Is it permissible for an ordinary person to strive to ascertain the most preponderant of scholarly opinions when they differ? Is his conclusion that intentionally delaying prayer does not expel one from the fold of Islam correct? And is following the opinion that permits the meticulous calculation of usurious transactions — despite the existence of other opinions that prohibit it — considered following one's whims or pursuing blameworthy dispensations? Is it advisable to perform Istikhara concerning this matter?

The common person, when faced with differing scholarly opinions, must follow the one he trusts, unless he possesses the competence to weigh the opinions and determine the stronger one. If he has this ability, he should then weigh the opinions based on it. A Muslim must be cautious of delving into the process of weighing opinions without understanding and competence, lest he fall into speaking about God without knowledge, which is one of the gravest destructive sins. A Muslim must be sincerely devoted to God in receiving legal rulings, intending to attain and conform to the truth, and wary of following whims. As for the ruling on one who abandons prayer out of negligence, it is a matter of scholarly disagreement. Some scholars have interpreted the relevant hadiths to refer to those who do not maintain prayer by performing it within its prescribed time, not to abandoning it entirely. As for working in auditing the accounts of usurious banks, it is forbidden. Whoever issues a fatwa (definition) permitting it and acts upon it by following his whims is sinful, even if he were following the truth in reality. However, if he takes it as an independent judgment (ijtihad (definition)) and believes it to be the stronger opinion, he is excused if he errs in reaching the truth. Seeking guidance from God (istikharah) in matters of knowledge is permissible, and it has been reported from some of the predecessors, such as Umar ibn al-Khattab and Imam al-Shafi'i.