Ihtikar means hoarding — deliberately buying up essential goods and withholding them from the market to create artificial scarcity and push prices higher. It is strictly prohibited in Islamic economics.
For example, if a trader buys up all the wheat in a region and stores it, waiting for prices to spike during a shortage, that is Ihtikar. It harms consumers and disrupts fair market pricing.
The prohibition aims to protect society from price manipulation and ensure equitable access to essential commodities. Islamic markets are meant to function on fair trade, transparency, and mutual benefit.