Yes for facilitation and no for strictness

Allah (may He be Exalted) sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a mercy for all the worlds. The ordinances given to Muslims to apply in their daily lives as well as their behavior were multiple, however Allah (may He be Exalted) commanded Muslims to fulfill the ordinances according to their abilities and capabilities that differ from a person to another. Moreover, Allah linked between ordinances and abilities in all matters such as Hajj, reformation, and preparing power.

Therefore, these ordinances were nearer to easiness than strictness. In situations where Muslims asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) to fulfill the utmost limits of worship, he told them that they cannot fulfill these ordinances and Allah does not want to put hardship on them. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O people, Allah has made Hajj obligatory for you; so perform Hajj. Thereupon a person said: Messenger of Allah, (is it to be performed) every year? He (the Prophet) kept quiet, and he repeated (these words) thrice, whereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: If I were to say "Yes," it would become obligatory (for you to perform it every year) and you would not be able to do it. Then he said: Leave me with what I have left to you, for those who were before you were destroyed because of excessive questioning, and their opposition to their apostles. So when I command you to do anything, do it as much as it lies in your power and when I forbid you to do anything, then abandon it." [Reported by Muslim].

Thus, Allah shows His Mercy to the worshippers and thus is the compassion of the Messenger (peace be upon him) toward his nation. Questioners' demands and desires for strictness may turn against themselves in rulings "Do not ask many questions." Allah (may He be Exalted) gave examples for Muslims in the Glorious Qur'an, such as the pertinacity of the Children of Israel in questioning and the hardship which Allah imposed on them to the extent that they could not find a cow due to the multiple conditions and constraints which they used to impose on themselves by their frequent questions. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "They were commanded to slaughter a cow," but when they constrained things for themselves, Allah made it difficult for them. By Allah, had not they made an exception by saying: "And surely, if Allâh wills, we will be guided." [Surat Al Baqarah: 70], the Ayah would not have explained for them the final destination. Ibn Kathir says after that: "Therefore, when they constrained fthings or themselves, Allah made it hard for them."

Abu Dawud reported from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Do not be harsh for yourselves so that Allah may be harsh on you. A group of people made things hard for themselves and a result, Allah made it hard for them. So, their remnants still in monasteries and abbeys: a monasticism which they innovated although We have not decreed upon them."

So, there is no room for strictness, but a Muslim is required to facilitate things for himself. Likewise, callers for Allah are asked to adopt easiness. "Whoever leads people in Salah should lighten Salah because among them are the sick, the weak, and the one in need." [Reported by Al Bukhari].

In addition, the Messenger counted the actions of those rigid people as turning people's away from the true religion and a seductive matter. When Mu`adh (may Allah be pleased with him) lengthened Salah by reciting Surat Al Baqarah in one Rak`ah, one of the Muslims complained to the Messenger (peace be upon him) who said to Mu`adh: "Do you want to try Muslims in their religion, Mu`adh?"

The Messenger (peace be upon him) rejected strictness and called it tan act of repellency against religion. He called to facilitation and easiness to the extent that he adopted it as a way of life as long as it does not lead to a sin. `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "The Prophet was not given a choice between two matters until he had chosen the easy one as long as it does not lead to the commitment of a sin."

The Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded his nation with facilitation when he said: "Show leniency, do not be hard, give good news, and do not show aversion." He mentioned what distinguishes Islam when he said: "Religion is easy, and no one overburdens himself in his religion but he will be unable to continue in that way. So do not be extremists, but try to be near perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded. Gain strength by worshipping in the mornings and afternoons and during the last hours of the night."

Likewise, he described his nation with that quality in the Hadith reported by Mihjan ibn Al Adra` in "Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal :" "You are a nation meant to use simplicity." Is there any better proof after the saying of Allah (may He be Exalted): "Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship." [Surat Al Baqarah: 185]. After this proof, no one is permitted to be harsh in religion because Islam is full of simplicity?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) counted those who are harsh and those who used to belittle the acts of worship that the Messenger of Allah used to perform, such as: Salah, fasting, and marriage as straying. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said about them: "As for me, I offer Salah, sleep, fast, break the fast, and marry women, so whoever abstained from my Sunnah, he is not of my followers," what a greater threat might be?!

It is proper for scholars to avoid strictness even if it is a method of adopting safer side, however callers should adopt simple and easy opinions, especially, when it is the view of one of the respected Muslim scholars who depend on clear and accredited proofs.