A market manipulative practice (black marketeering, regrating or monopoly) that involves the creation of artificial shortages in the supply of a specific commodity (wheat, sugar, food oil, etc) by hoarding up large quantities thereof in warehouses and withholding them from sale. Monopolistic traders (muhtaker- pl. muhtakeroon) characteristically aim to keep supply shorter than demand in order to profiteer at the expense of others (often consumers), exploiting their needs. This commercial hoarding is strictly prohibited by shari’a because it badly affects the very sustenance of people and distorts the market price.