ISLAMIC RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR USING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Keywords:
Islamic rules and guidelines, Digital technologies, Sustainable development goals (SDGs), Islamic legal rulingsAbstract
This study examines the Islamic rules and ethical guidelines governing the use of digital technologies in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), within the context of rapid digital transformation. While digital tools such as software, platforms, and online resources have proven to enhance productivity, collaboration, and global connectivity, their misuse can generate significant ethical and social challenges.The paper explores the five categories of Islamic legal rulings applicable to the use of digital tools obligation (wājib), recommendation (mandūb), permissibility (mubāḥ), disapproval (makrūh), and prohibition (ḥarām) and argues that the adoption of modern technology is not inherently inconsistent with Islamic law. Rather, when employed responsibly, digital tools can serve as effective means of realizing the objectives of Islamic jurisprudence (maqāṣid al-sharīʿah). The research adopts a qualitative and doctrinal design, utilizing library-based (documentary) research as its primary method of data collection. Data are sourced from the Qurʾān, the Sunnah, and both classical and contemporary juristic writings, as well as academic and policy literature on digital technology and sustainable development. The collected materials are analyzed through thematic and jurisprudential (fiqhī) analysis to identify relevant principles and derive Sharīʿah-based guidelines for ethical digital engagement.The study proposes ten comprehensive guidelines for the ethical use of digital technology, beginning with righteous intention (al-niyyah al-ṣāliḥah) as the foundational principle. By aligning technological practices with legitimate objectives that promote social welfare and prevent harm, Muslims can transform their digital interactions into acts of worship that fulfill both individual and collective obligations. The findings conclude that a principled use of digital technology, rooted in the ethical framework of Islamic law, can substantially contribute to the realization of the SDGs and reinforce the role of the Muslim community as an essential partner in promoting justice, equity, and sustainable global development
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