A Qur’anic Critique of Malthus’s Theory of Resource Scarcity and the Necessity of Population Control

Document Type : Original

Author

Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.

Abstract

Thomas Robert Malthus’s theory of resource scarcity, which posits that geometric population growth inevitably outstrips arithmetic resource increase, has historically justified population control policies. This study critically examines Malthus’s premises from the perspective of the Qur’an, employing a descriptive-analytical method and thematic exegesis. The findings reveal a fundamental epistemological conflict. The Qur’anic worldview, centered on the concepts of divine blessing (niʾmah) and sustenance (rizq), asserts the abundance of God’s provisions, their subjugation for humanity, and a divine guarantee for their continuity. Scarcity and poverty are thus interpreted not as natural, Malthusian limits but primarily as consequences of human injustice, corruption, waste (isrāf), and the failure to establish equitable social structures. Furthermore, the Qur’an elevates humanity to the role of responsible vicegerent (khalīfah), tasked with cultivating the earth, thereby framing population as a potential asset for development, not a threat. The study concludes that Malthusian theory is incompatible with Islamic teachings and that solutions to resource challenges must be sought in ethical conduct, social justice, and divinely ordained economic systems like zakāh, rather than in population control.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Quranic Doctrines
Volume 22, Issue 42 - Serial Number 42
December 2025
Pages 155-183

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History

  • Receive Date: 14 July 2025
  • Revise Date: 15 October 2025
  • Accept Date: 27 October 2025
  • Publish Date: 22 December 2025

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