Contemporary Issues in Digital Financial Transactions in Hanafi Jurisprudence: A Principled and Applied Study

Abstract

This research article presents a comprehensive and principled analysis of contemporary digital financial transactions within the framework of Hanafi jurisprudence. The rapid evolution of the digital economy, encompassing online transactions, electronic contracts, and digital currencies, has generated complex legal and ethical challenges that demand rigorous juristic engagement. While classical Islamic jurisprudence did not directly address such technological developments, it established a robust اصولي framework capable of accommodating new realities. The study is grounded in primary Islamic sources. Allah states: واحل الله البيع وحرم الربا (Quran 2:275), affirming the permissibility of trade while prohibiting unjust gain. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: البيعان بالخيار ما لم يتفرقا (al Bukhari, Hadith 2112), emphasizing mutual consent, and also warned: من غشنا فليس منا (Muslim, Hadith 102), establishing the prohibition of deception. Drawing upon authoritative Hanafi texts such as al Hidayah, Badai al Sanai, al Mabsut, and Radd al Muhtar, the study examines foundational principles including permissibility of transactions, conditions of valid contracts, concept of possession, and prohibition of uncertainty. The juristic maxim الاصل في البيوع الاباحة الا ما ورد الشرع بتحريمه (al Kasani, Badai al Sanai) forms a central analytical basis. The research adopts a normative and analytical methodology, integrating classical juristic reasoning with contemporary financial practices. It critically evaluates digital transactions, automated agreements, and crypto currencies in light of concepts such as مال, قبض, غرر, and ثمنية.The study identifies a significant gap in contemporary literature, which remains fragmented and lacks a unified اصولي framework. It proposes a structured juristic model that bridges classical Hanafi principles with modern digital economic systems. The findings demonstrate that Hanafi jurisprudence possesses the intellectual flexibility and methodological depth necessary to address emerging financial challenges, provided that its foundational principles are systematically applied.