Developing an "Islamic Environmental Fiqh": A Theological Response to the Climate Crisis by the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI)
Downloads
Background. The climate crisis is not only an ecological challenge but also a theological one, especially in countries where religion plays a significant role in shaping public behavior and policy. In Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has begun formulating "Islamic Environmental Jurisprudence" as a religious response to environmental degradation.
Purpose. This study aims to analyze the theological foundations, interpretative strategies, and practical implementation of the environmental jurisprudence developed by the MUI in addressing climate change.
Methods. Using qualitative content analysis, this study examines fatwas, religious documents, and public statements issued by the MUI between 2010 and 2024.
Results. The research findings indicate that the MUI's environmental jurisprudence integrates Qur'anic ecological ethics, principles of maslahah (public interest), and sustainability-oriented ijtihad. Furthermore, it reflects a contextual understanding of sharia in responding to the global ecological crisis.
Conclusion. This study concludes that the MUI initiative is a progressive model of religious environmentalism, which has the potential to influence Muslim public discourse and environmental policy, both nationally and globally.
Acim, S. A., & Suharti, n. (2023). THE CONCEPT OF FIQH AL-B?’AH IN THE QUR’AN: A Study of the Quranic Verses on Environment in the Ulamas’ Views of Lombok. Ulumuna, 27(1), 115–140. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v27i1.694
Alreshaid, N. (2022). Special Economic Zones to Facilitate Trade and Investment Opportunities MENA Regional Applications amidst a Global Race to the Bottom. Indonesian Journal of International and Comparative Law, 9(1), 43–100. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85132907297&partnerID=40&md5=73abf83783e1a1b99ea43d304c9ce0d1
Amiruddin, M. M., Haq, I., Anwar, H., & Haris, A. (2024). Reforming Fiqh Al-Bi’ah (Ecological Jurisprudence) based on Islam Hadhari: An Integration Conservation Framework of Muamalah and Culture. International Journal of Law and Society, 3(3), 187–205. https://doi.org/10.59683/ijls.v3i3.99
Chanifah, N., Luth, T., Rohmah, S., Kholish, M. A., & Muchlis, Z. (2024). Ecological Wisdom of The Bajo Tribe in The Perspective of Fiqh al-Bi’ah and Green Constitution. Al-Ihkam: Jurnal Hukum Dan Pranata Sosial, 19(2), 470–495. https://doi.org/10.19105/al-lhkam.v19i2.13894
Efendi, D., Kurniawan, N. I., & Santoso, P. (2021). From fiqh to political advocacy: Muhammadiyah’s ecological movement in the post new order indonesia. Studia Islamika, 28(2), 349–383. https://doi.org/10.36712/sdi.v28i2.14444
Hamdi, F., Ladraa, K., Benjammour, M., Hafidzi, A., & Ilhami, H. (2025). Integrating Maqashid al-Sharia, Fiqh al-Bi’ah, and Islamic Ethics for Sustainable Water Management: A Case Study of Indonesia. Al-Ahkam: Jurnal Ilmu Syari’ah Dan Hukum, 10(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.22515/alahkam.v10i1.11277
Hannani, H., Ilham, M., Anwar, K., & Jadi, S. A. (2025). Dialectics of Theology and Ecology in Ammatoa ri Kajang in Bulukumba, Indonesia: Paradigm of Tawhidic and Environmental Fiqh in Sulapa Appa. Samarah, 9(1), 374–393. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v9i1.28242
Lahafi, F., Wekke, I. S., & Muhammadun, M. (2018). Reconciliation of environmental fiqh in indonesia legal system. Opcion, 34(Special Issue 18), 2308–2326. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071178803&partnerID=40&md5=cb7ca80231cb2eaa2d290d2548cd99a6
Maimunah, u. (2020). Environmental Jurisprudence Approach in Maslahat-Based Development. In Romaidi, A. Prasetyo, & T. Sakaguchi (Eds.), IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 456, Issue 1). Institute of Physics Publishing helen.craven@iop.org. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/456/1/012086
Mangkunegara, R. M. A. (2024). Juridical Analysis of Forestry Criminal Law Enforcement by Corporations in Environmental Fiqh Framework. Nurani, 24(1), 235–252. https://doi.org/10.19109/nurani.v24i1.23115
Maskun, u., & Aslan, J. (2025). Legal Framework Model for Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Indonesia: A Contemporary Environmental Fiqh Perspective. MILRev: Metro Islamic Law Review, 4(2), 1097–1122. https://doi.org/10.32332/milrev.v4i2.11104
Mufid, M. (2020). Green Fatwas in Bahtsul Masail: Nahdlatul Ulamas Response to the Discourse of Environmental Crisis in Indonesia. Al-Ihkam: Jurnal Hukum Dan Pranata Sosial, 15(2), 173–200. https://doi.org/10.19105/al-lhkam.v15i2.3956
Najib, M., Saefullah, U., Haryanti, E., Haetami, E., & Maryati, D. S. (2020). Environmental conservation paradigm in islamic ecological perspective. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 24(4), 5440–5447. https://doi.org/10.37200/IJPR/V24I4/PR201640
Nilda, E., Nurdiansyah, R., Witro, D., Hidayaturrahman, M., Setyawan, R., & Alghani, R. (2025). Ecological Awareness in Buying and Selling: Fiqh al-Bi’ah Analysis on Plastic Bag Use at Tanjung Bajure Market, Indonesia. Jurnal Ilmiah Mizani, 12(2), 71–87. https://doi.org/10.29300/mzn.v12i2.7822
Rois, C., Jannani, N., & Mufid, M. H. (2024). Islamic Law Paradigm Responding Conflicts of Interest of Economic Development and Ecological Conservation Hifdz al-Bi’ah Perspective. Al-Istinbath: Jurnal Hukum Islam, 9(1), 193–210. https://doi.org/10.29240/jhi.v9i1.8660
Saba, A. O., Moruf, R. O., Olohunlana, S. D., Ishaq, S. I., Ahmed, I. A., Yusuf-Saba, S. A., & Elegbede, I. O. (2025). From Ocean to Plate: The Potential of Blue Economy Products for Halal Industry Sustainability (pp. 233–252). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-1729-6_13
Santoso, D. (2023). Reviewing The Concept of Fiqh Al-Bi’ah In Law Enforcement Against Ecocide Performers In Indonesia. Relacoes Internacionais No Mundo Atual, 4(42), 310–327. https://doi.org/10.21902/Revrima.v4i42.6031
Sisdianto, E., Ahmad Razimi, M. S., Sampurna, D. S., Susanti, S., & Cahya, B. T. (2024). Economic Performance: Impact of Implementing Environment Cost and Disclosure Carbon Emissions Fiqh Al Bi’ah (Environment) Analysis Approach. Paper Asia, 40(6), 86–98. https://doi.org/10.59953/paperasia.v40i6b.136
Speidl, B. (2025). Emergence of a Sh?’? Islamic Environmental Paradigm: Legal and Ethical Considerations. Journal of Islamic Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1163/24685542-20250003
Subakir, A., Wakhidah, N., Muzainah, G., & Abdullah, R. (2024). Synergy Of Samin Culture with Environmental Fiqh in Central Java. Syariah: Jurnal Hukum Dan Pemikiran, 24(1), 224–240. https://doi.org/10.18592/sjhp.v24i1.13456
Sukarni, S. (2024). Gambut Muslim Community and Their Environmental Conservation; Intertwin among Fiqh, Economy, and Policy Factors. Al-Ihkam: Jurnal Hukum Dan Pranata Sosial, 19(2), 546–573. https://doi.org/10.19105/al-lhkam.v19i2.14311
Umam, K., Fedro, A., Isro’i, M. I., & Ekayani, M. (2024). Striking the balance: Fiqh Bi’ah and Productive Waqf Forests (PWFs) for sustainable forest management in Indonesia. Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-03-2024-0090
Wahdini, M., & Jubba, H. (2025). Ecological Legal Politics in Indonesia: The Critique within Muhammadiyah’s Fiqh during the Reformation Era. Samarah, 9(1), 454–474. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v9i1.27609
Wahidi, R., Afwadzi, B., & Rahman, R. (2025). Tawhid and Qur’anic Interpretation in Early 20th-Century Minangkabau: A Philological-Theological Study of Abdul Latif Syakur’s al-Taw??d (1882–1963). Jurnal Studi Ilmu-ilmu al-Qur’an dan Hadis, 26(2), 327–350. https://doi.org/10.14421/qh.v26i2.6268
Copyright (c) 2025 Siti Nuri Nurhaidah, Habib Nabiel Al Musawa, Muhammad Haris Hakam, Usman Umar, Solahuddin Solahuddin
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
