Ḥifẓ al-Bī’ah in the Qur’anic Perspective: Reconstructing the Principles of Islamic Environmental Law through Thematic Interpretation

Abstract

Environmental protection ideally constitutes an integral dimension of Islamic normative thought because the Qur’an establishes human responsibility toward creation and prohibits ecological destruction. In reality, however, Islamic environmental discourse remains largely situated within ethical and theological appeals, while the systematic transformation of Qur’anic ecological values into principles of Islamic environmental law remains underdeveloped. This study aims to reconstruct Islamic environmental law principles through a thematic interpretation of Qur’anic verses and to examine the position of ḥifẓ al-bī’ah within the framework of maqāṣid al-syarī‘ah. Employing qualitative library research and tafsīr mawḍū‘ī, the study analyzes verses related to khalīfah, amānah, mīzān, fasād, taskhīr, isrāf, and iṣlāḥ, supported by classical and contemporary exegesis and relevant environmental-law literature. The findings demonstrate that these Qur’anic concepts constitute an integrated normative structure that can be reconstructed into principles of ecological responsibility, balance, prevention of environmental damage, responsible resource use, restoration, and intergenerational justice. The study further positions ḥifẓ al-bī’ah as a cross-maqāṣid dimension that sustains the realization of other essential objectives of Islamic law.