Al-Hisba in the Abbasid Era (132-656 AH) and Its Impact on Social Development"

Abstract

This study examines the role of al-hisbah (market regulation and public morality oversight) in social development, particularly during the reigns of Abu Ja’far al-Mansur (136–158 AH) and his son al-Mahdi (158–169 AH). It investigates the standards used by the muhtasib (market inspector) to maintain public life, focusing on their role in supervising public morals in Islamic cities and their authority in this regard. The study further explores the reasons that motivated al-Mansur and al-Mahdi to organize this office, eventually establishing it as a fundamental pillar of governance and state administration. The research then discusses al-hisbah’s role in preserving economic life during the Abbasid period through both legal and ethical oversight. It highlights the significance of the muhtasib and details the types of supervision exercised, along with methods for carrying them out effectively.