Chapter on Price-Fixing and Hoarding

No one may have a price imposed on his property, nor may he be forced to sell his merchandise to someone he does not wish, or at a price he does not wish, unless it becomes clear that the public will suffer harm while the owner is in no real need. In such a case the ruler must exercise his judgment, yet it is not lawful for him to wrong anyone.

Mālik (d. 179 AH) did not consider it proper to expel anyone from the marketplace so long as he had not lowered the going price. He said, “It is enough that whoever dislikes buying from him can purchase from someone else.” A second report from him, however, relates that if a person undercuts the market price he should be ordered to match the prevailing rate; if he refuses, he is expelled from the market, following what is narrated from ʿUmar in the story of Ḥāṭib ibn Abī Baltaʿa. A number of scholars from Medina held this view.

It is unlawful to hoard any food or condiment whose shortage would harm the Muslims in their markets. Whoever brings grain or any other commodity into a town is to be left free to keep it or sell it as he wishes.