Islam and ecology

Our responsibility towards the environment

BS Foad, M.D 2009

We will discuss the following concepts:

1- God has chosen Man to be his representative on earth. With this honor come responsibilities and duties to safeguard our environment and improve it, not cause pollution or corruption on earth. God made everything on earth subject to mankind and at his disposal. This power should be used for good, not to make things worse

2- The Qur’an instructs Muslims to improve things, and not spread evil or corruption on earth

3- We should help one another in what is good and beneficial for everyone

4- Look around you, you can see God’s design and His plan, and you can see God’s blessings. To destroy this is to abuse God’s blessings and not acknowledge His grace

Man is God’s representative on earth, hence his responsibility in safeguarding the environment

God made Man his representative on earth and made everything on earth subject to man, hence Man’s responsibility in safeguarding the environment and improving things and not causing pollution or causing corruption. The Qur’an explains these concepts:

Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? Whilst we do celebrate Thy praise and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not."

Al-Baqara 2: 30

Do ye not see that Allah has subjected to your (use) all things in the heavens and on earth, and has made His bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, (both) seen and unseen? Yet there are among men those who dispute about Allah, without knowledge and without guidance, and without a Book to enlighten them!

Luqman 31: 20

We learn from these two verses:

· Man is God’s representative on earth, hence he is responsible for making things better, not worse and safeguarding God’s trust

· Everything on earth has been made subject to Man and at his disposal. God blessed us with many things; hence we should be grateful and not abuse God’s grace.

The Qur’an instructs Muslims to improve things, not destroy or spread corruption

Do no mischief on the earth, after it hath been set in order, but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts): for the Mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who do good.

Al-Araf 7: 56

But they (ever) strive to do mischief on earth. And Allah loveth not those who do mischief.

Al-Maeda 5: 64

We learn from these two verses:

· Our responsibility is to improve things, not make things worse or cause damage and destruction

· God loves not those who spread evil and mischief and cause trouble and destroy things

God did bestow many blessings on mankind. There is so much beauty to delight the eyes; our job is to safeguard these treasures:

Or, who has created the heavens and the earth, and who sends you down rain from the sky? Yea, with it We cause to grow well-planted orchards full of beauty and delight: it is not in your power to cause the growth of the trees in them. (Can there be another) god besides Allah? Nay, they are a people who swerve from justice.

An-Naml 27: 60

With it He produces for you corn, olives, date palms, grapes, and every kind of fruit: verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought.

An-Nahl 16: 11

He has made subject to you the Night and the Day; the Sun and the Moon; and the Stars are in subjection by His Command: verily in this are Signs for men who are wise.

An-Nahl 16: 12

And the things on this earth which He has multiplied in varying colours (and qualities): verily in this a Sign for men who celebrate the praises of Allah (in gratitude).

An-Nahl 16: 13

We should work together and cooperate in enhancing what is good and avoid destroying things

The Qur’an encourages us to work together and help each other in doing good and improving things. IT also warns us against collaborating in things that are wrong or damaging:

Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment.

Al-Maeda 5: 2

The Qur’an, therefore, stresses our collective responsibility. As individuals we are limited by our limited resources. But when we pool our resources together and work side by side our ability to do good is unlimited.

Look around you, you will see God’s blessings every where. Our job is to acknowledge, not destroy God’s blessings

The Qur’an reminds us of God’s many blessings, to emphasize our responsibility in doing good:

If ye would count up the favours of Allah, never would ye be able to number them; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

An-Nahl 16: 18

Do they not reflect in their own minds? Not but for just ends and for a term appointed, did Allah create the heavens and the earth, and all between them: yet are there truly many among men who deny their meeting with their Lord (at the Resurrection)!

Ar-Rum 30: 8

Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength: they tilled the soil and populated it in greater numbers than these have done: there came to them their Messengers with Clear (Signs). (Which they rejected, to their own destruction): it was not Allah who wronged them, but they wronged their own souls.

Ar-Rum 30: 9

Soon will We show them Our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things?

Fusselat 41: 53

We learn from these verses:

· God bestowed numerous blessings over mankind

· If we do good we are rewarded, but if we are ungrateful and abuse God’s blessings we will be punished. We see examples of this in previous civilizations that transgressed and were therefore destroyed

· God is a witness to everything that we do