What should we do when there are four rulings from four imams concerning a single issue, and we do not know which one to follow?

The religion and law of God are suitable for every time and place, for they encompass the elements of continuity and the factors of permanence. They are ثابت (fixed) in their fundamentals, yet مرن (flexible) in their branches. A discerning scholar will find that the rulings of Islamic law are organized into two spheres: the قطعية (definitive matters), which are subject to agreement and consensus, and the ظنية (probabilistic matters - the branches), which represent the sphere of flexibility wherein scholars may differ. This difference is a mercy and a relief for people, and for this reason, it is permissible for a mufti (definition) to mention the opinions of scholars when needed to relieve individuals from difficulty and hardship. Some scholars have even stated that a mufti may allow the questioner to choose between his opinion and that of another, and that neither a ruler nor a scholar has the right to compel people to follow a single opinion in matters subject to ijtihad (definition) (independent reasoning). Among the reasons for mentioning different opinions is also the inability to determine the preponderant view due to the equivalence of evidence. This approach has been followed by our righteous predecessors among the scholars.