Muslims and Environment

Question 1

All part of Allah’s creation are in unity with each other. Creation is a gift from God to be respected and admired.

Answer 1

“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)
Tawhid (oneness of God) means that muslims accept that Allah is the creator and sustainer of creation

Question 2

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 2

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
“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

Question 3

The Prophet Muhammad explained the role of the Khalifah

Answer 3

“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 4

The Muslim Declaration on Nature

Answer 4

“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 5

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

Answer 5

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