الغَابَات المَحْمِية الدَائمَة في مَاليزيا بين التَّشْريعِ الحَدِيْث ومَفْهوْم الحِمى النّبوِي: دِراسَة تَحلِيْلِيَّة

Permanent Forest Reserves in Malaysia and The Prophetic Concept of Ḥimā: An Analytical Study

Abstract

This study explores the intersection between the classical Islamic concept of ḥimā in the Prophetic tradition and Malaysia’s Permanent Forest Reserves system, highlighting their shared objectives in advancing environmental sustainability through the perspective of maqāṣid al-sharīʿah. This research first outlines the legal and ethical foundations of ḥimā, emphasizing its role in safeguarding natural resources and promoting collective welfare. It then examines the Permanent Forest Reserves as a statutory mechanism in Malaysian law designed to conserve biodiversity, mitigate environmental degradation, and ensure the long-term sustainability of ecological assets. Contemporary challenges such as illegal logging, deforestation, and poaching are analyzed, with attention to their detrimental impacts on ecosystems, economies, and communities, including the occurrence of natural disasters such as floods and landslides. In response, the study proposes an integrative framework that bridges statutory legislation with Islamic ethical principles to strengthen environmental governance. This framework underlines the preservation of life, wealth, progeny, and the environment, affirming that forest protection is not merely an ecological concern but a religious obligation and divine trust entrusted to humanity for safeguarding the rights of future generations.