An Applied Study of the Objectives of Islamic Law (Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah) and Jurisprudential Maxims (Qawāʿid al-Fiqhiyyah) on the Protection of Human Dignity in the Digital Age

Abstract

Digital technology has created extraordinary conveniences in human life, reshaping communication, commerce, and access to knowledge. However, this rapid advancement has also introduced severe and complex threats to fundamental human values, including personal dignity, the sanctity of private life, and established moral frameworks. Challenges such as mass surveillance, data exploitation, online harassment, and digital manipulation underscore the urgent need for an ethical and rights-based governance of the digital sphere. This article provides a critical examination of the protection of human dignity in the digital era through the lens of the Objectives of Islamic Law (Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah) and the established Jurisprudential Maxims (Qawāʿid al-Fiqhiyyah). By analyzing how these classical principles such as the preservation of life, intellect, lineage, property, and faith, alongside maxims like "Harm must be eliminated" and "Certainty is not overruled by doubt" can be interpreted and applied to modern digital contexts, the study offers a structured Islamic ethical framework. The analysis reveals that the fundamental principles of Islamic jurisprudence possess a dynamic and comprehensive capacity to diagnose, assess, and provide normative guidance for contemporary digital challenges. Consequently, these principles can play a pivotal and effective role in shaping a just, ethical, and dignified digital society that balances technological progress with the preservation of inherent human dignity.

Keywords: Digital Age, Human Dignity, Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah, Qawāʿid al-Fiqhiyyah, Digital Ethics, Islamic Jurisprudence, Data Privacy, Islamic Bioethics, Technology Governance