Maṣlaḥah Mursalah and Environmental Sustainability: An Islamic Jurisprudential Perspective

Religious ethical traditions continue to serve as valuable sources of moral orientation and normative guidance to address the ongoing ecological crisis. Within Islamic thought, ecological responsibility is commonly articulated through concepts such as stewardship (khalīfah), balance (mīzān), and the prohibition of corruption (fasād). This article argues that maṣlaḥah mursalah – the principle of unrestricted public welfare in Islamic legal theory – provides a coherent jurisprudential framework for translating these ethical commitments into legal reasoning capable of addressing modern ecological challenges. Drawing on classical formulations by jurists such as al-Ghazālī and al-Shāṭibī, the study situates maṣlaḥah within the objectives of Islamic law (maqāṣid al-sharīʿah), emphasizing its concern with harm prevention, assessment of consequences, and the protection of collective welfare. It demonstrates that environmental degradation directly threatens core juridical objectives, including the preservation of life, intellect, and material resources, thereby warranting sustained legal engagement within an Islamic framework. By integrating theological foundations, juristic methodology, and contemporary applications, the article shows that maṣlaḥah mursalah functions as a disciplined and context-sensitive mode of legal reasoning rather than a discretionary appeal to utility. In doing so, it contributes to ongoing conversations in Islamic environmental ethics and clarifies the potential role of Islamic jurisprudence in contemporary sustainability discourse.