Islam - Environmental ethics Flashcards
Intro - Enviro
The meaning and purpose of a Muslim’s life are to submit to the will of Allah. The ethical system guides for adherents to live halal lives, as demonstrated through environmental ethics. Environmental ethics are central to the core belief of Tawhid shown in the ‘Al Fatiha’ “Thee alone we worship; Thee alone we ask for help”. The environmental ethics assist Adherents in remaining Iktisad meaning remaining unwasteful and avoiding Nafs, which is the ego and desire. Two ethical teachings that influence the lives of Muslims are Amanah and Ayat.
- live a halal life
- Tawhid, submission
- Al Fatiha “Thee alone we worship; Thee alone we ask for help”
- helps adherents Iktisad - remaining unwasteful
- Nafs - ego or desire
- Amanah, Ayaat
Amanah
Amanah is the Islamic teaching that states human beings are entrusted with God’s creation and calling humans to protect, maintain and ensure equal access to it. The environment belongs to God, and it is an honour that God has entrusted humans with its protection, this can be shown in (Qur’an, 45:12-13) “He has made subservient to you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the Earth”. Amanah affects Muslim’s meaning and purpose as it calls them to be responsible for the protection of creation; this is also another way adherent’s express submission to their one God. Examples of Amanah’s effect on adherents is through charity groups such as “Green Muslims” whose objective is as declared in their mission statement to “connect Muslims everywhere to nature and environmental activism”.
- Muslims are entrusted with God’s creation
- protect maintain equal access
- (Qur’an, 45:12-13) “He has made subservient to you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the Earth”
- Green Muslims - “connect Muslims everywhere to nature and environmental activism”
Ayat
Ayat is the Islamic teaching that God made all creation and therefore are all signs towards God’s greatness. Ayat calls Muslims to learn about God through nature and reflect on creation to discover God’s Tawhid. An example of Ayat in the Qur’an is (Qur’an, 13:3) “Behold, verily in these things, there are signs for those who think and reflect”. Ayat affects Muslim’s meaning and purpose through encouraging them to look on the environment as sacred and important for worship, this assists with adherents to maintain the trust to protect God’s creation, and achieve Iktisad. An example of how Ayat influences Muslim’s is through Islamic environmental groups such as Islamic group the ‘International Islamic Climate Change Symposium’.
- God Made creation, therefore, creation is a sign of God
- Tawhid, submission
- (Qur’an, 13:3) “Behold, verily in these things, there are signs for those who think and reflect”
- this assists with adherents to maintain the trust to protect God’s creation, and achieve Iktisad
- ‘International Islamic Climate Change Symposium’
Conclusion
To conclude Amanah calls upon Muslim’s to protect the environment as Allah entrusts us for its care, and Ayat encourages Muslims to carefully reflect and learn from their environment as the natural world is the creation of Allah. Through submission to one God, both are signs towards Tawhid shown in the ‘Al Fatiha’ “Thee alone we worship; Thee alone we ask for help”.
