Ethicised Shari‘ah: food sustainability as Islamic ethics by British Muslims

Tessie Bundgaard Jorgensen

Chapter 7 in Food Security and Islamic Ethics, 2025, pp 168-186 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines the concept of “ethicised Sharia,” which redefines Shari‘ah as an ethical framework, transcending its traditional legal domain. Utilising 15 illustrative cases, this research reveals how “halal” food, traditionally associated with permissible Islamic practices, transforms into a multifaceted symbol representing behavioural endorsement, a marker of social identity, and a mechanism for self-image regulation within the realm of practised ethicised Sharia. Within the scope of this study, sustainable awareness emerges as an integral component of the contemporary Islamic narrative. It is evident that “halal” extends beyond dietary choices to serve as an ethical identity marker for both producers and consumers of halal products. Moreover, the research highlights how Muslims in Western contexts employ inductive approaches to define and assess sustainability trends as inherently “Islamic.” This interpretive exercise seeks to determine the compatibility of such trends with Shari‘ah principles, contributing to ongoing discussions on ethicised Sharia. The research reveals that British Muslims consider halal food a vital component of their religious identity, despite limited historical emphasis on sustainability in Islamic texts. This highlights the adaptability of religious narratives to contemporary contexts, where sustainability has become an integral part of the overarching Islamic narrative. This study advances our understanding of the evolving dynamics among Islamic ethics and sustainability within contemporary Western Muslim communities.

Keywords: Halal; Ethicised Shari; Ah; Muslim ethics; Sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035333578
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