The Childfree Phenomenon From The Perspective Of Ibn Qayyim's Maqasid Syariah And Jeremy Bentham's Utilitarianism: Assessing The Greatest Benefits And Happinessr Justice

Abstract

The phenomenon of childfree, as couples choose not to have children, is growing and raising various social, moral, and religious issues. This study aims to discuss the childfree phenomenon from the perspective of Ibn Qayyim's Maqasid Sharia and Jeremy Bentham's utilitarian theory, focusing on the assessment of the greatest good and happiness. It examines Ibn Qayyim's understanding of childfree in relation to moral responsibility and the welfare of the family, utilitarianism's analysis of achieving individual and societal happiness, and the synchronization of the two theories in assessing the social and ethical essence of the childfree phenomenon. The method used is a qualitative approach with a literature review and normative analysis based on a review of Islamic law, moral philosophy, and utilitarian ethics. The results show that, according to Ibn Qayyim's Maqasid Sharia, the childfree phenomenon tends to conflict with the principle of maintaining the welfare and preserving offspring within the family, while utilitarianism assesses this choice from the perspective of the greatest happiness for the individual, although it needs to be aligned with the overall social impact. Synchronizing the views of both theories emphasizes the need for a balance between moral responsibility and individual freedom to achieve the public good. This research contributes to a multidisciplinary understanding of the childfree phenomenon within the context of Islamic law and modern social ethics.