The obligatory action when scholarly rulings differ
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Many students of knowledge who have not yet reached a stage of maturity in their pursuit take the opinion of so-and-so in certain rulings and dispensations. For example, they take the opinion of so-and-so regarding the Friday bath, and the opinion of so-and-so regarding the zakat on jewelry. So what should a student of knowledge follow if he has not reached the stage of determining which opinion is stronger?
It is obligatory for the student of knowledge, and for the layperson as well, when people differ in their rulings, to choose from the rulings the one he considers closest to the truth. It is known that a person recognizes that so-and-so among the scholars is closer to the truth than so-and-so; this is due to his abundance of knowledge, his scrupulousness, and his religion. For we do not rely solely on the abundance of knowledge, since some people have abundant knowledge and much learning but lack mindfulness of Allah and fear of Allah. You will find them being lax in issuing rulings. And some people have mindfulness and scrupulousness but are weak in knowledge. So he should choose the one who is more abundant in knowledge and stronger in mindfulness. If the two men are equal in his estimation,Or if he did not know that one of them was better, it was said: he is given the choice between the two opinions,And it was said: he takes the stricter one,And it was said: he takes the easier one,And the correct view is: he takes the easier one because the evidence is balanced, and because the original state is that the conscience is not burdened and is free from liability.
As for deliberately seeking out dispensations,If he was given a ruling and it did not suit him, he said: asking the second scholar,And if it did not suit him, he said: asking the third scholar, this is not permissible; because this is a form of playing with the religion of Allah. The scholars have explicitly stated that whoever seeks out dispensations commits open sinfulness,So some people exaggerate and said: whoever seeks out dispensations becomes a Zindiq; because he did not worship Allah with guidance, but worshipped Him with his desires.
It is obligatory for the student of knowledge, and for the layperson as well, when people differ in their rulings, to choose from the rulings the one he considers closest to the truth. It is known that a person recognizes that so-and-so among the scholars is closer to the truth than so-and-so; this is due to his abundance of knowledge, his scrupulousness, and his religion. For we do not rely solely on the abundance of knowledge, since some people have abundant knowledge and much learning but lack mindfulness of Allah and fear of Allah. You will find them being lax in issuing rulings. And some people have mindfulness and scrupulousness but are weak in knowledge. So he should choose the one who is more abundant in knowledge and stronger in mindfulness. If the two men are equal in his estimation,Or if he did not know that one of them was better, it was said: he is given the choice between the two opinions,And it was said: he takes the stricter one,And it was said: he takes the easier one,And the correct view is: he takes the easier one because the evidence is balanced, and because the original state is that the conscience is not burdened and is free from liability.
As for deliberately seeking out dispensations,If he was given a ruling and it did not suit him, he said: asking the second scholar,And if it did not suit him, he said: asking the third scholar, this is not permissible; because this is a form of playing with the religion of Allah. The scholars have explicitly stated that whoever seeks out dispensations commits open sinfulness,So some people exaggerate and said: whoever seeks out dispensations becomes a Zindiq; because he did not worship Allah with guidance, but worshipped Him with his desires.