THE ROLE OF ISLAMIC MORAL PHILOSOPHY IN SHAPING SOCIAL MINDSETS FOR CLIMATE CRISIS MITIGATION

Abstract

Modern industrial practices and consumer-driven economies have disrupted the balance between humanity and nature, undermining the harmony that once characterised their interdependence. This anthropocentric worldview has generated profound ecological imbalances and accelerated the dynamics of climate change. Considering the severe implications of this crisis of humankind, raising awareness and aligning consumption with ecological parameters has become an urgent prerequisite for a sustainable future. Within this context, the insights of Islamic philosophers—particularly on nature, humanity, and economic ethics—remain highly relevant. This study employs content analysis to three major works of Islamic moral philosophy—Ibn Miskawayh’s Tahdhīb al-Akhlāq, Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī’s Akhlāq-i Nāṣirī, and Kınalızāde ʿAlī’s Akhlāq-i ʿAlāʾī—to examine how Islamic virtue ethics can inform and reshape individual and collective attitudes toward the climate emergency. The findings demonstrate that Islamic moral philosophy offers vital guidance for harmonising environmental behaviour with ethical values, demonstrating that this integration can meaningfully address the global climate crisis. Rooted in the core virtues of justice (ʿadl), contentment (qanāʿah), and compassion (raḥmah), it provides a strong ethical foundation for sustainable environmental practice. Integrating these virtues into contemporary climate strategies can enhance community engagement and strengthen broader efforts to mitigate the climate crisis.