From Stewardship to Sustainability: A Comparative Analysis of Islamic Ecological Jurisprudence and Western Anthropocentric Regimes

Abstrak

The escalating global environmental crisis, exemplified by climate-induced displacement and systemic economic loss, necessitates an urgent critical re-evaluation of the ethical foundations of contemporary environmental policy. This study investigates the comparative efficiency of Islamic ecological jurisprudence and Western anthropocentric regimes, evaluating whether a synthesis of these paradigms can enhance global sustainability. To address methodological concerns, the research utilizes a mixed-methods design. The qualitative component employs a thematic content analysis of 675 Qur’anic verses, identified across 84 chapters, which were coded into practical mandates for water conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable resource management. These findings are framed by the theoretical principles of Tawheed (divine unity) and Khalifah (stewardship). The quantitative phase employs descriptive statistics to analyze the growth of Islamic green finance as a practical enforcement mechanism for environmental stewardship. Our analysis demonstrates a significant capital trajectory, with Islamic finance assets rising from $1.2 trillion in 2010 to $3.8 trillion in 2023. Through regional case studies, we examine specific mechanisms such as the implementation of environmental fatwas in Indonesia and Malaysia’s leadership in the Green Sukuk market, contrasting these with the decline of traditional hima protected zones in Saudi Arabia, from over 3,000 in the 1960s to fewer than 12 today. The study reveals that while Islamic principles offer a strong ecocentric alternative to the instrumentalist limitations of Western anthropocentrism, their practical application is often impeded by political and economic prioritization. This article contributes a novel hybrid framework that integrates the moral stewardship of Islamic jurisprudence with the market-driven regulatory mechanisms of Western legal systems to create a legally enforceable sustainability model.