WEEK 3

Class Reflection – Week 3: Maqasid al-Shariah and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This week’s class on Maqasid al-Shariah offered a profound insight into how Islamic teachings align with and support modern sustainable development. I learned that the core objectives of Islamic law — the protection of religion (din), life (nafs), intellect (‘aql), lineage (nasl), and property (mal) — are not only spiritual and moral imperatives, but also deeply practical frameworks for ensuring human well-being and sustainability.

What was particularly eye-opening was the direct connection between Maqasid al-Shariah and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the SDGs are secular in origin, many of their aims — such as eradicating poverty, ensuring quality education, promoting peace and justice, and protecting the environment — mirror the goals of Shariah. For instance:

  • Preservation of life (nafs) aligns with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, and SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

  • Preservation of intellect (‘aql) relates to SDG 4: Quality Education.

  • Preservation of property (mal) corresponds to SDG 1: No Poverty, and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

  • Preservation of lineage (nasl) connects to SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 13: Climate Action, as it includes protecting future generations.

  • Preservation of religion (din) finds a parallel in SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, especially in promoting interfaith dialogue and moral responsibility.


The lesson emphasized that Islam promotes endogenous sustainability — meaning that protecting the environment, maintaining peace, and ensuring justice are not external goals imposed by modernity, but intrinsic values in Islam from the very beginning. This reminded me that sustainability is not a new concept in Islam; rather, it has always been part of the Muslim worldview, rooted in spiritual accountability and the role of humans as Khalifah (stewards) on Earth.

A key takeaway for me is that spirituality is the missing link in many modern sustainability frameworks. While the SDGs focus on external outcomes, Maqasid al-Shariah reminds us that internal transformation — cultivating faith, ethics, and consciousness of God — is essential to achieving true, lasting development. As a Muslim and a student, this encourages me to see environmental and social responsibility not just as civic duties, but as acts of worship and service to humanity.



Overall, this class helped me see how the integration of Maqasid al-Shariah and SDGs offers a powerful model for building a more just, ethical, and sustainable world.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WEEK 10

Image
Class Reflection - Week 10: Measurement, Indices, and Indicators for Sustainable Development This week’s lecture deepened my understanding of the importance of measurement in sustainable development (SD). While sustainable development is often discussed in terms of goals and policies, this lesson highlighted the critical need for systematic and scientific measurement tools, specifically indices and indicators, to monitor progress, evaluate impact, and ensure accountability. Key Learning Points We explored various alternative measures of economic and social well-being, such as the Human Development Index (HDI), Ecological Footprint, Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), and the Happy Planet Index (HPI). These tools go beyond traditional GDP-focused metrics, reflecting a broader and more humane understanding of prosperity — one that values health, education, environmental sustainability, and social equity. What particularly stood out to me was the Malaysian Shariah Index, a unique model ...
Read more

WEEK 7

Image
Individual Reflection Report: Week 7 – Challenges to Sustainable Development   Introduction Week 7’s lecture critically explored the multifaceted challenges facing the global pursuit of sustainable development. Through an integrated lens of social, economic, and environmental dimensions, the session revealed the structural and systemic barriers that hinder equity, resilience, and long-term sustainability. By examining real-world data, inequity narratives, and Islamic principles, the class emphasized that overcoming these challenges requires a shift in mindset, policy, and values at all levels of society—including the individual, institutional, and global. Key Learning Points The lecture identified several general and specific challenges to sustainability, including: Inequities in access to basic needs such as education, healthcare, food, and clean water. Climate change and energy , resource depletion , and environmental degradation . Economic maldevelopment , overcons...
Read more

WEEK 9

Image
Individual Reflection Report  Week 9 – Fieldwork on IIUM as a Sustainable Campus Introduction Week 9 of the SCSH1201 course provided an engaging and practical learning experience through fieldwork, focusing on IIUM’s initiatives as a sustainable campus. This week highlighted how institutions, especially universities, play a vital role in promoting sustainability, not only through policies but through student participation and on-campus practices. The session encouraged me to reflect on how I, as a student, can become an agent of change, integrating SDG goals with Islamic principles to serve both the environment and society. Reflection on Campus Sustainability Our fieldwork and observations showed that IIUM is not just a green campus but one striving for holistic sustainability. Sustainability was reflected in many on-campus programs, such as solar energy initiatives, food waste composting, e-bike sharing, and the myTREEvolution project, which supports tree-planting efforts. The ...
Read more