The Objectives of Sharia in Islamic Governance of Arts (Within the Jurisprudential Framework of Determining Public Interest)

This article examines the objectives of Sharia in Islamic governance of arts. In Islamic jurisprudence, Islamic governance refers to the exercise of public authority aimed at advancing the social goals and purposes of Sharia, where such authority is bound by considerations of public interest (maslaha). Therefore, the objectives of Sharia in Islamic governance must be framed within jurisprudential parameters for determining public interest. Within this framework, three primary objectives for Islamic governance in arts are proposed and substantiated as foundational premises. First, the veneration of Islamic symbols (ta'zim al-sha'a'ir al-islamiyya) is established as an objective, supported by jurisprudential precedents that justify certain artistic works and behaviors. The second objective involves safeguarding art from immoral and forbidden elements (mafasid wa munkarat), while the third aims to align art with the promotion of virtue (iqamat al-khayrat) and eradication of vice (ihadmat al-munkarat). The articulation and validation of these three objectives follows an exposition of Islam's comprehensive perspective on art—with beauty as its focal point—as evidenced by Quranic texts and hadith. The methodology employed is jurisprudential (fiqhi) and based on independent legal reasoning (ijtihad). The article's innovative contribution lies in its treatment of the subject through the lens of Islamic governance, with analysis and conclusions developed within the jurisprudential framework for determining public interest in Islamic governance systems.