permissible to follow dispensations that mean taking the opinions of scholars and scholarly disagreement, choosing whatever suits his desire or the easiest opinion among the scholars' views. This is not permissible for him. Whoever follows dispensations becomes a Zindiq, as the scholars say. As for the legal dispensations that Allah has granted, such as shortening the prayer while traveling, combining two prayers while traveling, and breaking the fast in Ramadan for the sick or the traveler, these are legal dispensations that Allah loves to be done, just as He hates that His sin be committed.
The legal dispensations that Allah legislated for His servants as a relief for them are permissible, and in fact, a person is rewarded for them. As for dispensations that mean the scholarly opinions based on independent legal reasoning and disagreement, one should take what is supported by evidence. His conscience is not cleared except by what is supported by evidence. If he knows the evidence, he does not follow an opinion until he knows its evidence, if he has the qualification. Otherwise, he asks the scholars of knowledge about this opinion: is it to be followed or not? Yes.