Bridging Tasawwuf and Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah: An Ethical Foundation for Muslim Social Welfare in Contemporary Societies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70062/harmonyphilosophy.v2i2.329Keywords:
Islamic Finance, Maqāṣid Al-Sharīʿah, Social Justice, Social Welfare, Tasawwuf EthicsAbstract
This study explores the integration of Tasawwuf (Islamic mysticism) with Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah (objectives of Islamic law) to propose a more ethical and effective social welfare framework. The research emphasizes the importance of combining the spiritual dimensions of Tasawwuf, such as Ihsan (excellence) and ʿAdl (justice), with the legal and ethical framework of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah, which seeks to preserve essential human interests such as religion, life, intellect, progeny, and wealth. This integrated approach is positioned as a comprehensive model for social welfare that addresses not only material needs but also promotes spiritual growth and ethical conduct. By blending these two frameworks, the study proposes a holistic view of social welfare that fosters empathy, justice, and social care. The findings highlight that Tasawwuf contributes to the ethical application of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah, enhancing social responsibility and promoting greater community cohesion and solidarity. The study also discusses the practical implications of this integration in contemporary Muslim societies, including its potential to reshape existing welfare programs. Recommendations for future research and policy development emphasize the need for further exploration of this integrated approach in Islamic finance, Takaful, and Zakat, as well as the creation of frameworks that balance legal compliance with ethical and spiritual principles. The results suggest that incorporating Tasawwuf alongside Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah can significantly improve the ethical foundation of social welfare programs, fostering a more just and compassionate society.
References
Abou-Bakr, O. M. (2023). The Egalitarian Principle of “Qist” as Lived Ethic: Towards a Liberational Tafsir. Religions, 14(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14091087
Baba, R., Ramli, R., Syahrial, M., Wahid, H., & Rohaeni, H. (2025). Implementation of Selected Sustainable Development Goals in Zakat Management: A Study on the Zakat Distribution Division, Melaka Islamic Religious Council (MAIM), Melaka. Global Journal Al-Thaqafah, 1 – 14. https://doi.org/10.7187/GJATSI102025-1
Jafar, A., & Zafar, M. B. (2025). Corporate social responsibility disclosure in the Takaful sector. International Journal of Ethics and Systems. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOES-11-2024-0367
Jomaa Ahmed, F. B. (2020). Conceptualizing Islamic ethics for contemporary muslim societies. Intellectual Discourse, 28(1), 319–344. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85088305600&partnerID=40&md5=05e02f535178eb9f9d46481eb078c0fe
Kamal, I. (2025). Islamic finance and welfare economics: normative Islamic welfare state versus positive Islamic finance mechanisms. Qualitative Research in Financial Markets. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRFM-03-2025-0092
Kannike, U. M. M., & Fahm, A. O. (2025). EXPLORING THE ETHICAL GOVERNANCE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FROM AN ISLAMIC ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE. Jurnal Fiqh, 22(1), 134 – 161. https://doi.org/10.22452/fiqh.vol22no1.5
Kismawadi, E. R., Haron, R., & Ruslan, D. (2025). Islamic Finance and the Anthropology of Money: Exploring Ethical Alternatives to Interest-Based Systems. In Examining Modern Economic Anthropology. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-1260-6.ch004
Lobah, J. (2016). The Islamic Principle of Maslaha as Practical Wisdom for Human Development. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics and Governance, 145 – 151. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28287-9_11
Meerasahib, D. M. M. (2024). Investigating Intrinsic Duality of Law and Spirit: An Analysis of Abū Yazīd’s Sufism. Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization, 14(2), 1 – 14. https://doi.org/10.32350/jitc.142.01
Mubarok, F. K., & Kurnia, A. S. (2025). The relevance of the implementation of Maqashid Shariah and sustainable development goals in Islamic microfinance institutions. Qualitative Research in Financial Markets. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRFM-01-2024-0008
Raimi, L., Abdur-Rauf, I. A., & Olaide Raimi, B. (2025). Interdependence of halal entrepreneurship and Islamic finance for creating a strong halal ecosystem. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 16(3), 929 – 954. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-05-2023-0162
Riwanto, A., & Suryaningsih, S. (2022). Realizing Welfare State and Social Justice: A Perspective on Islamic Law. Volksgeist: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum Dan Konstitusi, 5(1), 41 – 51. https://doi.org/10.24090/volksgeist.v5i1.6430
Shaukat, M., Shafique, B., & Madbouly, A. (2024). Islamic Framework for Behavioral and Socio-Economic Justice. In Islamic Finance in the Modern Era: Digitalization, FinTech and Social Finance. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003366751-5
Shuaib, M. M. A. (2023). TAKAFUL AL-IJTIMA’I IN ISLAM: A COMPARATIVE STUDY WITH CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC SYSTEMS. Malaysian Journal of Syariah and Law, 11(1), 122 – 141. https://doi.org/10.33102/mjsl.vol11no1.417
Suliman, A. M. (2025). THE OBJECTIVES OF ISLAMIC SHARIA AND GLOBAL HUMAN ISSUES (POVERTY-WARS-DISPLACEMENT). TPM - Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology, 32(S4), 1692 – 1695. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105014356344&partnerID=40&md5=29778f7577f1fe4b391677ff604a0695
Tajmazinani, A. A., & Mahdavi Mazinani, Z. (2021). Foundations of Social Policy and Welfare in Islam. International Series on Public Policy, 15 – 35. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57753-7_2

