CONSUMER PROTECTION AGAINST EXPLOITATIVE PRACTICES IN ISLAMIC ECONOMICS: AN ANALYSIS OF JUSTICE MUTUAL CONSENT AND THE PROHIBITION OF TADLIS

Abstract

This study examines consumer protection against exploitative practices in Islamic economics by focusing on the principles of justice, mutual consent, and the prohibition of tadlīs. Exploitative practices in economic transactions may appear in various forms, such as price manipulation, misleading product information, concealment of defects, false promotion, and abuse of consumers’ lack of knowledge. In Islamic economics, buying and selling are not merely profit-oriented activities but also moral and religious responsibilities that must be based on fairness, honesty, transparency, and public benefit. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method using library research. The primary data are derived from Qur’anic verses and prophetic traditions related to justice, mutual consent, honesty, and the prohibition of deception, while secondary data are obtained from books, classical Islamic jurisprudence, and relevant scholarly literature on Islamic economics and consumer protection. The findings show that Islamic economics provides a comprehensive framework for protecting consumers from exploitation. The principle of justice ensures a balance between the rights and obligations of sellers and buyers. Mutual consent guarantees that transactions are conducted freely without coercion, deception, or manipulation. Meanwhile, the prohibition of tadlīs functions as a preventive mechanism against fraud, concealment of product defects, and false information. Therefore, Islamic economics offers not only a legal foundation but also an ethical and spiritual framework for establishing fair, transparent, and responsible economic transactions.