environmental ethics Flashcards
SOURCES:
Quran: Always the first sacred text used when making ethical decisions
Sunnah: Words and actions of the prophet - Instructions on how to be a good Muslim
Ijma: Consensus of the community of scholars over a solution to a legal and practical issue. When a certain ruling lasts the test of time, more and more jurists as well as people accept the ruling achieving a consensus over that matter.
Qiyas: Extending established legal precedence to new matters by identifying an operative cause applicable to both situations. The issue will be looked at and they will try to find something similar to Muhammad to come to a conclusion.
TEACHINGS: Tawhid: Oneness of Allah
Includes unity and oneness of all that is created by Allah
Unity is reflected in the created world
All aspects of creation possess an original intrinsic goodness and dignity, fitra
- By acknowledging that the natural environment belongs to God; humans beings reflected on God’s oneness - ultimately reinforcing the first belief of Islam – tawhid
- Hence, demands of humans to respect the integrity of the created world, acknowledging its interconnectedness
TEACHINGS:• Khalifa: Stewardship
Allah has been bestowed the responsibility of caring for the natural world in the hands of human beings
Involves the appropriate use of sources
Revelation bestows upon humanity the responsibility of a vicegerent, caliph; to be righteous stewards of God’s creation
Muslims recognise the amanha (trust) g iven to them by Allah and therefore, their innate duty as stewards
Adherents have a responsibility to actively protect the environment, and therefore must fulfil their duty as Caliphs
It is He Who appointed you Khalifs on this earth (6:167)
And thereupon We made you their Khalifa on earth, so that We might behold how you act (6:165)
TEACHINGS:•Mizaan: Balance
All parts of the earth and its atmosphere are in a state of dynamic balance→ everything has its own natural order and purpose
removing/exploiting a factor of the natural world results in an unbalance, disregarding the perfect balance as Allah created
the adherent must live in harmony with the environment and only use what is necessary for survival.
- ‘Verily, all things have We created in proportion and measure’ (Qur’an 54:49
TEACHINGS:• Akhira: Accountability
Whilst the principal belief in Akhirah applies to all forms of earthly conduct, adherents accept that they will be held accountable for their stewardship deeds on earth in the afterlife
- encourages both respect for Earth as a place for worship, and the condemnation of superfluous ecological destruction
- Prophet Muhammad said: “ The world is beautiful and green and God has appointed you as His stewards over it. He sees how you acquit yourselves.”
- ‘So whatever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it’ (Qur’an 99:7-8)
TEACHINGS:• Ayat: Signs
they always have to keep in mind that Allah is within the natural environment
Respectful attitude for the environment
The word ayat, which means signs, is used in the Qur’an for both Creation and the verses of the Qur’an.
All of Creation points to the Divine Creator and allows us to learn about God’s Attributes.
By describing nature as signs of God in the Qur’an, we are encouraged to reflect on them to learn about God’s tawhid, His attributes and about connectivity of the universe.
ISSUES:• Animal Rights: Khalifa
- humans are entrusted (Amana) to care for animals and as God’s creations and therefore ensure they are adequately treated (on a daily basis and in death)
- As caliphs they have to ensure that they abide by the concept of Amana
ISSUES:• Animal Rights: Accountability
- the treatment of animals on a daily basis and during the process of halal. They are accountable for their actions - choosing halal, process of killing etc - this will determine entry into Akhira
ISSUES:Animal Rights;Tawhid
- How one treats animals, and the natural world, is a direct sign of how one treats God.
- “The earth He has assigned to all living creatures” Quran 55:10
- “You should give up deceiving animals. You should be trustworthy even in your treatment of them” Bukhari, Muslim
- “Fear God in your treatment of Animals” Abu Dawud
ISSUES:• Conservation:
“And We have made of water everything living” (21:30) Quran
Water is introduced as the origin and source of life in the Quran
- Stands for knowledge and faith or even for Imams
- Water is pure and purifying
The Prophet restricted use of water for such an important purpose - ablution before the most important act
- A Muslim who wants to perform ritual prayer or to touch the Holy Quran or to circumambulate around the Kaaba in Mecca must be ritually pure and to be ritually pure he needs to make ritual ablution with water
- ∴Islam forbids excessive use of water
ISSUES:Conservation:
“And We sent down from the sky water (rain) in (due) measure, and We gave ut lodging in the earth, and verily, We were Able to take it away”
- Hence manifesting the idea that water is a finite source and should be used withmoderation and accountability.
A critical resource to the practices of the Islamic tradition and a source that “gives and sustains life, and purifies humankind and the earth” → the water is thus sacred and highly valuable and must be treated as such
Under Shafa, water = a community resource and access to such is a right of all humankind
Participation in exploitative industries that upset this balance e.g. extravagant uses of water, unsustainable uses = immoral and against Allah
• Waste Minimisation:
Islam teaches that waste and excess leads to ingratitude and arrogance.
The Qur’an teaches Muslims that the earth is a gift from Allah to be used for good to meet their needs…..
However, it also warns against extravagance and being wasteful. The duty is to maintain the balance in nature that he has created
Wasting is disrespectful: Recognising not price value but real value
waste quotes
“And do not be wasteful; indeed He (God) does not love the wasteful” (Quran, 6: 141)
- “The worldly comforts are not for me. I am a traveller, who takes a rest under a tree in the shade and then goes on his way” Prophet Muhammad (Tirmidhi)
CASE STUDIES:• Green Muslims
Working to connect muslims everywhere to nature and environmental activism. Host educational, service, and outdoor recreational events and strive to serve as a bridge connecting the muslim community with local climate action organizations.
Waste minimisation and conservation
CASE STUDIES:•• Voices for power campaign
Western Sydney - Zubaida, climate change action, working together to provide clean and sustainable energy for all
