Is it permissible for a Muslim to choose the easiest scholarly opinion?

Praise be to Allah.

It is not right for a Muslim to choose the easiest opinion, because in this way he will get out of the obligations of sharee’ah, or most of them, because in most matters – apart from the basic principles of Islam – there are differences of opinion. In the past, they used to say that the one who follows the rukhsah (dispensation, easy option) has become a heretic. It is obligatory to choose the scholarly opinion which is most correct according to the daleel (evidence), if one is qualified to examine and weigh up the matter. If a person is not qualified, then he has to follow the scholar who he thinks is most trustworthy in terms of knowledge, commitment to Islam and taqwa.