Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen (may Allah
have mercy on him) said:
If the scholars give an individual different
fatwas, or if there is a difference in what he hears of their exhortations and
advice, for example, then he should follow the one who he thinks is closer to
the truth in terms of his knowledge and religious commitment. If the two
men are equal in terms of knowledge and religious commitment, in his view, then
in this case some of the scholars said that he should follow the view that is
stricter.
However, it was also said that he should follow
that which is easier, and this is the correct view, because if the fatwas are
equal in terms of evidence, then you should follow that which is easier,
because the religion of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is based on
ease and simplicity, not on hardship and difficulty. ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be
pleased with her) stated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi
wasallam) was never given the choice between two things but he would choose the
easier of the two, so long as it was not a sin.[1]
Source: Kitaab al-‘Ilm,
p. 152-153 by Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen
