Islam Is An Environmentally Friendly Religion
By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
27 April 2023
The War And Violence Have Caused The
Condition Of The Ecosystem To Deteriorate. The Availability Of Clean Water And
Food Is Decreasing
Main Points:
1. Islamic
teachings have much to educate people about their relationship with nature.
2. Animals and
birds are important components of the environment. Islam teaches that they
should not be killed unjustly.
3. Water is
essential for human life, and one of Islam's teachings is not to pollute it,
which can cause diseases like liver and stomach inflammation.
4. Islam
prohibits littering in public, as it makes the atmosphere dirty and poisonous.
5. Islam
commands protection from air pollution by burying the deceased, which is done
to prevent impurity and odour from polluting the air and atmosphere.
6. The Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) highlighted the need for environmental
preservation in various hadiths, such as "There should be neither harming
nor reciprocating harm".
...
The universe is thought to be 15 billion
years old, while the earth is thought to be 4.6 billion years old. Our world
has valuable assets of life, but environmental pollution is increasing due to
many reasons including war and violence. The availability of clean water and
food is decreasing. Environmental organisations are taking action to protect
the environment. When we examine Islamic teachings in this context, we discover
that Islam strongly promotes environmental survival and is thus an
environmentally friendly religion.
Islamic teachings have much to educate people
about their relationship with nature. Islam actually derives its name from the
Arabic term "Silm," which means peace. This word refers to peace not
just between humans but also between other living things and the environment as
a whole. Islam teaches mankind to regard the environment with reverence
and respect and to live in peace with it. The Quran and the Hadith make
frequent mentions of the environment and the responsibility of humans to
protect it. Both clearly state that humans are responsible for caring for and
maintaining the creatures of Allah as part of the Amaanat (trust) handed to
them as the caliphs of the earth.
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Also Read:
Environment And Human Life Are Inter-Dependent in all
World Religions
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Allah says in the Quran:
“Surely, We have made what is on earth an
adornment for it so that We test them as to who among them is better in need” (18:7)
What is on Earth contains all living
creatures, vegetation, mountains, minerals, and everything else. This verse
states that Allah created nature in order to beautify the planet and provide
pleasure to our eyes and hearts through it. It also highlights that this
creation serves a higher purpose, which is to put people to the test by
requiring them to perform good deeds and display their piety by leaving the
environment as Allah made it. The verse emphasises the significance of treating
the environment wisely and responsibly, lest there be severe consequences for
humans and life on Earth.
A pollution-free environment is something
that all living creatures on Earth, including humans, rely on. It is critical
for human health, survival, and growth to keep the ecosystem's elements in the
same balance, order, and beauty that the Creator of the universe created them
in. If any of these factors is interrupted, the entire ecosystem suffers.
Causes Of Environmental Pollution
Things that damage the environment and the
climate have existed throughout history, but the current industrial revolution
has propelled man to the top in many spheres of life while polluting the
climate and the environment. The continual discharge of trash from factories
and various companies, as well as the fumes from vehicles on the highways, have
greatly exacerbated environmental pollution. The air here is often dusty due to
inadequate sanitation in big cities. People in our country are supposed to eat
less food and more dust.
The teaching of Islam is that life should be
lived with moderation rather than greed and extravagance.
Allah says in the Quran: “And eat and
drink and do not be extravagant. Surely, He does not like the extravagant”
(7:31)
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) says:
"Be upright in your actions, and be moderate." (Bukhari)
Mizan is an Islamic concept that emphasizes
the importance of balance and justice, as it implies a state of equilibrium
that is fair and just. Allah created the earth in perfect equilibrium, as He
says in the Quran: “And He raised the sky high, and has established the
balance so that you would not transgress the balance. And observe the correct
weight with fairness, and do not skimp in the balance. And He laid out the
earth for all creatures” (55:7-10)
These notions of moderation, preservation,
and balance inspire Muslims to respect the planet's boundaries as well as the
symbiotic ecosystems on which all creatures rely for survival. If the world
continues to go forward with moderation, the ecosystem's equilibrium will be
preserved, the environment will be conserved, and development will proceed.
The teaching of Islam on the interaction of
humans with the environment is further based on its fundamental moral values.
In various hadiths, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
highlighted the need for environmental preservation, albeit in a roundabout
way. For example, the hadith "There should be neither
harming nor reciprocating harm" implies that humans should be accountable
for their actions and refrain from causing harm to one another, whether
directly or indirectly through disrupting the environment in which they live.
In another hadith, it is stated,
"If the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his
hand a sapling, then let him plant it." This Hadith encourages Muslims to
plant trees.
Importance Of Planting
One of the teachings of Islam in relation to
environmental protection is to plant more trees.
Allah says: “And He is (The One) Who has
sent down from the heaven water; so thereby We have brought out the growth of
everything; so We have brought out of it greenery, from which We bring out
close-compounded grains, and out of the palm-trees, from their spaces,
thick-clustered (dates) within reach, and gardens of vineyards, and the olives,
and the pomegranates, each similar to each, and each not (Literally: other than
being co-similar) similar to each. Look upon their produce when they have
produced, and their mellowness. Surely, in that (Literally: in those) are
indeed signs for a people who believe.” (6:99)
This verse draws our attention to the causes
of green, such as tree planting. There is no doubt that dense woods are a
significant source of environmental pollution protection and clean air for
humanity. On the one hand, humans gain fruits, grains, shade, fuel, and wood
for furniture from trees and plants, and on the other, these trees absorb the
substances that create environmental pollution and make humans and other
creatures transparent. We must protect this natural treasure of woods for
future generations while also maintaining environmental balance.
Animals and birds are important components of
the environment. Islam teaches that they should not be killed unjustly. The
Prophet (peace be upon him) reportedly said, "Whoever kills a bird without
a reason, it will beseech Allah on the Day of Resurrection saying: O Lord, so
and so killed me for no reason, and he did not kill me for any beneficial
purpose”
Islam commands protection from air pollution.
One of its teachings, for example, is to bury the deceased. One of the goals of
this instruction is, among other things, to prevent the impurity and odour
emanating from the dead man's body from polluting the air and atmosphere.
Islam prohibits littering in public, as it
makes the atmosphere dirty and poisonous. According to a Hadith, the Prophet
(peace be upon him) ordered to cover phlegm by putting mud on it.
Water is essential for human life, and one of
Islam's teachings is not to pollute it, which can cause diseases like liver and
stomach inflammation. Today, water pollution is a major problem.
Islam emphasizes the importance of a moderate
attitude when raising one's voice in order to control noise pollution.
Occasional and excessive sounding is seen as reprehensible, and excessive
sounding is described as the "braying of a donkey".
Islam is an environmentally friendly
religion, as evidenced by its instructions to protect the environment in the
Qur'an and Hadith. By following these instructions, we can easily control
environmental pollution.
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Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and
a regular columnist for New Age Islam.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-environment/environmentally-friendly-religion/d/129650
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