Fiqh al-Muʿāmalāt: Synthesizing Qur’ānic Principles (Qawāʿid Qurʾāniyyah), Classical Juristic Discourse, and Modern Socio-Economic Praxis

Abstract

This research article critically examines Fiqh al-Muʿāmalāt (Islamic transactional jurisprudence) through a tripartite lens: Qur’ānic axioms, classical juristic frameworks, and contemporary economic applications. The study analyzes foundational definitions, doctrinal contributions by classical jurists such as Imām Abū Ḥanīfah, al-Shāfiʿī, and Ibn Taymiyyah, and modern reinterpretations by scholars including Mawdūdī, al-Qaraḍāwī, and Siddiqui. Central to the discussion are the linguistic and technical definitions of muʿāmalāt as a Sharīʿah-compliant system governing civil, commercial, and ethical interactions. The research underscores core prohibitions and mandates, such as the absolute prohibition of ribā (usury), the centrality of zakāh (alms), and the emphasis on justice (ʿadl), trust (amānah), and equity (inṣāf). It further explores classical texts like al-Mabsūṭ (al-Sarakhsī), al-Mughnī (Ibn Qudāmah), and al-Mawsūʿah al-Fiqhiyyah (Kuwaiti Encyclopedia), highlighting their role in codifying transactional law. The development of Qur’ānic legal maxims, such as al-mashaqqah tajlib al-taysīr (hardship necessitates facilitation) and al-dharīʿah tuqarr ʿalā ḥukm al-maqṣūd (means align with ends), rooted in verses like 2:185 and 4:29, is critically examined. The study also addresses modern scholarly consensus on institutionalizing Islamic finance through AAOIFI standards, ethical fintech, and poverty alleviation via qarḍ ḥasan (benevolent loans). Methodologically, the article employs textual analysis of classical juristic manuals, modern regulatory frameworks, and Qur’ānic exegesis (tafsīr), contextualizing them within global economic challenges. Findings position Fiqh al-Muʿāmalāt as a dynamic, ethically anchored system capable of addressing 21st-century socio-economic disparities while preserving Islamic ontological imperatives.