Week 3


Week 3 Reflection: Maqasid al-Shariah and the Heart of Sustainable Development 🌿🕌

Date: 18 March 2025
Course: SCSH 1201 – Sustainable Development: Issues, Principles and Practices (Section 4)

This week, Dr. Suhaimi decided to merge Week 2 with Week 3 into a single coherent unit that combined Islamic views about sustainability with the study of Maqasid al-Shariah and its harmonious connection to sustainable development principles. The join between both subjects made complete sense because they represent opposing sides of sustainability, so studying them combined resulted in better comprehension. 🌍✨

Key Lessons and Takeaways 📝

1. What is Maqasid al-Shariah?

According to Islamic law, the objectives known as Maqasid al-Shariah aim to defend human welfare through maslahah while protecting against any form of mafsadah. The Islamic faith requires the protection of the five fundamental pillars according to its teachings. 

Faith (Din) 🕌

Life (Nafs) 🧍‍♂️

Intellect (‘Aql) 🧠

Wealth (Mal) 💰

Lineage (Nasl) 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦


These five principles from my faith system demonstrate a perfect alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals that include People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership. 🌏🤝
Since the 7th century, Islam has been spreading sustainable practices which were established well before modern global SDG discussions started.

Faith Meets Sustainability

A doctrine from the faith states sustainability goes beyond environmental preservation because it functions as both a spiritual and an ethical obligation. The worship and service that is carried out to Allah are marked through forest and water protection, along with fair wealth sharing and justice battle and water conservation. 🌳💧

According to the speaker, the spiritual element represents a vital component which current sustainable development approaches have been missing. When sustainable efforts lack deep foundational moral values, they tend to drift away from their true course. The sustainable foundation of Islam exists when individuals transform their inner hearts as well as their mental and behavioural aspects.

3. A Universal Message

The discovery about ecological ethics found in various faiths, including Buddhism and Confucianism and Christianity, along with Hinduism, revealed how Earth care has universal moral status across religious traditions.

The Islamic approach stands out because it presents its structure along with holistic features that unite individual responsibility with social governance and environmental balance.


Personal Reflections ✍️

I am extremely thankful to Dr. Suhaimi for bringing together Week 2 and Week 3 subject matter. The combination of studying Islamic sustainability and Maqasid al-Shariah allowed us to understand that sustainable development grows naturally from our Muslim faith alongside both personal identity and religious responsibility.

During this week, I began to think more profoundly about my responsibility as a Khalifah on Earth. The core duties surpass simple water conservation and recycling, yet these aspects remain essential. The awareness that my daily activities produce long-lasting effects for my present and the future of others and those beyond my lifetime, guides my life.


Sustainability functions through three levels as both a mission and lifestyle, which serves to honour Allah in worship. 🕌

Comments

  1. huzaimy25May 2, 2025 at 2:57 AM

    I have a question, how can we adapt and adopt sustainable elements in protecting the maslahah of lineage (nasl)?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousMay 2, 2025 at 3:01 AM

      Interesting

      Delete
    2. PathfinderMay 2, 2025 at 5:05 AM

      Truly interesting! I surely believe that we should do so through education and early nurturing. Children should be taught with wise teachings as to what is good and bad for them to do. Of course, they should learn about SDGs too!

      Delete
  2. Syahira NadhirahMay 14, 2025 at 5:09 AM

    I appreciate how you highlighted the relationship between faith and sustainability, which goes beyond environmental preservation!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ma KalshomahMay 17, 2025 at 8:08 AM

    Nice sharing. I like the way you explain about Maqasid Shariah

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMay 17, 2025 at 10:39 AM

    good sharing br umar!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMay 19, 2025 at 12:08 AM

    very good

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hambali ZamzamMay 19, 2025 at 7:48 AM

    Very helpful note and reflection on this topic

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nur Fathin ShuraiyaMay 19, 2025 at 6:03 PM

    Very nice for us to read and open our eyes to the beauty of Maqasid Shariah!

    ReplyDelete
  8. alia maisarahMay 19, 2025 at 8:12 PM

    Well said! It’s inspiring to see you link daily actions to your greater purpose.

    ReplyDelete
  9. M.HamzahMay 19, 2025 at 8:24 PM

    very informative, very demure !

    ReplyDelete
  10. Izzah Mohd Najib (2416264)May 19, 2025 at 8:33 PM

    very concise

    ReplyDelete
  11. AdamMay 19, 2025 at 11:17 PM

    Luvveee

    ReplyDelete
  12. MienmienMay 20, 2025 at 6:19 AM

    Very informative

    ReplyDelete

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