ANALYSIS OF THE ISTISNA CONTRACT IN DIGITAL FREELANCE TRANSACTIONS BASED ON A COMPARATIVE FIQH STUDY BETWEEN THE SHAFI‘I AND HANAFI SCHOOLS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54783/vt8wf165Keywords:
Istishna Contract; Comparative Fiqh; Digital Economy; Sharia Freelancing; Hanafi and Shafi'i Schools of ThoughtAbstract
The transformation of the digital economy has reshaped global transaction patterns and work relations, particularly within project-based freelance marketplaces that rely on digital outputs. This study analyzes the application of the Istisna contract in digital freelance transactions through a comparative fiqh (fiqh muqaran) approach between the Shafi‘i and Hanafi schools. Using a qualitative–normative methodology, this research employs thematic analysis of classical fiqh sources and contemporary literature. The findings show that while both schools acknowledge the validity of the Istisna contract, they differ in formal requirements and flexibility. The Shafi‘i school emphasizes legal certainty and clarity of the contractual object, whereas the Hanafi school allows greater adaptability based on social customs and considerations of public interest (istihsan wa al-‘urf). Within the digital context, these differences may be synthesized into a hybrid contract model that upholds principles of justice, transparency, and technological efficiency. This study contributes theoretically to the development of digital fiqh muamalah and adaptive sharia-compliant contract models, offering practical implications for regulatory design and contract systems in global freelance marketplaces. Overall, the findings affirm the evolutionary capacity of Islamic law to address digital economic challenges while preserving moral values and the principles of maqasid al-shariah.
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