Environment And Human Life Are Inter-Dependent in all World Religions
By
Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam
9 June 2021
Humankind
As A Vicegerent Of Allah, The Almighty Is Not Doing Justice With His
Responsibility Of Conserving The Environment, An Inseparable Part Of His Life
Main
Points:
1. Environmental
imbalances are creating havoc in the world, at regular intervals.
2. Melting of
glacier and changing of weather condition has created a shock wave in the minds
of weather scientists and environmentalists alike.
3. If immediate
action is not taken to safeguard the environment human being is going to face a
real danger of extinction from the planet earth.
4. Every
religion on planet earth advocates the necessity of grooming the environment.
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Environmental
imbalances are creating havoc in the world, at regular intervals. It has taken
the shape of a devastating natural calamity. Humankind as a vicegerent of
Allah, the Almighty is not doing justice with his responsibility of conserving
the environment, an inseparable part of his life. Non-conservation of the
environment is not only transforming human life in hell but has left it in a
condition that man fears will devour the planet earth sooner than later.
Melting of
glacier and changing of weather condition has created a shock wave in the minds
of weather scientists and environmentalists alike. They are unable to read the
changing pattern of the weather, to say the least. The everyday weather
forecasts are going haywire.
If
immediate action is taken in this regard, the human being is going to face a
real danger of extinction from the planet earth. Every living being indeed has
to die. And die at its pre-fixed time. But the destruction of the environment
will make living more painful than that of dying.
Religious
Commands to Preserve the Environment
Every
religion on planet earth advocates the necessity of grooming the environment.
The religions command their followers to look after the beautiful world taking
it as a gift of the Creator to the Creation. The description of natural beauty
and its usage for the human being should be taken as commands of the Creator of
the universe. Consider the following teachings of various religions:
I pervade
the Universe. All objects in the Universe rest on me as pearls on the thread of
a garland. (Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita)
Let the
human community protect the environment for their survival and the biodiversity
around it. (Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita)
“Whoever
plants a tree and diligently looks after it until it matures and bears fruit is
rewarded,” (Hadees of Prophet Muhammad Pbuh in Musnad)
Lord Buddha
taught people to use nature wisely, and learn from nature to help improve their
minds and behaviours. (Prayutto (1997)
"One
who neglects or disregards the existence of earth, air, fire, water and
vegetation disregards his own existence which is entwined with them".
(Mahavira)
Air is the
Guru, Water the Father, and the Earth is the Great Mother. (Guru Granth Sahib,
page 8)
The Lord
God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of
it. (Genesis 2:15)
From
Hinduism to Islam to Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and Judaism all the religions
and all other religions and religious faiths, not mentioned here, are in unison
on the need to preserve the environment as on other different subjects
concerning mankind.
(Photo courtesy: Slide Share)
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The Holy
Quran and the Importance of Environment
The
following Ayat explicitly showcase how much Allah, the Most Kind and Merciful
loves His creation, the animals, the birds, the mountains, the oceans, the
rivers and the greeneries on the whole and especially humankind. Allah says He
is the creator of the universe and all the human being are His representatives
on the earth, let, therefore, His vicegerent take care of everything from human
beings to nature. It is in this context that He says in the Holy Quran, ‘Seek
the life to come by means of what God has granted you, but do not neglect your
rightful share in this world...’ (Surah Al-Qasas - 77) — Abdul Haleem.
Beautiful
Quranic Ayat that describe the grandeur and the importance of the environment
to humankind are being mentioned underneath so that we understand what we must
do to obey Allah, the All-knower and make our and our fellow beings life
serene:
...“ Follow the nature designed by Allah, the
nature according to which He has fashioned mankind; there is no altering the
creation of Allah.”
(Surah Al-Roum: 30)
“And there is no animal that walks upon the
earth nor a bird that flies with its two wings but they are like yourselves; We
have not neglected anything in the book, and then to their Lord shall they be
gathered.”
(SurathAl-An’am:38)
“He created
the heavens without pillars as you see them, and put mountains upon the earth
lest it might convulse with you, and He spread it with animals of all kinds;
and We sent down water from the clouds, then caused to grow therein
(vegetation) of every noble kind.” (Surah Luqman: 10)
“And the
Earth, We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and We have made
to grow therein of all beautiful kinds; to give sight and as a reminder to
every servant who turns to Allah.” (Surat Quaff: 7-8)
“He
causes to grow for you thereby herbage, and the olives, and the palm trees, and
the grapes, and of all the fruits; most surely there is a sign in this for a
people who reflect.”
(Surah Al-Nahl: 11)
“Do you not see that Allah (SWT) has made what
is in the heaven and earth subservient to you and made complete to you His
favours outwardly and inwardly?” (Surah Luqman:20)
“He Who created all things in the best way and
He began the creation of man from clay.” – (Surah Al-Sajdah: 7)
“Eat of
all the fruits and walk in the ways of your Lord submissively. there comes
forth from within it a beverage of many colours, in which there is healing for
men; most surely there is a sign in this (life of bees) for a people who
reflect.” (Surat
Al-Nahl: 69)
Conservation
of the environment is necessary as the environment is ingrained in our entity
as the Holy Quran states; the human being is the by-product of water and earth.
Consider the following Ayat:
Verily We created man from a product of wet
earth;
(Al-Mu'minun: 12) — Pickthall
Something
that is a part of our life ingredients should be respected and conserved to
respect and conserve our life.
Prophet
Muhammad Pbuh And His Teachings about Environment
The Holy
Prophet Muhammad Pbuh lived an exemplary life according to the command of
Allah, the Most Gracious not only to spread the message of Oneness, Namaz,
Roza, Zakat and Haj but also made the people of his time realise the value of
the environment by respecting and beautifying it. Consider the following
Ahadees:
“The
world is beautiful and verdant, and verily God, be He exalted, has made you His
stewards in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves.” (Muslim)
“If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and
then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable
gift (Sadaqah) for him.” (Bukhari)
One day Prophet Pbuh passed by Sa`d ibn Abi
Waqas (RA) while he was performing wudu’. The Prophet (saw) asked Sa`d: “What
is this wastage?” Sa`d replied: “Is there wastage in wudu also?” The Prophet
said, “Yes, even if you are at a flowing river.”(Ibn Majah)
Likening a believer with a growing tree, the
Prophet Pbuh said: “The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant;
from whatever direction the wind comes, it bends it, but when the wind quietens
down, the plant becomes straight again…” (Bukhari)
Mu`adh (RA) reported that the Prophet warned:
“Beware of the three acts that cause you to be cursed: First, relieving
yourselves in shaded places (that people utilise), in a walkway or in a
watering place……” (Ranked sound, Hasan, by Al-Albani)
“Removing harmful things from the road is an
act of charity (Sadaqah).” (Narrated by Abu Dharr Al-Ghafari, Riyadh As
Saliheen)
Earth is
the Mother - Teachings from Hinduism on Environment
The ancient
Hindu teaching, ‘The Earth is our mother and we are all her children manifests
the belief Hinduism stands for. Environment finds innumerable references in
Hindu epics like the Vedas, Sutras, Upanishads and Puranas and because of its
reverence to the environmental bodies, people worship trees, water and animals
as different forms of gods.
The
following diverse theologies of Hinduism evoke respect and the importance of
the environment.
• The earth
can be seen as a manifestation of the goddess and must be treated with respect.
• The five
elements — space, air, fire, water and earth — are the foundation of an
interconnected web of life.
• Dharma —
often translated as “duty” — can be reinterpreted to include our responsibility
to care for the earth.
• Simple
living is a model for the development of sustainable economies.
• Our
treatment of nature directly affects our karma.
(Courtesy) The Huffington Post/10 Hindu
Environmental Teachings
“Yavat
Bhumandalam Datte Samrigavana Karnanam, Tavat Tisthati Medhinyam Santatih Putra
Pautriki”: “so long as the Earth preserves her forests and wildlife, man’s
progeny will continue to exist.” This is the Hindu approach toward the
conservation of ecology. (-Swami Vibudhesha Teertha)
Jainism
and Environment: Ahimsa Paramo Dharma
Ahimsa
Paramo Dharma (अहिंसा परमॊ धर्मः) is the essence of Jainism. Jainism
is based on the concept of non-violence. They do not even harm the smallest of
the species. Jains eat their dinner before the sunset so that no. Jains do not
harm the animals, the trees, the flowers and all other things that constitute
the environment as these things are also regarded as a living being. Consider
the following sayings from Mahavira and Jain Scripture:
Do not
injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture or kill any creature
or living being. (Jain Scripture)
there is no
quality of soul more subtle than non-violence and no virtue of spirit greater
than reverence for life. (Mahavira)
Buddhism
And It's Environmental Education
Skamp
(1991) concludes the importance of spirituality and environmental education as
follows:
Spirituality
has been argued to be the centre of our relationship with the environment.
Environmental educators need to be aware of this spiritual dimension...
students of environmental education need to be conscious of their connectedness
with themselves, others, and the environment, near and far, past and
present...the importance of spirituality cannot be overlooked.
Our
response to 'Truth' as we see it (conscious or otherwise) will be a powerful
(perhaps the) determinant of the actions we take for the environment (Skamp,
1991, p.84).
...teachers
of environmental education need to seriously consider the role of spiritual
development of the students in their care when they are focusing upon
humankind, with the world in which they live. (Skamp, 1991, p.85).
(Courtesy:
Procedia Social and Behavioural Sciences)
Sikhism:
Creator and the Creation are One
Sikhism is
a religious faith based on the teachings of Sikh Gurus. It says that the
Creator and the Creation are one. It means God and Universe, the environment
included, is the same. This line of teaching suggests that Sikhism understands
the value of the environment and hence commands its followers to protect it
from every kind of corrupt practices.
Following
are the teachings of Sikh Gurus and Guru Granth Sahib on the importance of the
environment:
He, the
Lord, knows their condition, O Nanak. Nanak, having created beings, the lord
takes care of them all. The creator who created the world, He takes thought of
it as well. (Guru Granth Sahib, page 466)
“The
Creator created himself…… And created all creation in which he is manifest. You
Yourself the bumble-bee, flower, fruit and the tree. You Yourself the water,
desert, ocean and the pond. You Yourself are the big fish, tortoise and the
Cause of causes. Your form can not be known (Guru Granth Sahib page 1016)
“I perceive
Thy form in all life and light; I perceive Thy power in all spheres and sight.”
(Guru Granth, page 464)
“The
God-conscious person is animated with an intense desire to do good in this
world.” (Guru Granth Sahib, page 273)
Air is the
Guru, Water the Father, and the Earth is the Great Mother.
Guru Granth
Sahib, page 8
The Guru
Granth Sahib teaches that Sikhs show respect and responsibility towards
creation and bear in mind the needs of future generations, as well as their own
current needs.
Guru Granth
Sahib, page 4
“Creating
the world, God has made it a place to practice spirituality” (Guru Granth
Sahib, page 1035.)
A Sikh
theologian, Kapur Singh, explains that Sikhism has three postulates implicit in
its teachings:
“One, that
there is no essential duality between spirit and matter. Two, that humans can
consciously participate in the process of spiritual progression. Three, the
highest goal of spiritual progression is harmony with God, while remaining
earth-conscious, so that the world itself may be transformed into a spiritual
plane of existence.“
“When I saw
truly, I knew that all was primaeval. Nanak, the subtle (spirit) and the gross
(material) are, in fact, identical.” (Guru Granth Sahib, page 281)
That which
is inside a person, the same is outside; nothing else exists; By divine
prompting look upon all existence as one and undifferentiated; The same light
penetrates all existence. (Guru Granth Sahib, page 599)
“Men,
trees, pilgrimage places, banks of sacred streams, clouds, fields, islands,
spheres, universes, continents, solar systems, the sources of creation,
egg-born, womb-born, earth-born, sweat-born, oceans, mountains and sentient
being; He, the Lord, knows their condition, O Nanak. Having created beings, the
lord takes care of them all. The Creator who created the world, He takes
thought of it as well (SGGS Ji, page 467). “Men, trees, pilgrimage places,
banks of sacred streams, clouds, fields, islands, spheres, universes,
continents, solar systems, the sources of creation, egg-born, womb-born,
earth-born, sweat-born, oceans, mountains and sentient being; He, the Lord,
knows their condition, O Nanak. Having created beings, the lord takes care of
them all. The Creator who created the world, He takes thought of it as well
(SGGS Ji, page 467).
Judaism
and Environment
Consider
the following from Genesis and Psalm:
The Lord
God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of
it. Genesis 2:15
The earth
is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm
24:1
Quranic
Ayat and Hadees Traditions on Encroachment of Environment
Allah, the
Most Gracious commands the people to abstain from every kind of wrongdoing with
His creation, the men and the environment. Life on the planet earth without a
healthy environment is out of imagination. Allah and His Rasool Pbuh command
human being to respect and guard all the creations of this world. Allah, the
Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
“And Allah loveth not those who do mischief” (Surat Al Ma’idah, verse 64)
“And do no mischief on the earth after it has
been set in order: that will be best for you if ye have Faith” (Surat Al A’raf: 85)
“It is He who has appointed you viceroys in the
earth … that He may try you in what He has given you.” (Surah 6:165)
‘And do good as Allah has been good to you.
Moreover, do not seek to cause corruption in the earth. Allah does not love the
corrupters’ (Al-
Qasas: 77)
Above
mentioned Ayat make the people responsible for the protection and conservation
of everything that consists of the environment. Conservation and protection of
the environment are important for the growth-filled life of our future
generation along with ours. All the human being as the representative of the
Creator is therefore obliged to take care of the environment.
And
Allah Knows the Best.
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Arman
Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/environment-human-life-world-religions/d/124955
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