The Islamic Worldview on Nature and Environment

Suraj Punj Journal For Multidisciplinary Research (ISSN NO: 2394-2886), 2018

The environment in which the man and other organisms live is called the biosphere. The biosphere is made up of different regions that have different types of flora (plants) and fauna (animals). The organisms, in addition to being dependent on the environment for their needs, are also dependent on each other. However, man tries to modify the environment to suit his needs unlike the other components of the ecosystem. This has upset the delicate balance being maintained in the environment. Every day there are stories about pollution, global warming and animal species facing extinction. Although human beings are seen as the most intelligent life form on earth, they are responsible for almost all the damage done to the planet. The problem of the environment is one of today's most serious problems. Many contemporary thinkers and scientists have stated that religion has an important role to play in overcoming these problems and in the development of comprehensive and integral environmental consciousness. The influences of religions on social activities need no introduction. Most of the religions in their holy books make references to the environment protection and its creatures. Furthermore, in all the revealed religions including Islam, human beings are considered the core of the world. In this paper we have made an attempt to discuss the importance, the religion of Islam attaches to the environmental issues, and tried to distil the Islamic imperatives, concerning environmental conservation, laid down in the Quran and expressed in the practice of Prophet of Islam (PBUH). The paper concludes with the observation that environmental protection is an important aspect of Islam. Islam is in principle for conservation and against wastage of resources.. The Islamic perspective on environment protection reflects a positive image about Islam The conservation of the environment is therefore not only a human obligation but also a religious obligation. Indeed, believers should undertake this responsibility more than anyone else.

KnE Social Sciences

Environment is one of global issues humans are facing today. The worsening condition of global environmental cannot be apart from various problems from garbage, logging, and air pollution due to industrial or transportation activities as the main factors of the environmental crisis. The basic principles of ecology are to protect, maintain, utilize and preserve the environment for the life of future generations. In the context of power, the idea of ecology and environmental sovereignty is related between God, humans and nature. The results of this study showed that Islam is very concerned with these environmental issues as proven through many discussions contained in classical fiqh literature, such as discussion of thaharah (cleanliness), ihya al-mawat (opening the unused land), al-musaqat and al-muzara’ah (utilization of land belonging to others), laws related to the sale and purchase and ownership of water, fire and salt, the rights of pets and other issues related to the environme...

2020

Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 2016

The paper studies the Islamic viewpoint about the environment. Environment holds a central position in most of the discussions of development strategies in the contemporary globalizes world. This is why that deteriorating environment is adversely affecting human lives and is a potential danger for future generations. Today, the environmental crisis endangers human being, other living organism and the natural world alike. How should human behave towards the natural environment is remained most important. Technological solution has not been resulting in satisfying outcome. Discussing the role of the Islamic principles of unity, trustee and responsibility, the Quranic teachings may enhance the environmental consciousness among the people which enable them to establish friendly relationship between God, humankind and nature. In this respect, this paper is a humble attempt to understand the Islamic approach to the environment to explore various conceptual dimensions of environmental secu...

Science and engineering ethics, 2020

Environmental sustainability is one of the contemporary discourses that has abundant values embedded in the Quran and Sunnah teachings. Islam gives great emphasis on environment as it is preserved and protected under the Maqasid al-Shariah (Objectives of the Islamic Law). The general outlook of Quranic paradigm on utilizing natural environment is based on prohibition of aggression and misuse. It is likewise founded on the construction and sustainable use. Thus, this article attempts to elaborate key concepts of the Quran and Sunnah teachings that reveal imperative values for environmental sustainability. Research method employs in this paper is an analytical study of Quranic verses with special highlights of tafsir bi al-ma'thur (explanation based upon traditions), tafsir bi al-ra'yi (explanation based on reasoning), and historical narrative. In short, this paper brings to light the relevance of classical and contemporary works of Quran and Sunnah studies that have meticulous values for shaping the better world of human-nature's interaction.

INTELLECTUS: The African Journal of Philosophy, 2024

The environment is under a serious threat, caused by human actions and inactions. One of such things that posed a threat is the human population which is estimated to be about 7.9 billion and it is increasing on a daily basis and the way humans deal with nature. However, the need for sustainability makes it necessary for every occupant of the earth to play a role in protecting the environment. There have been several campaigns and sensitization by scientists to make people understand the threat they are posing to the environment and the need to stop, then make sure they protect their environment from more damage. Despite all campaigns, seminars and conferences organized to sensitize the people on why they need to treat nature well for their own sake and that of other creatures, the issue keeps getting worst, and people are causing more damage to the environment. Since scientific sensitization seems not to be working, this paper suggests a religious approach to solving an environmental problem and specifically looks at how to tackle the issue from an Islamic point of view. The world Muslim is with an estimated population of about 1.907 billion. If these people follow the teachings of the holy Qur'an to protect nature, then the environmental crisis the world is facing currently will be reduced drastically. The hermeneutic approach is used to reiterate the Qur'an and the Hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him), a prescription on the way the environment should be treated.

International journal of applied research, 2016

There is a growing concern about the threats posed by environmental issues throughout the World. Global warming, freshwater depletion, biodiversity reduction, hole in the ozone layer are all examples of such threats. How serious is it really? And what is to be done to change the direction? Many researchers have begun to look into underlying philosophical causes for man's rapacious attitude towards his environment. Part of this search involves a look at root philosophies affecting the human outlook and interaction with the world and the responsibility religion shares in creating the attitudes and philosophies that have led to the desecration of nature. Environment protection is an important aspect of Islam. Protection of the environment is essential to Islamic beliefs and mankind has the responsibility to ensure safe custody of the environment. This paper is an attempt to briefly present some aspects of the Islamic perspective on environment protection in the light of Quranic ver...

Introduction and Preliminary Notes This essay presents a short overview of the Islamic philosophical approach to nature, the Islamic perspective on modern science and the relations between sacred tradition, nature, and science in light of the ongoing environmental crisis. It also proposes a solution to the environmental crisis, based on an integrated understanding of these subject matters. This is conducted through a lens that is Islamic by method but universal in principle and conclusion.1 The prime source of all Islamic thought and practice, from theological doctrine to sacred law, is the Holy Qur’an. Similarly, in this essay, the influence of Qur’anic teachings is much greater than what may just appear in citations; their influence is central to this work. With that said, if there is anything presented in this essay that is disharmonious with the Qur’anic message, it is the fault of the essay’s author. Another prime source used for the purpose of this essay is the work and teaching of the Islamic philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr. An esteemed author of over 50 books and 500 articles, Nasr has written extensively on a wide array of subjects including Sufism, perennial philosophy,2 comparative religion, the sacred sciences and the natural environment.3 In fact, much of this essay can be regarded as a summary of his integrated writings on modern humanity’s approach to science, spirituality and nature. Nasr has spoken at many lecture-series and seminars, and in 1980 he was the first Muslim to deliver the prestigious Gifford Lectures- a renowned annual lecture series in Scotland that features the most prominent thinkers in the integrated field of religion, science and philosophy. In 1966, Nasr delivered the Rockefeller Lectures at the University of Chicago; there he traced the root issues of the environmental crisis to the spiritual crisis of modern humanity. These lectures became the basis of his book, Man and Nature: The Spiritual Crisis of Modern Man, which was used as a prime text for direction and reference in this essay. The writings of others affiliated with Nasr, namely his late teacher Frithjof Schuon and his student William C. Chittick, have as well had significant influence on this essay’s content and direction.

The care of Environment: A moral virtue or a Secular Duty, 2022

The essence of this paper is to create awareness on the impending disaster that may result from the abuse of the ecosystem due to human activity. In this paper I have tried to view the topic of Environment protection from religious, secular and philosophical point of view.

In Islamic thought, the relation of human with his environment is arranged besides the relation of human with human. There is so much advice, a great many rules and bans in this issue in Qurán ayahs and in the saying of the Prophet (hadith), which are two basic sources of Islam. According to Islam, everything on the earth, including physical environment was created so that human being could benefit from it. However, it doesn’t mean that human being has a limitless freedom while benefitting from these blessings. He should be respectful to the environment while benefiting from it, protect it and should not use it wastefully. In other words, human being should make a connection with the physical environment by paying attention to the continuation of ecological balance. In the current study, the place of ecological balance in Islamic thought was investigated in the light of Qurán ayahs and the sayings of the Prophet Mohammad of Islam. Content analysis and data analysis techniques were used as a method.