Reframing Sustainable Development through Islamic Futures Thinking Ethical Foundations and Strategic Implications

AbdulWahed  Jalal Nori; Homam  Altabaa

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No. 20 (2025): Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution

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Submitted September 4, 2025

Published September 4, 2025

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This article offers a critical exploration of the epistemological and ethical convergence between Islamic principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), examined through the integrative framework of futures thinking. Employing the metaphor of roots, branches, and bridges, it articulates how Islamic epistemology—anchored in tawḥīd (divine unity), maqāṣid al-sharīʿah (the higher objectives of Islamic law), and khilāfah (human vicegerency)—provides a comprehensive and anticipatory paradigm for addressing sustainability, environmental responsibility, and global equity. The analysis advances the argument for the recognition and integration of faith-based knowledge systems within global development discourse, highlighting the indispensable role of ethical foresight, metaphysical intentionality, and moral vision in shaping long-term strategies. By reframing the SDGs as more than technocratic targets, the article positions them as a potential platform for cultivating intergenerational justice and spiritually grounded transformation.

Dr. AbdulWahed Jalal Nori

Is an Assistant Professor at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), where he also serves as the Coordinator of the Centre for Foresight Studies at the Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences. His academic expertise spans political science, Islamic philosophy, and futures studies. Dr. Nori’s work thoughtfully bridges classical Islamic thought with contemporary global challenges, focusing on the intersection of ethics, civilization, and strategic foresight. His research is driven by a commitment to shaping a just and resilient future for the Muslim world and humanity at large. Prior to his current role, Dr. Nori held academic positions as a contract lecturer at Universiti Utara Malaysia, a visiting lecturer at Universiti Malaya, and a senior lecturer at the University of Human Development in Iraq. He also served as a senior analyst at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia. Dr. Nori holds a Ph.D. in Political Science, with his primary research interests focusing on futures thinking and political reform in the Islamic world. He has organized numerous workshops and seminars on futures studies and currently supervises several Ph.D. students in related fields.

Homam Altabaa

Holds a PhD in Philosophy, Ethics, and Contemporary Issues from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). His research interests include creative and critical thinking, Islamic and comparative literatures, and spirituality and mysticism. He is the Associate Editor of Journal of Islam in Asia and a member of the editorial board of Al-Tajdid Journal. He currently teaches at the Department of English Language and Literature in IIUM.

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Reframing Sustainable Development through Islamic Futures Thinking Ethical Foundations and Strategic Implications. (2025). Religions, 20(20). https://religions.dicid.org/index.php/religions/article/view/6

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Reframing Sustainable Development through Islamic Futures Thinking Ethical Foundations and Strategic Implications

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Homam Altabaa

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