Week 3: Maqasid Shariah and Sustainable Development
Salam all, This week’s lecture gave me a deeper understanding of how Islamic principles, particularly the Maqasid al- Shariah , align with the modern concept of sustainable development. I was especially surprised to see how closely the objectives of Shariah, preserving life, faith, intellect, lineage, and wealth, match the 5Ps of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: People, Planet, Peace, Prosperity, and Partnership. It shows that sustainability is not a new concept but one that has already been deeply rooted in Islamic teachings since the 7th century. What stood out to me most was the emphasis on spirituality as the foundation for sustainability. I never really considered how faith and spiritual values could influence our approach to environmental issues. The idea that being spiritually connected to Allah encourages us to act as responsible vicegerent ( khalifah ) of the e arth really made me reflect on my own lifestyle choices and responsibilities. I r...