Aligning the Maqasid al-Shariah and Qawa’id al-Fiqhiyyah to the Development of a Mobile Application for Early Breast Cancer Detection

Abstract

Breast cancer can lead to a decreasing quality of life, increasing mortality rate and financial implications for treatment. Many mobile applications (apps) such as Mobile Health or Health apps have been used widely to promote early detection, prevention and, provide care and support for cancer patients and survivors. However, apps that are specifically developed to give awareness towards breast screening practices such as breast self-examination and mammography among Malaysian women are scarce. Efforts should be done to develop a mobile app that can be used to encourage breast cancer awareness and facilitate breast screening practices among Malaysian women. These efforts should be seen within the concept of the Health Belief Model, that is directed towards health promotion and disease prevention. This paper attempts to align the development of this app with the objectives and principles of the Sha’riah. The work begins with the explanation on the current issues in breast cancer. This is followed by recognising mobile technologies as a health promotion tool for encouraging early breast cancer detection. The core discussions on the development of a breast cancer app to encourage women in performing breast screening practices will be based on the Maqasid al-Shariah (objectives of Islamic law) as well as Qawaid al-Fiqhiyyah (Islamic legal maxims). It is hoped that this paper will open further discussions on the incorporation of Islamic perspectives in the field of information and communications technology (ICT), especially in the area of app development within the healthcare sector.