Socio-economic and environmental impacts of industrialism: Qur'anic Prophetic Wisdom For Contemporary and Future Solutions

• Main Authors: Zainan Nazri, Nurul Jannah, Zainan Nazri, Nurul Mukminah
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Department of Qur'an and Sunnah Studies IIUM 2022
• Subjects: BPG Islamic geography; BPG113 Environmental ethics/responsibility. Sustainable living.; BPH Islamic Economics; BPH104 Islam and poverty; BPH830.3 Social systems. Urban groups. Cities and towns. Sustainable urban development
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/106121/7/106121_Socio-economic%20and%20environmental%20impacts%20of%20industrialism%20Qur%27anic%20Prophetic%20Wisdom%20For%20Contemporary%20and%20Future%20Solutions.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/106121/
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

It has generally been a strong belief that industrialization is necessary to eliminate poverty, unemployment, inequality in the distribution of income and wealth, and above all, to bring an accelerated growth of economic development. This belief which has been deep rooted for decades in Muslims’ hearts assumes that the third world countries must follow the footsteps of the first-world nations if they aim for tremendous growth of economic development. However, the findings of various studies on industrializing countries have revealed that industrialization and modernization have been accompanied not just by attributes of economic development but also by abject poverty, greater unemployment, wider inequalities, and horrifying numbers on crimes, drug addiction, moral collapse, fatherless households, and the list goes on. In other words, the concept of industrialization and industrialism which are merely concerned about material and physical development have failed in realising the socio-economic well-being of the third world nations which Muslim countries are part of. In fact, the current situation of industrialised first-world nations should also be a lesson for Muslims, that is to avoid from repeating the same mistakes. If industrialization is examined from a purely Qur’anic Prophetic perspective, obviously, Islam perceives the process of industrialization as a source of sustenance and livelihood, as well as economic growth of a nation. Furthermore, industrialization and civilization in Islam encompass not merely economic growth but all other dimensions of the human life including social, spiritual, political, cultural, and psychological well-being. This study is essentially textual and document analysis. The historical information about the impact of industrialism is very important to be explored to understand the present tensions around the world especially after facing unpredictable situations like Covid-19 pandemic. This study also enlightens the current generations about the reality of present chaos and offers a gift of wisdom from Qur’anic Prophetic guidance for contemporary and future solutions.