Islam and Social Sustainability

     As we know that man as Khalifah on earth (vicegerent of Allah) has a big Amanah which is to govern the earth by implementing Islamic law and prospering the world, living in community and not being hostile to each other. The Amanah concept is the fundamental governance of society. So as Khalifah, we have the responsibility to take care of the Trust given including the trust (Amanah) in ourselves, our family, society and country. 

    As Muslims, we are supposed to follow the tenets of Islam and the tenets of Iman as the basis for social sustainability, for example, prayer, alms (zakat), fasting, and pilgrimage (hajj) are fardhu ain (individual compulsory) for us to do during our life until we die. Also, the fardhu kifayah concept which is (society compulsory), such as it is compulsory in Muslim society to have at least one expert in every field, medical, engineering, business, and so on, Islam does not ignore the importance of social development. These two concepts also as an operational basis for social governance because it is embodied in Islamic teaching, fiqh ibadat(Islamic personal law), fiqh munakahat (Islamic family law), fiqh muamalat (Islamic commercial law), and lastly, fiqh Jinayah (Islamic criminal law). 

    In relation to the socially sustainable concept, Islam develops the Muslims' personality gradually from an individual and communal aspect. On top of that Islam also urges us to do Ihsan (benevolence) whereby Muslims are urged to do good deeds as if Allah is looking at them. Even though he is not able to see Allah physically but Allah's existence is felt metaphysically.

    Humans are at the centre of development efforts. In nature, males and females, tribes and nations are created collectively as social beings with the intention of getting to know one another. This serves as a fundamental tenet of the Islamic social structure that emphasises interactions between people and the natural world.