What is the wisdom behind the اختلاف (disagreement/variance) among the Four Imams in their ijtihadat (independent legal reasoning), and is it permissible to follow more than one of their opinions on a specific issue, and what is the status of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah among them?

Disagreement in Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) is a divine sunnah, and even prophets and companions differed. Disagreement arises for reasons such as lack of awareness of a text, preferring one text over another, differing in understanding, or knowing about abrogation (naskh), specification (takhsis), and restriction (taqyid). Disagreement occurs in matters of ijtihad (independent reasoning) concerning branches of law. As for the fundamentals of religion and matters of jurisprudence known by necessity, disagreement in them is not permissible. Whoever has the ability to discern the evidence should follow what is authentically narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). And for those who do not possess this qualification, there is no blame upon them for following any school of thought that is made easy for them.