Islamic Environmental Ethics and Climate Justice in Maldives

<jats:p>The Republic of Maldives is facing devastating existential threats from rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and ecosystem degradation. Current technocratic frameworks, which elevate science above religious doctrine and morality, have failed to incorporate Shariah's morally imperative elements, creating a critical governance gap. Islamic environmental ethics (khalifa, mizan, and amanah) therefore provide viable pathways for uniting faith, law, and community action for climate justice. Through qualitative analysis of jurisprudence and policy documents, this study identifies how imam sermons, mosque education, and ethical environmental assessments can serve as faith-based drivers for grassroots fulfilment of God's will among vulnerable atoll communities. Recommendations: 1) partnering religious leaders and regulators through collaborative training; 2) implementing tawbah-aligned restorative penalties; and 3) embedding Maqasid al-Shariah curricula within the Maldivian education system thereby establishing a replicable model for climate justice within other Small Island Developing States.</jats:p>