Development Communication within Maqasid Al Shariah Framework: Some Preliminary Ideas

Abstract

An attempt is made in this Submission to examine Development Communication within the context of Maqasid al Shariah "higher goals of Islamic Law "with a View to complementing the comprehension and wider application of the concept. The compatibility of the two concepts seems to be congruent as their intents and dimensions are identical. It is hoped that the questions this paper sets out to address would open the door for more researches and discourses among scholars. Development communication was, in the early 1960s, part of the need to bring development to the third world societies. Early scholars believed that governments should invest in communication infrastructure and utilize the mass media institutions to create a climate of change for the farmers and the low income earners. The traditional barriers were regarded as factors that inhibited changes. Daniel Lerner himself said that Islam was a religion that was stopping progress in the Middle Eastern societies. This study would examine some of the tenets in development communication and would argue that Islam is a religion for progress Islam wants Muslims to be progressive. Development Communication seen within the context of Maqasid al Shariah would provide a clearer picture on and about Islamic principles and the type of progress the religion wants its followers to attain.