Prophetic Principles of Economic Justice and the Global Wealth Inequality Crisis: An Islamic Economic Law Perspective

Abstract Global wealth inequality has emerged as a major socioeconomic challenge, characterized by substantial concentration of wealth and income alongside persistent poverty and economic insecurity. This condition raises important questions concerning the capacity of existing economic and legal systems to promote distributive justice, prevent exploitation, and protect vulnerable groups. This study examines the Prophetic principles of economic justice and evaluates their relevance to the contemporary global wealth inequality crisis from an Islamic Economic Law perspective. The study employs a qualitative normative/doctrinal legal research approach supported by library research and thematic analysis. Primary sources include the Qur’an and authentic Prophetic traditions, while secondary sources comprise classical Islamic legal literature, contemporary scholarship on Islamic economics and Islamic Economic Law, and international reports on global inequality. The analysis identifies five interconnected dimensions of Prophetic economic justice: justice, fair transactions and market ethics, prevention of exploitation, wealth circulation and distribution, and social solidarity and protection of vulnerable groups. The findings indicate that the Prophetic framework addresses inequality through both preventive and distributive mechanisms. Preventive mechanisms include ethical market conduct, prohibition of deception, riba, and harmful market practices, while distributive mechanisms include zakat, inheritance, waqf, sadaqah, and qard hasan. The study argues that Prophetic economic principles do not require absolute equality of wealth; rather, they seek to establish fairness in ownership, exchange, wealth circulation, and social responsibility. The study concludes that Prophetic principles can provide a coherent normative framework for contemporary Islamic Economic Law and contribute to discussions on fair markets, social protection, and inclusive economic development. However, their practical effectiveness depends on appropriate governance, institutional capacity, legal enforcement, and contextual adaptation.