Maqasidization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ( 17 – SDGs): Aligning Global Goals with Shariah Living Framework
By Dr
Shaya’a Othman
Abstract
Since their
adoption in 2015, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have
represented the most ambitious global framework for eradicating poverty,
promoting equality, and ensuring sustainability. With 17 goals and 169 targets,
the SDGs cover nearly every aspect of human development. Yet as 2030
approaches, progress remains uneven, and criticisms abound: the goals are too
broad, fragmented, politically negotiated, and often unrealistic. This article
proposes Maqasidization of the SDGs — reinterpreting and restructuring them
through the lens of maqasid al-shari‘ah (the higher objectives of Islamic law).
Unlike the fragmented SDGs, the maqasid offer a living, structured, and
universal framework with five ultimate goals: protection of religion, life,
intellect, progeny, and wealth. By mapping the 17 SDGs into these five maqasid,
this article demonstrates how Maqasidization provides coherence, ethical
grounding, and universal relevance. It argues that Maqasidization is not an
exclusivist Islamic project but a global paradigm for justice, sustainability,
and human dignity — a post-2030 framework for humanity.
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1. The 2030 Agenda and Its Challenges
In September
2015, all 193 member states of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, centred on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Building on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs, 2000–2015), the SDGs sought
to address global poverty, hunger, inequality, climate change, peace, and
prosperity in a more comprehensive way (United Nations, 2015). The 17 SDGs were
hailed as historic. Advocates praised their universality, interconnectedness,
and promise to “leave no one behind.” Yet, despite their promise, critiques
emerged early. Scholars and policymakers noted that the SDGs were too broad and
fragmented, with 169 specific targets that diluted focus (Hickel, 2019). Others
observed that the goals reflected political compromises, resulting in uneven implementation. Moreover, the financing gap — estimated at trillions of dollars
annually — raised doubts about the feasibility (Sachs, 2015). As 2030 approaches,
the evidence confirms these concerns. Progress reports by the UN (2023) indicate that while some improvements have been made, many goals remain off track. This
article argues that the Maqasidization of the SDGs offers a structured,
holistic alternative. Maqasid al-shari‘ah is a centuries-old Islamic framework,
revitalised by contemporary scholarship, which organises human well-being into
five ultimate objectives. Unlike the SDGs’ 17 fragmented categories, the
maqasid are structured, comprehensive, and timeless.
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2. The SDGs:
Promise and Limits
The SDGs
represent a global consensus on the interconnectedness of human development.
Their universality is one of their strengths, but their very breadth is also
their weakness. With 17 goals and 169 targets, the framework risks becoming a
wish list rather than a roadmap (Hickel, 2019). Policymakers face the
impossible task of prioritisation, as many goals overlap or even conflict. For
example, industrial growth (SDG 9) can undermine climate action (SDG 13). The
SDGs were born from negotiation, not vision. As a result, they reflect
compromises between competing interests — states, corporations, and NGOs.
Critics argue that the framework often avoids addressing structural injustices,
focusing on symptoms rather than causes. The UN’s latest reports (2023) reveal
that progress is mixed: poverty eradication (SDG 1) has slowed, hunger (SDG 2)
has worsened, climate action (SDG 13) is far off track, and gender equality
(SDG 5) remains aspirational. The overall verdict: the SDGs are inspirational
but unachievable in their current form.
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3. Maqasid
al-Shariah: A Living, Structured Framework
Maqasid
al-shari‘ah (objectives of Islamic law) is a classical concept developed by
scholars such as al-Ghazali (d. 1111) and al-Shatibi (d. 1388). They argued
that all laws and rulings in Islam serve to protect essential human interests.
Al-Ghazali identified five universal objectives: religion (din), life (nafs),
intellect (‘aql), progeny (nasl), and wealth (mal). These goals are
comprehensive, structured, and enduring. They are not tied to political
negotiation but grounded in divine revelation and rationality. Modern scholars
like Jasser Auda (2008) and Dusuki & Bouheraoua (2011) have revitalised
maqasid as a dynamic system for addressing contemporary issues. Unlike the
SDGs, maqasid are living objectives — adaptable across contexts while remaining
structured and limited in number.
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4. Maqasidization
of the SDGs
The core of
this article is the mapping of the 17 SDGs into the 5 maqasid. This process,
which we call Maqasidization, demonstrates how fragmented goals can be
integrated into a coherent framework. Protection of Life (Hifz al-Nafs) aligns
with goals such as SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Health), SDG
6 (Water), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Protection of Intellect (Hifz al-‘Aql)
aligns with SDG 4 (Education) and SDG 9 (Innovation). Protection of Progeny
(Hifz al-Nasl) includes SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice). Protection of Wealth (Hifz al-Mal) connects with SDG 7
(Energy), SDG 8 (Work), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption). Finally, Protection
of Religion (Hifz al-Din) relates to SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities) and SDG
17 (Partnerships). Through Maqasidization, the 17 SDGs are streamlined into 5
living objectives, making the framework more structured and coherent.
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5. Towards a
Post-2030 Framework
As 2030
approaches, it is evident that the SDGs, while visionary, are not fully
achievable. A post-2030 framework must address the weaknesses of fragmentation,
political compromise, and lack of ethical grounding. Maqasidization offers such
a framework: structured (5 ultimate goals instead of 17 fragmented ones),
ethical (rooted in justice, mercy, and sustainability), universal (applicable
to Muslims and non-Muslims alike), and living (adaptable across time and
place). Policymakers, international institutions, and religious leaders should
engage with maqasid as a serious paradigm for global governance.
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6. Conclusion
The SDGs
represented humanity’s most ambitious development agenda. Yet their
fragmentation, political compromises, and uneven progress reveal deep flaws.
Maqasid al-shari‘ah, by contrast, offers a living, structured, and universal
framework for human well-being. By Maqasidizing the SDGs, we can align global
goals with timeless principles — protecting life, intellect, progeny, wealth,
and religion. This framework not only simplifies and strengthens the SDGs but
also provides a post-2030 vision for sustainable development grounded in
justice, ethics, and human dignity.
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