A grown up should be either Mujtahid (diligent) or Muqalid (imitator ),
other wise he should be Mutat (cautious), that means he should do everything
that he believes there was possibility to be obligated, but there is no
possibility for being prohibited, and he should leave everything that he
believes there was a possibility for being prohibited, but no possibility
for being obligated. For example: wiping feet , some jurists say that it is
obligated to wipe the apparent part of the foot, but others say , the joint
should be included in wiping, Then the cautious should wipe his foot to the
joint.
Such obedience required a man to be familiar with different legal opinions
with concern to the controversial matters.
As a result we can say, caution ( Ihtiyat ) is a way to know the legal
opinion, through which a man can get the legal opinion in genera. Since he was
either hesitated among necessity, deem desirable permission. Or among
prohibition, unpleasant, or permission .