ECONOMIC THOUGHT AND LEGAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF ABBASID SCHOLARS

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ABU YUSUF, ABU UBAID, AND YAHYA IBN UMAR

Authors

  • Dini Apriliani Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Mas Said Surakarta
  • Imansyah Imansyah Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Mas Said Surakarta
  • Satrio Wibowo Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Mas Said Surakarta
  • Hassan Hassan Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Mas Said Surakarta
  • Taufan Taufan Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Mas Said Surakarta
  • Waluyo Waluyo Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Mas Said Surakarta

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21093/m143mr72

Keywords:

Abbasid Economic Thought, Islamic Fiscal Policy, Market Regulation, Public Finance

Abstract

This article examines the economic thought and legal contributions of three influential Abbasid scholars Abu Yusuf (d. 798 CE), Abu Ubaid al-Qasim ibn Sallam (d. 838 CE), and Yahya ibn Umar al-Kinani (d. 901 CE) within the framework of Islamic Economic Law. Using a qualitative-historical methodology combined with comparative content analysis, this study reconstructs their fundamental arguments regarding public finance, taxation, market regulation, and property rights, and critically evaluates their relevance to contemporary Islamic economic jurisprudence. Findings indicate that Abu Yusuf pioneered a normative theory of fiscal policy rooted in maslahah (public interest) and justice, anticipating modern concepts of progressive taxation and state accountability. Abu Ubaid synthesized diverse legal traditions to produce an encyclopedic treatise on government finance that remains a cornerstone of Islamic fiscal law. Yahya ibn Umar developed market ethics through his doctrine on tasʿir (price control) and the prevention of monopolies, offering principles aligned with modern competition law. Collectively, their contributions form a proto-coherent system of Islamic economic governance that can be directly applied to the study and practice of Sharia Economic Law. This article contributes to the growing interdisciplinary literature linking classical Islamic fiqh with contemporary economic and legal studies.

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Published

2026-08-24