A Perspective on Sustainable Ecology in the Light of the Qur'an

2011

Through the teaching of Islam, the earth is mentioned more than four hundred times in the Qur'an, whereas the sky and beyond are mentioned only about three hundred times. This article intends to explore and share that Islam does understand the earth to be subservient to humankind. Therefore, the earth should not be administered and exploited irresponsibly. Based on the teachings and principles of Islam, one leads to a strong sense of goodness and purity of the earth. In Islam, human and environment interaction is guided by the notion of the person as a vicegerent or steward of the earth. The extensive evidence provided by the Holy Quran is indicative that the earth is an important protected element for future sustenance of the next generation and is to be a safe place to keep. Despite that, the concept of sustainable development on the earth is complex and murky. It lends itself to several interpretations and it is still in the process of evolution. However, an evaluation of different approaches to the concept leads to the same goal. The underlying issue behind the various interpretations is eventually the concern on how the environmental perimeter is sustained. The rapid deterioration of human environment is nothing but a crisis of values. Muslims and mankind at large are being instructed to look after the environment and not to damage it. Therefore, an Islamic way of a sustainable environmental life entails living in "peace and harmony (salam)" at individual, social as well as ecological levels. All human activities have some impact on the environment. And for that this paper will display the reconciliation of Islam and environmental sustainability through the perennial reference of the Holy Quran and the Words of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

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The current global challenges of climate change and sustainable development is rendering the world helpless with numerous failed attempts at addressing these critical issues. Exploring the Islamic worldview of environmental sustainability and conservation therefore is even more vital in these momentous times. This worldview features a purpose-spirited focus by exploring the higher objectives behind environmental sustainability as extrapolated from the Revelation. There are four main themes that are highlighted in the Quran in relation to the environment, including the concepts of corrupting (ifsaad) and bettering (islaah) earth, along with the key objectives of being custodians and inheritors of earth (istikhlaf/ isti'mar/ wirathah). The concept of utilization (taskheer) is coupled with the 'communities like you (umam) that share the planet and resources with us. Derivatives of the term (fa sa da) have been mentioned 50 times in the Quran, 36 of which reference earth. Custodianship is highlighted in the Quran more than 30 times, with direct reference to earth mentioned 17 times. Facilitation includes many groups such as the sun and the moon, which was emphasized nine times, as well as stars, sea and cattle, each emphasized three times in conjunction with the facilitation theme. Stipulated values include the value of knowledge, respect, preservation, humbleness and responsibility. The collection of verses have been compiled, coupled with references from the Sunnah and Islamic jurisprudence, and analyzed in light of the maqasid methodology. Similarly, human groups can be classified further to reformers, corrupters, believers, non-believers, wrongdoers and hypocrites, while other communities such as animals, plants, mountains and other species fall under groups. Environmental sustainability from an Islamic worldview is defined in a distinctive and holistic manner which combines spiritual, social, economic, moral, honest, intellectual, and religious aspects into one core meaning. Although some creatures are facilitated for humans on Earth, they are communities like human kind which emphasizes that bettering and preserving the balance of Earth is the humans unique responsibility.

2021

The issue of environmental damage is a global problem that occurs in this day. Various efforts have been made - from legislation to world level conferences. However, it does not show significant results. It is no longer an ethical-ecological problem. It is an ethical-theological problem. It demands the religion to play a role in finding the solutions. All faiths have views regarding this environmental problem, which generally shows the same level of concern of the earth’s damage. Islam, in this case, has the right solution. It is the eco-theology of the Qur’an. Its discussion leads to the need for ecological sustainability to respond to the industrial modernity challenges. Al-Qur’an advocates the importance of responsibility as God’s representative on earth by preserving, utilizing but paying attention to its sustainability. Avoiding exploitation causes weather anomalies. Besides that, eco-theology also suggests that a country should also have clear rules to preserve the earth.

Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University Islamabad (Pakistan), 2021

The present paper deals with Islamic moral teachings of the environment from a Qur'ānic perspective. It attempts to correlate some familiar Qur'ānic terms with human moral responsibility towards the natural world. The paper investigates whether the Islamic view of the natural world supports the anthropocentric and bio-centric approach to environmental ethics or not. In so doing, the paper aims to present an Islamic balancing approach to the environment and show why such a unique approach is necessary to address the present environmental degradation and how it can work for environmental sustainability.

The Holy Quran, the sacred Muslim religious book, is also a sum of principles and teachings covering all aspects of human life. About 750 verses (of 6236) refer to various aspects of nature, and to the relationship between man and nature. The aim of this paper is to briefly analyse some of the many ecological verses. The article highlights the eco-educational dimension of the Holy Quran by means of a qualitative investigation. It addresses the ecological considerations on the rational use of natural resources, ethical interactions between man and nature, and the rights of plants, animals and of the physical elements of the environment.

2013

The field of the environmental issues has gained less concern amongs Muslim scholar. This article is an attempt to shed lights on this matter through selected Muslim scholars and philosophers. Sayyid Hussein Nasr is chosen here as the main thinker on the issue of the environment studies amongst our contemporary Muslim thinkers. By adopting an analytical method; this article found that the environmental concern is deep-rooted in Islam: Its creeds, practices and world-view. The concept of Tawhid (Unity of Allah), the relation of humanto the Creator, the Sufi concept of Wahadat al Wujud, etc… all these support the argument that natural environment and its conservation is a core concern of Islam. However, the contemporary Muslim scholars have attempted to address this issues from various perspestives. Some have even achieved significant contribution in this matter surpassing that of the Western environmental scholarly activities. Further researches are needed in order to bring up these various Muslim contributions in a systematic view in the environmental studies.

The Holy Quran, the sacred Muslim religious book, is also a sum of principles and teachings covering all aspects of human life ‒ religious concepts, ethical and spiritual conduct precepts, and rules and regulations on various aspects of everyday life. Moreover, it comprises numerous rules on nature and environmental protection. About 750 verses (of 6236) refer to various aspects of nature, and to the relationship between man and nature. The aim of this paper is to analyse some of the many ecological verses, i.e. the ones that educate people in the spirit of nature conservation, sustainability and responsibility towards its preservation for future generations. The research question leading to the originality of this study was whether the Quranic verses comprise environmental teachings that address the various aspects of nature, the environment, and the interactions between humans and environmental components. The article highlights the eco-educational dimension of the Holy Quran by means of a qualitative investigation. It addresses the ecological considerations on the rational use of natural resources, ethical interactions between man and nature, and the rights of plants, animals and of the physical elements of the environment. For this study, we have used the Romanian translation of the Holy Quran, the third edition, translated by the Islamic and Cultural League of Romania (2004) and published by the Islam Publishing House, as well as the online translation of the Quran. The Holy Quran shows that nature is a whole, a complete and complex system, in which the components support and protect each other. If one component is affected, the order and functioning of the entire system, i.e. nature, are disturbed. In this respect, the Holy Quran has been promoting a holistic approach to the environment approximately 1300 years before the introduction of the academic concept of holism. The teachings of the Holy Quran support moderation of the human behavior in order to avoid excesses. This moderation can be described through three principles found throughout its pages: the principles of unity, balance and responsibility. The environmental teachings are obvious in the verses of the Holy Quran. In order to ensure a healthy environment, these teachings must be respected and put into practice on every level. As a

International Journal of Social Science and Religion (IJSSR), 2021

This research aims to know the relation between religion and environtment in a deep comprehensive understanding. How religion and environtment in some extents they are too related. In Islam for example, concept of shari’a seemingly agreed and supported the idea of nature and animal conservation. But, in some extent they are contradictive. This contradictive discouse could be seen from any kinds of texts of religious scriptures in how they deal with preservation of nature and animal (killing animal). The role of religious text we may say “yes” that it deal and closely related how the ecological views are constructed. How it overcomes the natural degradation, pollutions for instance. But, religion also should be understood as an orientation of the cosmos and how actually our human existence has an important role to the world. In broadest sense, we understand that religion also means of how people know the limits of reality and how humans interact with their own environment. Religion o...

Journal of Culture Society and Development, 2013

Islam is the monotheistic religion articulated by the Quran, the word of God, and by the teaching of Muhammad (PBUH). Islamic ethics is its moral principles, which defines what is good for the society. It enlightens the sacred views that man must strive to maintain the harmony of their inner and outer environments, in conformity with the world of nature. In the Quranic theology of creation God created this cosmos out-of-nothing. He created man, as a vice-gerent on this earth. He created lands seas, mountains, plants and animals, and than entrusted all this to humans to take advantage of it. So humans are now guardian of this cosmos for a limited period of time. After this life He will audit and judge the individual for using or misusing the world. The earth thus is a testing ground of the human species. In other words, the Quranic environmental ethics tells us that God has trusted humans His world. They have to prove them selves capable of this trust, by maintaining a balance, in a way to get benefits from the nature, and protect it from discards. Thus the relation of humans to its environment is a relation of "the trustee" and "the trust". The Qur'an says, "Cheat not in maintaining the balance. Establish just measure and do not fall short in maintaining the balance." 1 The article focuses to investigate the ethics in the Quran and teachings of the Prophet regarding the relationship of man towards the natural world.

Allah created all things with precise measurements. These divine measures guarantee the survival and sustainability of natural resources. This paper discusses some of the environmental aspects in the view of Islam and makes a comparison between the Islamic thought and some scientific theories. Results show that whereas Western theories emphasise environmental protection as a response to external forces and the achievement of special interests, Islam considers environmental protection as the only way of maintaining the balance of life.