The Ruling on Seeking Out Legal Dispensations

Question:
What is your opinion, O honorable Shaykh, regarding one who seeks out dispensations in the rulings of Islamic law?

Answer:
Religion is a trust, a trust between the servant and his Lord. It is obligatory for him to fulfill it as Allah and His Messenger commanded him, by performing the obligatory acts, avoiding the forbidden, doing as much of the recommended as he is able, and avoiding the disliked. This is the trust between the servant and his Lord. Dispensations are only permissible when there is a need for them, or when there is dire necessity for them. They are to be used to the extent of the necessity, when there is a need for them. For example, the sick person combines two prayers, the sick person performs dry ablution if he is unable to perform ritual purity with water, and the sick person breaks his fast in Ramadan. These are dispensations. The traveler shortens the prayer. These are legal dispensations that are used at the time of their legislation, the time of need for them. As for using them in other than their proper place, it is not permissible for him to do so. It is not permissible for him to do so, and Allah has not granted him permission for that. He only established dispensations for specific times and conditions, and they are not to be done in other than those. So the Muslim should fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and fulfill what Allah has made obligatory upon him.