Sustainable Development in Light of the Objectives of Islamic Law (Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah) and the Goals of the United Nations Development Programme

Abstract

This research addresses one of the most prominent contemporary global issues, namely sustainable development, through a Sharia-based framework that demonstrates the flexibility of Islamic law and its capacity to accommodate modern developments. It affirms that the concepts of development and sustainability are not products of Western thought, but rather constitute a core element of the Islamic message, which seeks the well-being and prosperity of humanity.

The central problem of the study lies in the widespread assumption that sustainable development is an external concept alien to Islamic thought and merely a product of contemporary international efforts, such as the United Nations 2030 Agenda. This perception prompted the researcher to raise several key questions regarding the nature of sustainable development, the extent to which it can be considered among the objectives (maqāṣid) of Islamic law, and the degree of compatibility between the goals of the United Nations Development Programme and the necessities and values upheld by Sharia.

The primary objective of this study is to correct prevailing misconceptions about the relationship between Islam, civilization, and human progress, and to highlight areas of convergence between international development goals and the higher objectives of Islamic law. To achieve these aims, the researcher adopts an inductive-analytical methodology by examining the texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah, the opinions of jurists, and the components of sustainable development, and by linking them to the maqāṣid al-sharīʿah. A comparative approach is also employed to illustrate points of similarity and divergence between Islamic principles and positive law.

The study concludes with several significant findings, foremost among them that sustainable development represents an inherent Sharia objective that falls within the framework of the five essential necessities (al-ḍarūriyyāt al-khams). It further establishes that Islamic law preceded international organizations by centuries in laying down the foundations of environmental, social, and economic balance. The research also reveals a substantial convergence between the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the divine directives aimed at safeguarding life, property, and progeny