Fact check: Would a 100% Muslim world be more sustainable to our current world

1. What claim supporters are actually making — and why it sounds plausible

Proponents argue that Islamic doctrine emphasizes stewardship, balance, cleanliness, and social justice, which can translate into pro-environmental behavior and policies; this is the core claim behind assertions that a 100% Muslim world could be more sustainable. Conceptual work synthesizes Qur’anic ethics—khalīfa (stewardship), mīzān (balance), and amānah (trust)—into practical frameworks for environmental health and conservation, proposing theology as a motivational and normative foundation for sustainability policy ^{[2] [1]}. These sources present a theological toolkit that could, in principle, align moral incentives with sustainable outcomes.

2. Evidence that faith can help drive environmental health — promising but limited

Empirical and conceptual studies show Islam-based messaging and institutional norms can support environmental health interventions, suggesting religion can be an asset in mobilizing communities and shaping behavior. The literature highlights how religious instruction and community leadership can reinforce sanitation, conservation, and public-health measures, thereby providing a conduit for sustainability initiatives ^[1]. However, these findings are largely programmatic and conceptual rather than robust cross-national causal evidence that a majority-Muslim population will automatically achieve superior environmental outcomes.

3. Institutional and socioeconomic barriers that undermine the claim

Analyses of Islamic-majority contexts identify corruption, social injustice, and wealth inequality as primary obstacles to sustainable development; these structural factors frequently negate the potential benefits of religious pro-environmental norms. A 2024 study emphasizes that without effective governance, inclusive institutions, and anti-corruption measures, the moral teachings of religion are insufficient to secure sustainable development outcomes ^[3]. This indicates that the religion-versus-sustainability question is entangled with state capacity, economic distribution, and rule of law.

4. Ambitious proposals — the ‘Green Caliphate’ and faith-driven governance models

Some researchers advance bold models such as a “Green Caliphate” or networks of Sharia-aligned governance that would institutionalize Islamic environmental ethics across jurisdictions, arguing such arrangements could coordinate policy and scale faith-based stewardship into formal governance mechanisms ^[4]. These proposals frame religion as an organizing principle for global environmental governance, but they carry political agendas and feasibility challenges: converting religious norms into enforceable, pluralistic governance structures that respect rights and diversity remains an open problem.

5. Scholarly trends and methodological gaps that shape conclusions

A 2025 bibliometric review documents a growth in scholarship on Islam and sustainability since 2008, concentrated in social sciences and humanities, but notes limited integration of deeper theological exegesis with empirical environmental practice ^[5]. This disciplinary skew means conclusions often rest on normative interpretation or small-scale case studies rather than comparative, quantitative analyses across different governance regimes. The research frontier therefore needs more mixed-methods evaluation of whether and how religious norms translate into measurable environmental improvements.

6. Trade-offs and omitted considerations policymakers should not ignore

Important omissions in the debate include intra-Muslim diversity, secular governance effects, geopolitical economy, and adaptation to technological pathways; these variables can outweigh religious doctrine in determining sustainability trajectories. The analyses show some authors advocate reinterpretation of Islamic values by scholars and local communities as a route to sustainability, but they do not fully account for how resource competition, global markets, and institutional capture could subvert faith-based initiatives ^{[3] [6]}. Any claim that a 100% Muslim world would be more sustainable must address these multifaceted trade-offs.

7. A comparative verdict: religion matters, institutions matter more

Across the sources, the stronger inference is that religious ethics can be a facilitator but are not a substitute for effective institutions; sustainability outcomes depend more on governance quality, inequality reduction, and evidence-based policy than on majority religion alone. Studies linking Islamic economics and green economy ideas show potential synergies, yet repeatedly emphasize the need for policy adaptation, anti-corruption measures, and localized implementation to realize those synergies ^{[6] [3]}. Thus, religious composition is a contributing variable, not a deterministic one.

8. Bottom line for the original question — conditional, not deterministic

The evidence compiled indicates that while Islamic teachings contain resources conducive to sustainability and scholars propose faith-based governance models, existing institutional weaknesses and research gaps mean a hypothetical 100% Muslim world is not inherently more sustainable. Real-world sustainability will hinge on translating theological principles into accountable institutions, equitable economics, and empirical policy design; absent those, religion alone will not guarantee superior outcomes ^{[1] [5] [3]}.