Muslim Attitudes Towards the Environment

Question 1

What are four points?

Answer 1

All part of Allah’s creation are in unity with each other. Creation is a gift from God to be respected and admired
Stewardship. Khalifah is the responsibility that Allah has given Muslims to care for the world; the person who acts as Allah’s steward on earth
The Prophet Muhammad explained the role of the Khalifah

Question 2

All part of Allah’s creation are in unity with each other

Answer 2

“And to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And ever is Allah, of all things, encompassing.” (Qur’an 4:126)
Creation is a gift from God to be respected and admired

Question 3

Stewardship. Khalifah is the responsibility that Allah has given Muslims to care for the world; the person who acts as Allah’s steward on earth.

Answer 3

“And when your Lord said to the angels, I am going to place in the earth a khalifah.” (Qur’an 2:30)
Adam was the first Khalifah
Allah created both the earth and humans to care for it
Muslims will be judged on the Day of Judgement on whether they have been good stewards — if they have not they will not go to paradise

Question 4

The Prophet Muhammad explained the role of the Khalifah

Answer 4

“The earth is green and beautiful, and Allah has appointed you his stewards over it. The whole world has been created as a place of worship pure and clean” (Hadith)
should not damage or waste resources
Muslims should follow the way of life set out in the Qur’an

Question 5

The Muslim Declaration on Nature

Answer 5

“We are God’s stewards and agents on earth. We are not masters of this earth: it does not belong to us to do what we wish. It belongs to God and he has entrusted us with its safekeeping.”

Question 6

The Ummah (Muslim Brotherhood). Muslims have a responsibility to take care of the environment for future generations.

Answer 6

All members of the Ummah, past, present and future, share in the earth’s resources
Caste study: African Muslim Enviroment Network: believe caring for the environment will also improve poverty in Africa — e.g. taught people how to revise traditional Swahili fishing techniques and to sell their ecologically-harvested fish to hotels