The Childfree Phenomenon in the Perspective of Human Rights and Maqashid Al-Shari’ah

Abstract

This research aims to find out the human rights and maqashid al-shari'ah perspectives on the growing childfree phenomenon in Indonesia. The research employed empirical or field methods, with primary data obtained by distributing online questionnaires to 62 respondents obtained through random sampling. The criteria for respondents are Indonesian citizens, Muslims, and aged 18-30 years. The results of this research indicate that the millennial generation in Indonesia considers childfree as a phenomenon of married couples who do not want to have children. The millennial generation who support this childfree phenomenon account for 60% of the total number of respondents because the choice to practice childfree is a human right of each individual. A total of 56% of respondents believe that a person's decision to be childfree does not contradict Islamic teachings. From the human rights perspective, the childfree concept is highly protected, because it is related to individual rights, particularly the rights related to the possession of children. This differs from the Maqashid Al-Shariah concept, which incidentally is the goal of Islamic law, which has one goal, namely maintaining descendants, which is a direct command from Allah to humans. The results of this research can provide considerations to the government and authorized institutions in developing preventive measures so that phenomena that are contrary to Islamic teachings can be properly controlled and their negative effects can be reduced