Integrating Spiritual Dimension in Sustainable Development Strategy an Islamic Perspective

Download or read book Integrating Spiritual Dimension in Sustainable Development Strategy an Islamic Perspective written by Sapia Moalam Abdulrachman and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The quest for sustainable development continues since the 1987 Conference at Ottawa, Ontario. Scholarly discussion on the subject matter is rich with concepts and strategies on how to attain the goals of sustainable development. In these discussions, however, very little emphasis is given to the human factors contributing or hindering the goals of sustainable development. Along this line, the paper expounds on the human factors particularly behavioral component hindering sustainable development and consequently proposes a holistic approach to address the problem. It assumes that the continued downgrading of moral values in the society directly and indirectly contributes to the environmental hazards which eventually will make life in the future difficult. It's direct consequences are due to lack of discipline among the people which are manifested in their household, agricultural, and business practices that endanger environment. The indirect damages are results of natural disasters. Although, the causes of disaster cannot be accounted by moral issues alone, religious teachings especially Islamic ones reveal that natural disaster can be minimized if the people perform their responsibilities with faith in God as the primordial l motivator. Along this line, a holistic approach to sustainable development that integrates the structural-organizational development strategy and behavioral development strategy is proposed. Through discipline among the people and good governance sustainable development may be pursued through collaborative and cooperative undertaking between and among the various stakeholders. In conclusion, the Islamic concept of sustainable development is meeting the totality of human needs in all generations while at the same time fulfilling the responsibilities of men to himself, to his fellowmen and to God.