Eco-Maqasid: The Relevance of Imam al-Shatibi’s Thought to Sustainable Economic Growth

Abstract

The limited progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has intensified scholarly interest in alternative development paradigms that integrate ethical, social, and environmental dimensions into economic systems. This study examines the relevance of Imam Abū Isḥāq al-Shāṭibī’s maqāṣid al-sharīʿah as a conceptual foundation for sustainable economic growth through the proposed Eco-Maqāṣid framework. A qualitative textual analysis was employed by systematically examining al-Muwāfaqāt fī Uṣūl al-Sharīʿah alongside contemporary literature on sustainability, Islamic economics, and green development. The analysis utilized thematic coding to identify core principles, including maṣlaḥah (public welfare), ʿadl (justice), and tawāzun (balance), followed by conceptual convergence analysis to evaluate their compatibility with contemporary sustainability frameworks. The findings reveal a strong theoretical correspondence between al-Shāṭibī’s maqāṣid and the three pillars of sustainable development. The protection of religion, life, intellect, progeny, and wealth collectively establishes an integrated ethical framework that promotes equitable resource allocation, environmental stewardship, social inclusion, and long-term economic resilience. The analysis further demonstrates that maṣlaḥah functions as the central normative objective linking economic productivity with ecological preservation and intergenerational welfare, while ʿadl and tawāzun reinforce distributive justice and balanced resource utilization. Based on these findings, the study develops an Eco-Maqāṣid-Based Sustainable Economic Growth Model that systematically integrates spiritual, economic, social, and ecological dimensions into development governance. This model extends conventional growth paradigms by embedding moral accountability within economic decision-making and provides a comprehensive theoretical foundation for future empirical research, sustainability policy formulation, and Islamic economic development strategies.