Food is a basic necessity that plays a crucial role in people’s lives. When food supplies become scarce or prices rise sharply, the well-being of society can be disrupted. One of the factors that can cause such conditions is the practice of food hoarding by certain parties in order to gain greater profits.

In Islam, the act of hoarding goods is known as ihtikar. Ihtikar refers to buying goods in large quantities beyond one’s needs and storing them with the intention of controlling the market and selling them later at higher prices when people are in urgent need. This practice often occurs with staple foods such as rice, cooking oil, sugar, and other essential commodities.

Islam prohibits this action because it can harm many people. When food is hoarded, the supply available in the market decreases, causing prices to rise and making it difficult for people to obtain the goods they need. In such situations, the profits are enjoyed only by a small group, while the wider community faces hardship.

This prohibition is emphasized in a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

لَا يَحْتَكِرُ إِلَّا خَاطِئٌ

“No one hoards goods except a sinner.” (Narrated by Muslim, No. 1605)

Another hadith also states:

مَنْ احْتَكَرَ طَعَامًا أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً فَقَدْ بَرِئَ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَبَرِئَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ 

“Whoever hoards food for forty nights has disassociated himself from Allah, and Allah has disassociated Himself from him.” (Narrated by Ahmad)

However, storing goods as reserves or stock for distribution is permissible as long as it does not create scarcity in the market. Hoarding becomes prohibited when the intention is to wait for prices to increase and profit from the difficulties faced by society.

Therefore, Islam emphasizes that economic activities must be conducted fairly and should not harm others. Food hoarding that leads to scarcity and hardship for the community clearly contradicts the principles of justice and public welfare emphasized in Islamic teachings.