Abstract

Purpose:

The measures of development keep on changing over time. Starting from economic growth, structural change models, GNI per capita, and nowadays HDI, which includes inequality and environmental concerns, are considered as measures of development. However, the meaning and goals of development for Muslims are different from the contemporary concept of development. Based on Islamic approach to development, we have constructed a maqa¯s.id al-Shar¯ı‘ah-based index of socioeconomic development using the data of WVS 7 for 15 OIC member countries.

Methodology:

The Alkire and Foster dual count methodology of constructing multidimensional poverty index has been used to measure the maqas ¯.id al-Shar¯ı‘ah based index of socioeconomic development.

Findings:

According to our findings, the most maqa¯s.id al-Shar¯ı‘ah (MS) deprived country is Nigeria and the least deprived is Tajikistan.

Significance:

The relative ranking of the countries based on the score of indices of MS dimensions will help these countries to divert policy focus and resources for the betterment of their people.

Limitations:

The data used in the construction and measurement of MS index (and MS dimensions indices) are borrowed questions taken from the World Value Survey 7 for 15 OIC member countries.

Practical Implication:

The measured value of MS index will help in ranking of Muslim countries on the basis of five dimensions of maqa¯s.id al-Shar¯ı‘ah. The given MS ranking of countries can be compared with HDI ranking of UNDP.

Keywords

Socioeconomic development, Maqas ¯.id al-Shar¯ı‘ah, Holistic welfare