What is the origin of the principle of blocking the means (Sadd al-Dhara'iʿ) and the political atmosphere surrounding its emergence in Islamic jurisprudence, and what are the books that discuss its origin?
"Sadd al-Dhara'i' (blocking the means to evil) is a principle disputed among the Sunnis. The Malikis adopted it, and the Hanbalis in one narration, while the Shafi'is and Hanafis prohibited it in principle, though not in practice. Scholars have noted that the Shafi'is and Hanafis applied it in their detailed rulings and elaborations, despite their theoretical prohibition. Al-Qarafi mentioned that all madhahib (schools of thought) consider sadd al-dhara'i', with some applications being agreed upon, such as prohibiting the digging of wells in the path of Muslims, some being rejected, such as prohibiting the cultivation of grapes for fear of wine production, and some being disputed, such as bay' al-ajal (resale with deferred payment). A thari'a (means) is something originally permissible but feared to lead to a forbidden act. Texts from the Qur'an and Sunnah indicate the consideration of dhara'i', such as the verse: {And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge} (6:108), and the Prophet's prohibition of drawing images of the righteous and building mosques over their graves for fear of their worship. This principle originated from the Qur'an and Sunnah, predating the establishment of Imam Malik's madhhab, and is not linked to political circumstances."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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