From Fiqh to Code: Reconstructing Islamic Legal Governance through Maqasid al-Shariah in the Era of Algorithmic Regulation
Published:
2025-12-31Downloads
Abstract
The rise of algorithmic regulation has fundamentally reconfigured the architecture of legal governance, shifting authority from human-centered interpretation to computational decision-making systems. This transformation poses a critical challenge for Islamic law, which has historically been grounded in fiqh-based interpretive reasoning that resists formalization into machine-readable logic. This study addresses this tension by reconceptualizing Islamic legal governance through Maqasid al-Shariah, positioning it as a programmable ethical architecture for algorithmic systems. Employing a qualitative conceptual approach that integrates doctrinal analysis and interdisciplinary synthesis, this research develops a novel framework termed Maqasid-Driven Algorithmic Governance (MDAG). The findings demonstrate that Maqasid principles—such as justice, welfare, and human dignity—can be systematically translated into computational parameters that guide algorithmic decision-making while preserving normative integrity. This study advances a significant theoretical shift from rule-based jurisprudence to principle-driven computational governance, thereby transforming Islamic law from an interpretive tradition into an operational system adaptable to digital environments. By bridging Islamic jurisprudence and artificial intelligence governance, this research not only expands the scope of Islamic legal thought but also contributes an alternative normative paradigm to global debates on ethical AI. The study establishes a foundational model for integrating Islamic legal principles into technologically mediated societies, opening new pathways for interdisciplinary research and practical implementation.
Keywords:
Islamic law Maqasid al-Shariah; algorithmic regulation artificial intelligence legal governance ethical AIReferences
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