We often hear the term ‘inflation’ to describe a general increase in prices, this rise is typically caused by one of two factors. First, it can occur due to a change in the purchasing power of what the money symbolizes, often triggered by a deliberate reduction in the quantity of wealth it represents. This is the essence of monetary manipulation. Second, prices may rise due to a fall in purchasing power without any change in the quantity of the money itself. For instance, if gold becomes naturally cheaper because of a new supply, an Islamic Dinar made of 4.25 grams of gold will naturally buy less.
Islamic Economics Project 