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Contribution short abstract:

Through a faith-based decolonial lens, this paper explores Ibn Khaldoun’s development theory to assess how the SDGs as a global development model may align with faith-inspired modalities and development framework, offering alternative pathways for inclusive, equitable and faith-informed developm

Contribution long abstract:

The concept of development has been historically shaped by imperial and colonial legacies, reinforcing power imbalances in global governance and economic paradigms. As international development grapples with calls for decolonisation and reparative justice, alternative epistemologies—particularly faith-based frameworks—offer critical perspectives on sustainability and social equity. In an era of cultural and economic globalisation, Islamic finance and Muslim philanthropic practices – rooted in ethical redistribution and communal solidarity - may have the potential to re-emerge as viable responses and complementary approaches to developmental inequalities exacerbated by neoliberal transformations. This research investigates whether Ibn Khaldoun’s (d. 1406) theory of development and Islamic legal-philosophical faith-based principles (Maqāsid Al-Sharī‘ah) can contribute to a decolonial and complementary rethinking of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through a critical discursive approach, this research examines how SDGs align with Islamic theory of development and ethical considerations, overarching economic visions and distributive justice. A corpus-based analysis of the Qur’an is employed to identify thematic constructs of crisis, sustainability, and development, offering a faith-based lens to re-evaluate the SDGs. Preliminary findings suggest that while faith-based frameworks resonate with global sustainability objectives, they also expose fundamental tensions between faith-driven obligations and secular development models. This investigation argues that decolonising development requires a reparative solidarity framework that acknowledges non-Western epistemologies, religious agency, and alternative modes of socio-economic justice. By engaging with faith-based development initiatives, this research proposes actionable pathways for development practitioners, policymakers, and INGOs seeking to foster equitable, culturally attuned and locally driven development strategies.