Human nature, values, and human existence and development are all intertwined in the notion of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʽah, which supports the well-being of humans, including those with mental health concerns. The high degree of mental health difficulties among students, such as severe stress and depressive symptoms, not only impact their academic performance but also lead to self-injurious behaviour and suicidal attempts. With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting Malaysian university students’ mental health, this article aims to explore the situation from a Maqāṣid al-Sharīʽah (...) perspective and positive psychology. The study employed a mixed-method approach. Firstly, a quantitative descriptive analysis was done to assess students’ overall mental health symptoms to provide a rudimentary assessment of their core psychological problems. Questionnaires were accompanied by an open-ended question to triangulate respondents’ experiences and were analysed qualitatively through a thematic analysis. A DASS-21 survey was given to 87 undergraduate IIUM students (n = 81) aged 19 to 27 years. Based on the maqāṣid framework, the study could be utilised to prioritise strategies to treat mental health concerns at various levels that will ensure the preservation of human life. The ultimate purpose of this research is to provide future implications for a multidimensional framework of psychological well-being based on Maqāṣid al-Sharīʽah principles. This is consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that calls for action to protect humanity and to ensure that all individuals are living in peace and prosperity. (shrink)

Malaysia faces a critical shortage of organ donors, with Muslims participating at lower rates compared to other ethnoreligious groups. This study investigates the sociocultural and religious factors shaping Muslim attitudes towards organ donation. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, a survey conducted in Kuala Lumpur assessed Muslims’ willingness to donate organs, while an interview with the Head of the National Transplant Resource Centre explored cultural and religious influences. Findings reveal significant barriers, including misconceptions that organ donation is self-harm, concerns about (...) missing organs on Judgement Day, and beliefs regarding the sanctity of the human body in Islam. The study suggests that raising awareness through culturally sensitive campaigns, aligned with Sharīʿah principles, could address these concerns. This could potentially increase the number of Muslim organ donors, thus supporting the Sharīʿah goal of preserving life. (shrink)

Being a great jurist and influential scholar with seminal works on hadith, theology, biography and jurisprudence, al-Nawawī’s (d. 1277) views on epidemics are of great significance in these days of the pandemic. This article explores his views and explanations vis-à-vis epidemic to find his perspectives on balance between qadr (predestination) and ḥadhar (precaution) by conducting a content analysis of his various texts. In this article, the authors mainly referred to his texts Sharaḥ Muslim, Riyaḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn, al-Majmūʿ Sharaḥ Muhadhdhab, Rawḍat al-Ṭālibīn (...) and al- Adhkār al-Muntakhab. This study substantiates that in the view of al-Nawawī, Islam postulates a balanced position between taking precaution and faith in Allah’s decrees in dealing with the situations of an epidemic. Thus, it holistically complements the concepts of qadr and hadhar to guide people towards leading a faithful and safe life in the trying times of epidemic. (shrink)

Arguably, ethical guidelines and medical laws on medical confidentiality have fallen short of extrapolating the methodology for dealing with potential ethical complexities in its practice. This drawback has made it difficult for physicians to prevent harm from occurring if it has not yet happened, remove harm if it has already taken place, or minimise harm if it is unavoidable. Therefore, this article attempts to outline certain principles in the form of a framework to govern the management of confidential information in (...) light of Islamic legal maxims. This effort is meant to help health workers to deal with conflicting situations, with reasonable care given to those at risk, while maintaining therapeutic trust and professionalism. The notable significance of this framework is that it is structured after identifying the potential harms in the protection and disclosure of medical confidentiality in selected cases from patient's, doctor's and third party's perspectives and addressing each of them with due importance. (shrink)