FOOD SECURITY AND ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

There is a growing need to review the literature to provide future scholars with a comprehensive understanding of the current discussion on food security in Islam and to identify the gaps that could be addressed by future research. The current study attempts to review the available literature using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), which is a scientific method that can be used to limit systematic bias by identifying, screening and synthesising research questions using a systematic methodology. The study seeks to identify the studies that discuss the elements of 'availability', 'stability', 'accessibility' and 'utilisation' of food security from an Islamic perspective and discuss the arguments among scholars on the four elements of food security from an Islamic perspective. In methodology, two main databases, Scopus and Dimensions, were used for the collection of literature and analysis was assisted by the QDA Miner Lite software. The collection of literature spans from 2000 to 2023. Findings show that the four pillars of food security were discussed quite extensively in some selected literature particularly on the halal and thoyyib food production and consumption, the Islamic view of GM crops and GM food production, halal tourism, riba-free financing of agriculture and food production and the role of state and regulations in monitoring most activities from food production to the delivery process. It is recommended that in the future, more studies could explore the Islamic perspectives of 'utilisation' and 'stability' pillars of food security.