Islam and the Environment?

Hilma Pestano: In the Quran, Islam's revealed text, men and women are viewed as God's vicegerents on Earth. (2:30) God created nature in a balance ("al-mizan") and mankind's responsibility is to maintain this fragile equilibrium through wise governance and sound personal conduct.The Quran also describes the believing men and women as those who "walk on the Earth in humility." (25:63) Scholars have interpreted this verse, and others like it, to mean that Muslims are to protect nature's many bounties given to them by the Almighty. Preservation is therefore more than a good policy recommendation - it is a commandment from God.There are more than 700 verses in the Quran that exhort believers to reflect on nature.For example, the Quran states: "And it is He who spread out the earth, and set thereon mountains standing firm and (flowing) rivers; and fruit of every kind He made in pairs, two and two; He draweth the night as a veil over the Day.Sponsored LinksAccording to Islamic ! beliefs, the Earth is a sanctuary in which mankind was made to dwell in comfort. The vast oceans, forests and mountains that make up this bountiful planet have been subdued by God for our enjoyment and productive use.Further, God compels Muslims in the Quran to respect and revere the environment when He says, "Greater indeed than the creation of man is the creation of the heavens and the earth." (40:57)The Prophet Muhammad told his followers they would be rewarded by God for taking care of the Earth. He said: "If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 8:41) He also compared Muslims to a "fresh tender plant" that bends, but does not break, when afflicted with life's inevitable calamities. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 7:547)Another tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, or hadith, quotes him as saying: "If the Hour (Judgment Day) is about to be established and one of you is hold! ing a palm shoot, let him take advantage of even one second be! fore the Hour is established to plant it."An example of Muslims taking ownership of their divine obligation to protect the environment was seen recently when the people of Tanzania reversed a growing trend toward ecological destruction through a policy of sustainable fishing and environmental preservation based on the principles of the Quran.Prior to implementation of the educational program, over-harvesting by fishermen on the Muslim-majority island of Misali had threatened the area's aquatic ecosystem. But thanks to an indigenous campaign to remind local inhabitants of Islam's respect for nature, those who earn their living from the sea learned the benefits of protecting the region's biodiversity.In Islamic history, Ottoman civilization provides us with another example of the seriousness with which Muslims have traditionally taken their environmental obligations. Ottoman viziers, or ministers, advising the sultan on matters of administration and policy regularly encourage! d moratoria on matters deemed potentially damaging to future generations.Innovations in technology, for example, were hotly debated among scholars, all of whom recognized the importance of considering the long-term impact on both society and the environment.In Islam, even the Earth has inalienable rights endowed by its Creator.Sound ecological principles are not limited to Islam, and should be acted upon by practitioners of other faiths. Together we can tackle the environmental problems that besiege our planet.On this year's Earth Day, people of all faiths should take time to examine their own faith tradition's advice for taking care of the Earth that we share....Show more

Robin Marchione: Muslims live their lives according to the decrees of the Quran and the ways of the prophet (peace be upon him) Waste not, abuse not and don’t mess with something that is not broken. There are downsides to this as most of us have become apathetic, as a result.Ironically, Westerners! have created a mess which they now want to preach to the world to rect! ify. Take the USA for example, they refuse to use less energy or alternate energy and restrict the amount of hydrocarbons released into the atmosphere. USA uses 25% of the worlds energy and contribute more than 60% of the environmental problems the Earth has. Hypocritical. Al Gore preaches using less energy and saving the world yet his personal household energy bill for one month is 10 times more than that of a normal household’s total bill for the year....Show more

Esteban Lyson: Those who WASTE are the brothers of Shaitan(DEVIL)..

Shad Bushweller: http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkxSrLUZGsQwBDqBXNyoA...

Jerald Florence: It is very important to take care of the earth, and respect for the nature and God´s creatures is essential to a Muslim´s faith.I´ll keep searching for exact spots in the Koran, but in case I can´t get back to you, I can at least give you this - an interesting article about how fishermen in Tanzania stopped destroying an area with a fr! agile ecosystem because of what is stated in the Koran.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4271519.st...This is a very interesting question - and I am curious to see what other (serious) users can enlighten us with!...Show more

Erin Arron: i'm uncertain any portion of their faith does earnings our environment, yet i'm additionally uncertain that Christianity does the two. i understand Jews have the full Plant a Tree in Israel difficulty, yet that doesn't help something of the international. The Jews do bury their lifeless in pine packing containers without embalming, which makes particular those chemical ingredients don't get into the soil. i don't think of the explanation at the back of faith is to earnings our environment. Hindus on the different hand actively defend cows from slaughter as sacred and that they abstain from meat, which i assume ought to help by making use of retaining the vegetable inhabitants down (meat eaters comedian tale!). The Hindus do extr! a harm to their environment than solid. nevertheless they abstain from ! meat, they deliver lifeless bodies to be burned in boats down the river, positively making the Ganges the main polluted physique of water interior the finished international, no exaggeration mandatory. it form of feels to me that faith quite often does extra harm than solid to our environment....Show more

Denna Prudente: in war Muslims should not kill animals and should not cut treesthe prophet Muhammad also said ifit is the end of the time coming and you have a tree to plant then plant it.some Muslims plant trees for the coming generation,

Arnoldo Budzynski: AHHH, I got it...you are joking, hahaha...that was good one...http://uk.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-EiWSW3w_cqGWq250...See what they do with the "enviroment"

Floy Fague: Why I ask is that I hear very little about Islamic domonated countries doing little for the environment, it seems to be all up to sectular Europe to go green. Do Imans preach recycling or using solar power, I don't mean this in a negati! ve way just wondering. Thanks for the comments so far.

Russell Mckinzie: Prophet Muhammed(PBUH) once said, "If you want to follow God then love thy creation first". Although this is not part of the quran but everything that God has made sacrad should be respected!. Thats what i think atleast!