Bakhs and the Violation of Material Rights in the Qur’ān: A Thematic and Contextual Analysis
Keywords:
Bakhs, Material Rights, Economic Justice, Property Rights, Financial RightsAbstract
Bakhs, as defined in the Qur’ān, is typically seen as the act of giving insufficient measure or weight in trade. A thematic analysis of the Qur’ān shows that Bakhs pertains not only to dishonest commercial practices but also to any act that illegally diminishes, conceals, or takes away one’s lawful rights in the material domain. In this article, the author examines material rights as an important element of Bakhs through a thematic analysis of related verses in the Qur'ān. The objective of the study is to show how the Qur’ān guarantees the protection of material rights through establishing principles of justice, visibility, accountability, and fairness in the economy and finance. With reference to the thematic analysis method, the author considers the Qur’ān concerning safeguarding property rights, rights in commerce, rights in finance, rights in inheritance, and the rights of vulnerable populations based on the Qur’ān. The study also includes relevant Hadiths, classical commentaries, and current literature to provide a scientific understanding of the topic. The results obtained show that the Qur’ān describes the complete system of material rights protection and treats any illegal deprivation of these rights as Bakhs. The conclusion of this study indicates that Bakhs should be viewed as a multifaceted ethical and legal term rather than merely a measure of inadequate weights and measures. This wider perspective contributes to modern Qur'ānic studies by showing that the teachings of the Qur'an are still relevant to the question of protecting property rights and promoting justice, honesty, and accountability in our time.
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