Volume II: Law, Policy, and Ecological Justice

Fatwa and its Role in Addressing Environmental Issues: A Review of Malaysia and Indonesia

  • Muhammad Ikhlas Rosele Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Saiful Islam Nor Mohd Zulkarnain Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Keywords

fatwa, fiqh al-bi’ah, environment, maqasid al-shariah, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Abstract

Environmental issues have become one of the major challenges faced by the global community today. The deterioration of environmental quality caused by human activities such as pollution, deforestation, excessive exploitation of natural resources, and unsustainable development has resulted in various implications for human life and ecosystems. In the Islamic perspective, environmental preservation constitutes part of humanity’s responsibility as khalifah (vicegerent) on earth. Therefore, this article discusses the role of fatwa in addressing environmental issues by focusing on the approaches adopted in Malaysia and Indonesia. This study employs a document analysis method based on sources related to fiqh al-bi’ah, the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and environmental fatwas. The findings indicate that fatwa plays a significant role as an instrument of Islamic law in guiding society towards sustainable environmental management. In addition, fatwa also functions as a medium of education, social control, and policy reinforcement concerning environmental preservation. This article further emphasizes that the fiqh al-bi’ah approach based on maqasid al-shariah can serve as an important foundation in developing awareness and collective action towards environmental sustainability.

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