Delusive Versus Genuine Human Needs: An Islamic Response to Global Resource Scarcity

Abstract

This study looks at the issue of human needs from an Islamic perspective. Many political theorists and philosophers have tried to deal with the issue of human needs but many aspects of this issue still remain unresolved. This paper aims at looking at the issue from an Islamic perspective. In doing so, it examines the issue of human needs comparatively from western and Islamic perspectives. Then the study discusses the nature of human beings and their needs as well as the purpose behind their pursuance. The key objective of the study is to contribute in regulating the pursuance of needs. It argues that all human needs are not necessarily genuine, rather a significant number of them are delusive. To distinguish genuine needs from delusive ones, the study suggests the purpose behind the pursuance of needs as the key criterion. In doing so, the paper comes up with a model labeled Orbit of Needs. This model comprises four circles or orbits. The most central circle is of necessity, followed by comfort, beautification and exhibition. According to the model, all those needs that fall into one of the first three circles in terms of purpose are genuine, while any need which falls into the fourth circle is delusive.

Keywords

• Desire
• Global resource scarcity
• Islam
• Human needs
• Necessity
• Orbit of Needs