Welcome to the Mizanocene: Toward an Islamic Philosophical Countermodel to the Anthropocene from Environmental Fatwas and Eco-Pesantren Praxis

Ardianta Sabtu, Oktober 03, 2026
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FORMOSA NEWS

Mizanocene: Indonesian Scholars Offer Islamic Cosmic Balance Concept to Address Global Climate Crisis

Scholars from Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Prof. K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri Purwokerto have introduced a novel philosophical concept called the Mizanocene as a counter-model to Western-centric climate frameworks. Published in a peer-reviewed international journal in September 2026, the study was conducted by Supriyanto, Kholid Mawardi, and Zein Muchamad Masykur. This research is vital because it demonstrates how religious fatwas and traditional Islamic boarding school practices provide a concrete moral, ethical, and legal foundation for tackling the global ecological crisis.

The study addresses the ongoing global debate surrounding the naming of our current ecological epoch. While terms like the Anthropocene attribute environmental degradation to general human activity, and the Capitalocene blames capitalist economic systems, both frameworks remain largely secular and ignore spiritual cosmology. As the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation and an archipelago highly vulnerable to climate risks, Indonesia possesses unique socio-religious assets to formulate holistic ecological solutions.

To develop the concept, the research team employed a qualitative content analysis of five environmental fatwas issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) between 2011 and 2023. The researchers triangulated these legal texts with netnographic field studies across four distinct eco-pesantren (environmentally conscious Islamic boarding schools) in Indonesia. The methodology systematically analyzed formal public documents and academic literature to ensure factual rigor.

The investigation revealed several major findings regarding the evolution of Islamic law and ecological practice in Indonesia:

  • Expanding Scope of Environmental Fatwas: MUI's legal rulings evolved from localized issues, such as eco-friendly mining in 2011, endangered species protection and waste management in 2014, and land fire prevention in 2016, to comprehensive global climate change mitigation in Fatwa No. 86 of 2023.
  • Praxis Preceding Formal Jurisprudence: On-the-ground environmental practices at traditional institutions sometimes advance faster than formal jurisprudence. For instance, Pondok Pesantren Al-Amien Prenduan implemented triple-bottom-line sustainable management models prior to their explicit formulation in classical Islamic jurisprudence.
  • The Mizanocene Model: Ecological degradation is re-conceptualized not merely as an economic failure or human error, but as a disruption of cosmic balance (mizan) caused by humanity's failure in its sacred stewardship (khalifah) over the Earth.

These findings carry important implications for public policy, education, and global sustainability efforts. The research demonstrates that local religious frameworks can significantly enhance the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Furthermore, it provides policymakers and religious authorities with actionable insights to develop community-based environmental regulations and curricula.

As noted by the research team from UIN Prof. K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri Purwokerto, "The Mizanocene offers a transformative lens that shifts the climate discourse from mere technological fixes to a deeply rooted spiritual responsibility, restoring human accountability as guardians of cosmic harmony".

Author Profiles:

  1. Supriyanto, S.H.I., M.Si. is a lecturer and researcher at UIN Prof. K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri Purwokerto, specializing in Islamic philosophy and environmental law.
  2. Dr. Kholid Mawardi, S.Ag., M.Si. is an academic and researcher at UIN Prof. K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri Purwokerto with expertise in the sociology of religion and Islamic studies.
  3. Zein Muchamad Masykur, M.Si. is a researcher and scholar at UIN Prof. K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri Purwokerto focusing on Islamic thought and culture.

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