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Introduction:Crises are building in the current unsustainable practices worldwide that are causing impacts on global climate, sea levels, biodiversity as well as in social and economic fields from governance that is not effectively addressing these issues and causing instability in many countries. It is timely to focus upon the oft-neglected Islamic perspectives and its wisdom on sustainable development (SD), and allied fields of social justice, man’s spirituality and his role as khalifatAllah fi al-Ard with responsibility to restore the eco-balance and ensure the well-being of the living earth and its creatures. Human welfare objectives from Islam’s perspective should also be pursued in line with its Unitarian vision of tawhid and for the realization of human dignity (karamah). The theory of maqasid al-Shari‘ah (Higher objectives of Islamic Law) is very relevant in addressing the current and future challenges of Muslim communities across the globe. The eminent scholar, Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali first expressed the view that the essential (daruriyyat) interests of the maqasid al-Shari‘ah are five, namely: the protection of faith, life, lineage, intellect and property, to which al-Qarafi added a sixth, namely human diginity. In this respect, Muhammad Asad stressed that the goal of an Islamic polity is “the growth of a community of people who stand for equity and justice for right against wrong … who work for the creation and maintenance of such social conditions as would enable the greatest possible number of human beings to live, morally as well as physically, in accordance with the natural law of God [which is] Islam”.2015 is also a timely juncture for this Conference with the promulgation of a new set of sustainable development goals (SDGs) as follow-on from the United Nations Rio+20 summit held in Brazil in 2012. The above Islamic objectives also seem closely in line with proposed SDGs. One insightful western scholar, Professor David Griggs, proposed six fields as potential SDGs, which arguably address many aspects of the last five of the enumerated maqasid al-Shari’ah objectives (including human dignity): (1) End poverty and improve well-being through access to education, employment, information, better health and housing, and reduced inequality while moving towards sustainable consumption and production, and provide for (2) Sustainable food security (3) Sustainable water security (4) Universal clean energy and reduce global warming (5) Sustain healthy and productive ecosystems, and (6) Transform governance and institutions at all levels to address the other five SDGs.   The Conference will pursue and deliberate upon priority aspects of the above concepts, not only to help focus attention of Muslim scientists on the critical issues but also to inform important Islamic approaches for the benefit of Muslims and non-Muslims alike.OBJECTIVESTo identify the key issues and challenges to be addressed or overcome in achieving Sustainable Development (SD).To look at how key principles and values from an Islamic perspective can be implemented to guide and underpin SD.To promote a better understanding and application of maqasid al-Shari‘ah in its application of addressing and resolving the imbalances within the earth and human society that are threatening its future sustainability and well-being of future generations.Develop recommendations and policy statements on SD for the guidance at various levels of governments, institutions and also individuals, particularly how to develop Islamically-aware communities keen to contribute towards global SD.Call for PapersAll interested scholars, academics, lawyers and practitioners from various related backgrounds are hereby invited to contribute papers for presentation to the conference. Abstracts should not exceed 250 words, which indicate the objectives, scope, methodology and important issues to be discussed, to be submitted by Tuesday, 30 June 2015  Tuesday, 14 July 2015. On notified acceptance of the abstract, full papers should be submitted by Friday, 25 September 2015. Information about the author/s, designation, organisation and contact details (phone/mobile/fax/e-mail) to be included, and sent to: papersubmission@iais.org.myFields of InterestConcepts and definitions of Sustainability and Sustainable Development; Framework for sustainable developmentThe Living earth / the Natural environment  – harmony and balance; order and beauty (aesthetics); and interaction between scientific disciplinesHuman societal development, social capital, social equity and amenityGood Governance, justice and public policyUrban planning and the protection of community propertyPollution, corruption and wasteful consumption (fasad; israf; darar), biodiversity loss, climate change and associated hazards &#38; risks from man-made and natural disastersEnsuring environmental protection – stewardship approach versus penal /legal provisionsChallenges to sustainability:  resources depletion, food security, water security, declining environmental health and quality of lifeThe Way Forward: restoring the balance; Waste minimization; Renewable energy use;  Industrial ecology;  Degrowth?  Etc.Education for Sustainable Development.Islamic principles related to Sustainable DevelopmentUnicity of Nature and the universe ensuing from the prime principle of TawhidHumans as custodians of the Earth (khalifatAllah fi al-Ard) - implications of this role, including as trustee with amanah.Building the earth (i‘mar al-Ard)  and sustainablyFrom al-Shatibi to Ibn Ashur: milestones in development of maqasid al-Shari‘ah theoryMaqasid al-Shari‘ah and legal maxims related to environmental protectionWasatiyyah as one of the Maqasid for achieving sustainable developmentMaqasid and its role in sustainable economic development; the daruriyyat as essentials for dignified livingHuman welfare from Tawhidic Unitarian perspectives and realities of widening inequalityQur’anic principle of karamah and the implications for human well-being;The importance of developing qana’ah and generosity, and eschewing greed and wasteful consumption.The importance of utilising waqaf and zakah funds in facilitating sustainable developmentPerspectives of Religions other than Islam on Sustainable DevelopmentIt is anticipated that emphasis will be given by presenter-authors to the scientific aspects of the research undertaken, and they will also consider aspects of the maqasid al-Shari‘ah.Plus d'infos