What should be done when there is doubt about something being forbidden or permissible?

If a legal ruling is unclear to a person, then either they are qualified for ijtihad (independent reasoning), in which case they must examine the evidence and weigh the different opinions, or they are a layperson, in which case they must seek a fatwa (religious edict) from scholars. The true area of doubt arises when there is a conflict in the evidence that the mujtahid (one who performs ijtihad) cannot reconcile, or when the differing muftis (those who issue fatwas) appear equally authoritative in the eyes of the layperson. In such a case, what is obligatory is caution and refraining from that which is doubtful, in order to safeguard one's religion and honor. This is based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Indeed, the lawful is clear, and the unlawful is clear, and between them are doubtful matters which many people do not know. So whoever avoids the doubtful matters has safeguarded his religion and his honor, and whoever falls into the doubtful matters falls into the unlawful." The Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions acted upon this. Examples include his (peace be upon him) leaving a date he found, out of concern that it might be from charity, and his command to 'Uqbah ibn Al-Harith to separate from his wife due to the presence of doubt regarding suckling.