Cases mentioned above, is not the center of our attention in this article. Our focus is whether the practice of monopoly or cartel also is a business model that is forbidden in Islamic perspective.

Islamic Perspective
There are so many in the Islamic literature relating to monopolies, and nearly all agree that monopolistic practices are strictly prohibited. The same applies to all forms of monopolistic competition (price, goods, etc).

All interviewees stated that the monopoly in all kinds of community needs is prohibited. Reasons for such restrictions, the monopoly will have enormous power to raise prices and control the supply of goods at will, and in the end, will torment the people.

Proof in Al-Quran
Monopoly (ihtikar) comes from the word hakr, which means collecting and controlling goods. Ihtikar used by scholars of Islamic jurisprudence to assert the privilege to collect and control of goods in an effort to anticipate the need for price increases. In other words, means the process of monopolizing ihtikar products to result in price increases.

Al Quran does not mention about ihtikar. Al Quran only show about hoarding gold and silver. However, in the hadith the Prophet Muhammad is mentioned that a lot of muhtakir (monopolist) is a sinner.

Monopoly and the Spirit of Islam
In an article a consultant in the Islamic sharia Banker Magazine said that the spirit of Islam is opposed to monopolistic practices and the terms of any condition.

Dr. Zaki Badawi also argued that the same thing applies to the banking system and the efforts of others. Monopoly in the banking system as an example, the monopolist will provide the financial strength and commercial practices in the community. The spirit of Islam to realize that the monopoly will give the right of undue authority to a few groups will also affect the ineffisiensi.

However, sometimes there are events / circumstances in which some Muslim groups to monopolistic practices. For example, the Islamic banking system in some Muslim countries, has operated a national monopoly with state protection.

Such cases occur in Malaysis Islamic Bank Bhd, conducted by the state monopoly when founded in 1983, until then the government of Malaysia introduced the banks of two systems in 1993, which allows conventional banks to open bank services without proper Islamic bank interest.

Although there are many opposing views, especially those related to monopolistic practices recently, most experts argued that monopolistic practices in all its forms in the field of trade, politics finasial and contrary to Islamic principles.

Passing through Thin Line
The question that arises is can the Muslim men participating in the activities of the company or investing in businesses involved in monopolistic practices that are not against the law and illegal activity?

According defisini significant monopoly on supply groupings and one player to exploit consumers and workers, many experts tend to state monopoly as opposing the practice of law in Islam.

However, experts have argued subjectively. One hadith says that menuruf, ihtikar only items related to household needs and motivation to store items that can trigger or anticipate rising prices of goods in the market.

Current monopoly, as praktenya generally conducted by some companies not only control the supply to affect prices, but also to maintain the business, the government's desire and market penetration (by making significant price declines). Currently, more harmful monopolistic rival firms in the same industry than adverse consumer.

Return to the Microsoft case, several institutions of Islamic funds have been canceled from the list of Microsoft stock sharia. However, monopolistic practices more acceptable than that based on the practices of interest.