متوسط طبقے کے کاروباری شعبے کے معاشی حقوق کا تحفظ: تعلیماتِ نبوی ﷺ کی روشنی میں ایک تحقیقی و تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Abstract

The middle class constitutes the backbone of any society’s economic and social structure, yet in many contemporary Muslim countries this segment—especially its business sector—faces growing vulnerability. This study analyses the protection of the economic rights of the middle-class business sector in the light of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Grounded in the primary sources of Islam (Qur’an, Sunnah, classical fiqh, and Sīrah), the research adopts an applied, qualitative, historical-analytical and comparative design. It examines key Prophetic and juristic principles related to fair pricing, market transparency, prohibition of riba and ihtikār (hoarding/monopoly), partnership-based finance, and the prevention of wealth concentration.

Using documentary analysis of classical texts and contemporary literature in Islamic economics, as well as economic and policy reports from selected Muslim countries (particularly Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia and Indonesia), the study explores how middle-class entrepreneurs are affected by inflation, interest-based financial structures, cartels, weak market regulation, corruption, and limited access to capital and technology. The findings show that the Prophetic economic model offers a coherent normative framework capable of empowering the middle class through just market supervision, non-interest-based finance (mudarabah, musharakah, etc.), institutionalized zakat and waqf, and strong legal action against monopolies and hoarding.

The study concludes that genuine implementation of these principles can reduce economic inequality, protect small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and strengthen social cohesion. It recommends that Muslim states redesign market and financial policies in line with Prophetic teachings—by promoting Sharīʿah-compliant SME financing, enforcing competition laws, reforming tax systems, curbing corruption, and integrating commercial ethics into education and business regulation—so that the economic rights of the middle-class business sector are effectively safeguarded.