Islam and the Environment
“It is God, who made for you the earth
a place of settlement and the sky, a ceiling and formed you,
And perfected your forms and provided
you with good things. That is God, your Lord, then Blessed is Allah, Lord of
the worlds.”[i]
Assalaamu’Alaykum Warahmatullah. I
greet you in the Universal greeting of peace.
My introduction above, introduces us
to a verse from the chapter entitled, “The Believer” from a book, which was
revealed more than 1400 years ago i.e. the Quran.
In this verse, we are reminded of the
beautiful abode upon which God has placed us, for a period of probation. It
defines the placid and vast surroundings upon which we tread, giving us a
chance to reflect upon the Magnificence of the One who created it all.
At the same time, it triggers an
awakening to characteristics we are taught to echo through our daily actions as
Muslims, .i.e. to be gentle and kind, and respect everything around us
including nature.
Islam and the environment – the title
alone brings a sense of comfort to the human heart, knowing, that everything
Islam embraces has laws which protect and honor, producing a flow of harmony
encompassing creation.
Let’s take a look at what Islam
encourages when it comes to our treatment toward the environment.
Islam
encourages us not to waste natural resources
In
chapter 6, verse 141 of the Quran, entitled “The Cattle”, we are encouraged to
use resources sparingly.
As
Muslims, we are told not to waste and instead practice moderation and display
gratitude. We pray five times a day, utilizing water for ablution, and the
above verse therefore, encourages us to use water abstentiously. As humanity,
we are asked not to waste water even if we are at a stream as these are divine
provision from the Almighty and are not to be abused.
Charity
through planting
In Islam, the planting of trees is
highly encouraged. We are made aware, through the words of Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon his soul) that any form of life which derives benefit from the
planting of a tree will be regarded as charity to the one who planted it. Islam goes as far as to say that even if the
hour of Resurrection approaches and one were to have a shoot ready to be
planted, to go ahead with it. Such, is the sanctity of planting trees.
But planting trees and conserving
water, is not all that is mentioned in Islam. When we take a closer look at the
environment we are exposed to all types of living creatures including animals,
as they form part of the environment and eco system.
Treatment toward animals
In Islam, the ill treatment of animals
is highly discouraged and we acknowledge this through the behavior and actions
of the gentlest of human beings, Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
Upon seeing a bird distressed, he
immediately ordered her chicks to be returned to her, made certain that a she
camel had her rights to be milked only, near a place of water, and treated all
other animals with love and respect.
Love and Respect: The basis for the
treatment of the environment in Islam, as you may have taken heed to by now,
and this is further clarified in chapter 6 of the Holy Qur’an, whereby God
says,”
"And
there is no creature on (or within) the earth or a bird that flies with its
wings except that they are nations (communities) like you”[iv]
Just as other creatures upon earth, do not have the
mental capabilities of human beings, we are held responsible for respecting
them.
We are repeatedly encouraged to display harmony toward
nature, but we are also told to avoid abusing it.
In Chapter two, entitled, “The Cow” verse 60, God compels
us not to abuse the environment and resources he has provided us with.
"Eat
and drink from the provision of Allah, and do not commit abuse on the earth,
spreading corruption."
This verse motivates us to restrain ourselves
from abusing these provisions, and show gratitude for all that he has given us.
So the question that now remains is, how do we
solve the ongoing deforestation, global warming and pollution that form our current
environmental crisis?
In order for humanity to have a
reversal of our global crisis, it requires the assistant of us, the inhabitants
of this earth. What better guide has the Creator of this earth, given us, than the
Quran, in order to wake our senses, as He tells us in verse 41 of the chapter
entitled, “The Roman Empire”,
“Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of]
what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the
consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to
righteousness].”[v]
The answer is simple. In order for our
motives to be purified to toward being gentle with the eco system, we need to
educate ourselves, and others, so that our own free will, will not be
detrimental to society. As Muslims, we are taught to do this, under the
guidance of the Quran and the practices of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon
Him), which displays answers to every problem we come across in our daily
lives.
