Is a student sent on scholarship to a non-Muslim country sinful if he adopts the most lenient opinion of one of the scholars renowned for their knowledge and piety concerning an issue related to acts of worship — such as shortening and combining prayers — with his belief that he has a sound proof, even if it contradicts the opinion of others? And is that considered part of the breadth of the religion, citing the Hadith: "When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was given a choice between two matters, he would choose the easier of the two as long as it was not a sin"?

An ordinary person incurs no sin by following the scholars, but he is obligated to ask those whose knowledge, trustworthiness, and reliability are well-known. The fatwas of the mujtahids (qualified scholars capable of independent reasoning) are for the ordinary person what the legal proofs are for the mujtahid. Therefore, he must accept and adhere to them. If scholars differ in their fatwas, he should follow the one he deems closer to the truth in knowledge and piety. If, however, the scholars are equal in his view concerning knowledge and piety, he may choose the easier opinion, because the religion of Allah is built upon ease, as long as it does not involve sin. It is not permissible to seek out concessions unless the issue is a subsidiary matter of ijithad (independent reasoning) for which there are no specific legal texts that favor one opinion over others, and the evidences are equally balanced, for "hardship brings ease."