Abstract

Purpose This paper develops a comprehensive conceptual framework integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles with Maqasid Shariah for addressing energy poverty through Waqf mechanisms. With 733 million people lacking electricity access and waqf assets exceeding USD 1 trillion globally, this integration offers significant yet underexplored potential for sustainable energy financing. Design/methodology/approach We employ systematic literature review, synthesizing 125 scholarly sources across ESG, Maqasid Shariah, and Waqf domains. Three-stage qualitative analysis identifies convergence points, integration mechanisms, and propositions for validation. This represents Phase 1 of a programmatic research agenda, with subsequent phases addressing empirical testing and implementation. Findings The framework proposes distinctive theoretical integration across three dimensions: (1) Environmental component synthesizing Tawhid and Khalifah principles with renewable energy stewardship; (2) Social component integrating Ummah, Karamah, and Adalah with community-centered energy access; (3) Governance component harmonizing Wilayah, Amanah, and divine accountability with international standards. It proposes that Islamic ethical finance may offer stronger capital preservation via perpetual waqf, higher stakeholder satisfaction through spiritual-ethical alignment, and greater financial inclusion via zero-interest and community-ownership models. Practical implications The framework provides architectural guidance for developing Shariah-compliant, ESG-integrated energy poverty interventions, with implementation requiring adaptation to specific regulatory, cultural environments and systematic empirical testing. Originality/value This study offers the first systematic integration of ESG metrics with Maqasid Shariah for energy-poverty solutions. It establishes clear theoretical foundations and testable hypotheses, creating a basis for future empirical validation across contexts. The research advances Islamic sustainable finance and offers practical guidance for developing ethically grounded energy-poverty interventions.

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