Integration of Maqasid al-Shariah and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Framework for Islamic Environmental Ethics

Abstract

This study examines the conceptual convergence between Maqasid al-Shariah (the objectives of Islamic law) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the domain of environmental stewardship. Drawing on classical Islamic jurisprudence and contemporary environmental ethics, this paper proposes an integrated framework that reconciles Islamic legal theory with global sustainability agendas. The findings suggest that the five essential objectives—preservation of religion (din), life (nafs), intellect (aql), lineage (nasl), and property (mal)—can be extended to include a sixth objective: the preservation of the environment (bi'ah), which aligns strongly with SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). This interdisciplinary approach offers Muslim-majority societies a theologically grounded pathway toward achieving global sustainability targets.