THE ROLE OF FIQH AL-MAQASID IN HARMONIZING HALAL STANDARDS RELATED TO AQUATIC LIFE

چکیده

The rapid expansion of the global halal industry has increased the need for standardized and harmonized halal regulations across different countries and certification bodies. Aquatic life represents a significant area of this discussion because juristic differences concerning the permissibility and impermissibility of various aquatic animals may influence halal certification, international trade, and consumer confidence. This study examines the role of Fiqh al-Maqāṣid (Maqasid-oriented Islamic jurisprudence) in harmonizing halal standards related to aquatic life. It particularly focuses on the objectives of Islamic law, including the realization of benefit, prevention of harm, removal of hardship, facilitation, and consideration of necessity, need, and complementary interests.The study argues that juristic disagreement in itself does not necessarily prevent the harmonization of halal standards. Rather, the challenge arises when subsidiary juristic differences are transformed into rigid and universally binding certification requirements without distinguishing between definitive Shariah rulings, issues of juristic interpretation, precautionary measures, and complementary standards. The research therefore explores how Fiqh al-Maqasid, in conjunction with comparative jurisprudence and contemporary global fiqh, can provide a principled framework for selecting among recognized juristic opinions while preserving the essential requirements of Shariah.The study further examines the principles of raf al-ḥaraj (removal of hardship), al-yusr (facilitation), maslahah (public benefit), and al-qalil kal-madum (treating a negligible amount as legally insignificant) in relation to halal standardization. The thesis material indicates that the classification of interests into necessities, needs, and complementary interests provides an important framework for determining the degree of flexibility permissible in halal standards. Likewise, the principles of removal of hardship and facilitation provide a basis for addressing standards that may create unnecessary difficulties in international halal trade. The research concludes that a maqasid-based approach can contribute significantly to developing more coherent, practical, and internationally harmonized halal standards for aquatic products, provided that such harmonization remains within the boundaries of established Shariah principles and recognized juristic opinions.