Is it permissible for a follower [muqallid] to abandon imitating a specific scholar in some jurisprudential issues and follow an easier opinion for him, and is it permissible to frequently seek refuge [isti‘adha] in prayer if the worshiper needs to?

It is prescribed for the worshipper, if he feels the whispers of Satan, to seek refuge with Allah from him and to spit lightly to his left three times (a light spitting with some saliva), while saying in a low voice: "A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim (I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed)." This is in imitation of the action of Uthman ibn Abi al-'As, may Allah be pleased with him, by the command of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The seeking of refuge should be done in the first rak'ah, or whenever needed due to whispering. The wording should be accompanied by its meaning, meaning that seeking refuge should involve abandoning what Satan loves and replacing it with what Allah loves, not just by mere utterance, so that it may be a fortress against Satan.