On Disputed Issues in Jurisprudence: Should One Follow the Easier or the Stricter Ruling to Clear One’s Conscience?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh. When scholars differ in their jurisprudential opinions, do we follow the one who says the stricter ruling to clear the conscience, or do we follow the one who says the easier ruling, because acting according to the hadith
The Shaykh : Now, suppose a person is sick and two doctors differ in their opinion; one says take this treatment and the other says take this treatment. Whose opinion should he follow?
The questioner : The stronger one in medicine in his field.
The Shaykh : Yes, the more reliable one in knowledge and understanding. It is the same with religious matters: if two scholars differ in your view, follow the one you see as closer to the truth, whether it is the stricter or the easier. If they are equal in your view, or you do not know, some scholars say take the most cautious, which is the stricter, and some say take the easier, and some said you are given a choice, so even if you act according to this scholar’s opinion today and the other scholar’s opinion tomorrow, there is no harm. But the closest to me is that you take the easier, unless you find your heart leaning toward the stricter opinion, then take that, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 2774 Yes, after that.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Did you take it before?
The questioner : He did not take it.
The Shaykh : No, no, there are people.
For the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), when he was given a choice between two matters, he would take the easier of them.
لأن الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا خيّر بين أمرين أخذ بأسهلهماThe Shaykh : Now, suppose a person is sick and two doctors differ in their opinion; one says take this treatment and the other says take this treatment. Whose opinion should he follow?
The questioner : The stronger one in medicine in his field.
The Shaykh : Yes, the more reliable one in knowledge and understanding. It is the same with religious matters: if two scholars differ in your view, follow the one you see as closer to the truth, whether it is the stricter or the easier. If they are equal in your view, or you do not know, some scholars say take the most cautious, which is the stricter, and some say take the easier, and some said you are given a choice, so even if you act according to this scholar’s opinion today and the other scholar’s opinion tomorrow, there is no harm. But the closest to me is that you take the easier, unless you find your heart leaning toward the stricter opinion, then take that, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Righteousness is that with which the soul is tranquil and the heart is tranquil, but sin is that which rouses suspicion in the soul
البر ما اطمأنت إليه النفس واطمأن إليه القلب والإثم ما حاك في نفسكThe questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Did you take it before?
The questioner : He did not take it.
The Shaykh : No, no, there are people.