Al-Maani' a harshen Larabci: Shi ne wanda yake hanawa da kuma hana wani abu wanin sa.

Al-Maani’ linguistically: It is what prevents and is obstructive to other than it.

Ma'anar a cikin ma'anar Istilaah (ma'anar ta fannin ilimi):

The meaning in accordance to the Istilaah (Terminological definition):

Abin da Ash-Shaari' ya sanya shi ne cewa rashin hukunci yana samuwa ne sakamakon kasancewar wani abu, ko kuma rashin sababin hukunci yana samuwa ne sakamakon kasancewarsa; wato idan yana nan, to hukuncin ba ya nan, ko kuma sababin hukuncin ba ya nan.

It is what the Shaari’ has made the absence of the Hukm resultant from its presence or the absence of the Sabab (cause) of the Hukm resultant from its existence (i.e. if it exists the Hukm does not exist or the Sabab for the Hukm does not exist).

Misali:

Example:

Al-Haidh (haila) mai hana Sallah ne ga mace.

Al-Haid (menstruation) is a Maani’ (preventer) for the woman’s Salaah.

Bashi yana hana cika nisabin zakkah idan bashin ya rage adadin kudin da ya kai nisabi.

The debt represents a Maani’ (preventer) for the attainment of the Nisaab of the Zakaah if the debt reduces the amount under the Nisaab.