The Concept of Khalifah fi al-Ardand Indonesia’s Ecological Crisis: A Comparative Study of the Thought ofMuhammad Abduh and Nurcholish Madjid

This study aims to analyze the concept of khalīfah fī al-arḍin the thought of Muhammad Abduh and Nurcholish Madjid and to explain its relevance to contemporary ecological crises in Indonesia. The research employs a qualitative method using a library research approach and comparative-conceptual analysis. The primary data sources consist of Muhammad Abduh’s Risālat al-Tawḥīdand Nurcholish Madjid’s works, including Islam, Doctrine and Civilization. The findings indicate that Abduh emphasizes rationality guided by tawḥīdas the foundation of human responsibility toward nature, while Nurcholish Madjid highlights social ethics and collective responsibility in public life. Both view humans as trustees rather than absolute owners of the earth. The concept of vicegerency thus provides an ethical framework for addressing mining expansion, deforestation, and ecological disasters in Indonesia by affirming the principles of balance, justice, and sustainability.