Between Priority and Formality: A Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah Analysis of the Policies of the Minister of Religious Affairs in Indonesia

Abstract

This study analyzes the epistemological and ethical dimensions of maqāṣid al-syarī‘ah within the framework of Islamic ecotheology, using the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia's tree-planting initiative as a case study. Using a descriptive-analytical approach that integrates textual analysis, policy review, and interpretive reasoning, the research examines how Islamic legal philosophy informs sustainable environmental practices. The findings show that the tree-planting program represents a concrete manifestation of Islamic ecotheology in public policy. Beyond its ecological function, the initiative embodies key Islamic values such as khalīfah fī al-arḍ (human stewardship), mīzān (balance), and maṣlaḥah (public benefit). Environmental preservation is therefore understood not merely as an administrative obligation, but as ecological worship (‘ibādah ekologis) and a moral responsibility toward God’s creation. From the perspective of maqāṣid al-syarī‘ah, this effort falls within the category of ḍarūriyyāt (necessities), as it contributes to the protection of life (ḥifẓ al-nafs), property (ḥifẓ al-māl), and progeny (ḥifẓ al-nasl). The study argues that the global ecological crisis requires a theological reorientation of Islamic law toward a theocentric-ecocentric paradigm, positioning God and nature as central ethical references. In this context, the revitalization of maqāṣid al-syarī‘ah offers a holistic framework that integrates legal, moral, and spiritual dimensions, reinforcing sustainability and ecological justice within Islamic thought and practice.