Maslaha
مَصْلَحَة
Pronunciation: MAS-la-ha
Public benefit or general welfare — a foundational principle scholars use to derive rulings when texts don't directly apply.
Definition
Literally "benefit" or "common good." One of the secondary sources of Islamic law, used to derive rulings when there is no explicit Quranic verse or hadith governing a contemporary issue. The principle is most associated with the Maliki school and Imam al-Ghazali.
It rests on the framework of maqasid al-shariah — the higher objectives of Islamic law (preservation of religion, life, intellect, lineage, and wealth). Maslaha is the principle scholars invoke when permitting practices such as autopsies (when required by law or for medical education), organ donation, and other modern issues with no direct textual ruling.
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Maslaha (مَصْلَحَة) — Public benefit or general welfare — a foundational principle scholars use to derive rulings when texts don't directly apply. Literally "benefit" or "common good." One of the secondary sources of Islamic law, used to derive rulings when there is no explicit Quranic verse or hadith governing a contemporary issue. The principle is most associated with the Maliki school and Imam al-Ghazali.
- Public benefit or general welfare — a foundational principle scholars use to derive rulings when texts don't directly apply.
- Category: General
- Related: Fiqh al-Aqalliyyat
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Last reviewed: 2026-07-01
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