Towards a Maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah Based Development Index

This study examines the theoretical framework, develops axioms and a method to gauge socio-economic development in line with maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah. The measure is disaggregated and multidimensional to facilitate policy guidance at various levels of aggregation. The study applies Alkire-Foster counting methodology to construct maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah Index using World Values Survey data for Pakistan. Results based on maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah head count index show that 39% of the population is falling short of desirable level in maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah. Intensity index of maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah (MS) reveals that the average poor person with regard to MS is deprived in 31% of the indicators. The multidimensional poverty in terms of maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah is 12% in which the contribution of posterity is lowest (4.20%) and that of property is the highest (50%) suggesting a need to improve protection of wealth in MS sense in Pakistan. Comparing with the multidimensional poverty calculated by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Pakistan performs better in maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah based-Index related to multidimensional poverty, as well as in the incidence and average intensity of poverty. Maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah based-Index uses more dimensions and higher thresholds for deprivation cut-o as compared to OPHI and UNDP index, yet the poverty numbers are lower. This shows a better socio-economic condition in Pakistan in the dimensions of maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah