Evaluating Green Campus Implementation Through the Lens of Maqasid Shariah: Evidence from UiTM’s Environmental Sustainability Initiatives

This paper examines green campus initiatives at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) from the perspective of Maqasid Shariah. The analysis is based on the UiTM Environmental Sustainability Report (ESR) 2025, which documents the university’s sustainability initiatives and achievements. A qualitative document analysis was employed to identify and select relevant green campus initiatives based on their relevance to environmental sustainability, including low-carbon strategies, energy and water efficiency, waste management, circular economy, sustainable transportation, green spaces, sustainability education and institutional governance. The selected initiatives were systematically analysed and mapped against the five essential objectives of Maqasid Shariah: ḥifẓ al-dīn (protection of religion), ḥifẓ al-nafs (protection of life), ḥifẓ al-ʿaql (protection of intellect), ḥifẓ al-nasl (responsibility towards future generations), and ḥifẓ al-māl (protection of wealth). The findings indicate that UiTM’s green initiatives contribute to multiple Maqasid dimensions, particularly human well-being, sustainability awareness, responsibility towards future generations and responsible management of institutional resources. The mapping also demonstrates that a single initiative may contribute to more than one Maqasid dimension. The relationships with ḥifẓ al-nafs, ḥifẓ al-ʿaql, ḥifẓ al-nasl and ḥifẓ al-māl are relatively more direct, while ḥifẓ al-dīn provides a broader ethical foundation for environmental stewardship and sustainability. The study contributes to the emerging discussion on Islamic perspectives of sustainability by demonstrating how Maqasid Shariah can provide an additional framework for interpreting green campus practices in higher education.

Green Campus, Maqasid Shariah, Environmental Sustainability, Islamic Perspective, Higher Education

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