A Response to Those Who Claim That the Rule of "Blocking the Means Leading to the Forbidden" Is a Restriction on People

Question:
May Allah reward you. The brother Abu 'Abd al-Malik from al-Qasim sent a set of questions, and we will select some of them given the large number of messages received. He says: Honorable Shaykh, when we speak about the issue of blocking the means leading to the forbidden and the issue that repelling harms takes precedence over seeking benefits, some people accuse others of restricting people. Is there any guidance regarding this word and this term?

Answer:
Blocking the means. And repelling harms takes precedence over seeking benefits; these are great rules that ward off danger from the Muslims. The means and paths that lead to the forbidden are undoubtedly forbidden, and this has come frequently in the Qur'an and in the Prophetic Sunnah. Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned in his book I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in, and also in his book Ighathat al-Lahfan, ninety-nine examples of blocking the means from the Book, the Sunnah, and the words of the scholars of knowledge, because in blocking the means there are benefits for the Muslims, and in opening them there is evil for the Muslims. So those who speak about blocking the means and diminish its importance are only seeking to reach their objectives and their desires, which are harms, and the Shari'ah has blocked the path to them. They want to open the path to them to spread their ideas and spread their doubts among the Muslims. So it is necessary to adhere to blocking the means, and it is necessary to adhere to repelling harms by giving them precedence over seeking benefits. This is in the interest of society in general, and in the interest of the Muslims in particular. Yes.