Epigraph:

The sun and the moon run their courses according to a fixed reckoning.
And the stemless plants and the trees humbly submit to His will.
And the heaven He has raised high and set up a measure,
That you may not transgress the measure.
So weigh all things in justice and fall not short of the measure. (Al Quran 55:6-10)

By Reem Shraiky, UK

Islam gives guidance on all social, economic, political, cultural, and other substantial issues of life. Although climate change and environmental issues are contemporary, Islam has been tackling them before they became such a grave threat to our planet that they are now. Islam has been giving us guidance on such matters from more than 1400 years ago.

It is evident from Ahadith [sayings of the Holy Prophet (sa)] that Muslims have a religious duty to safeguard the world’s natural environment. For instance, the Holy Prophet (sa) said: ‘The world is sweet and green, and verily Allah has appointed you as a representative and trustee over it’. [1]

Prohibition of Wastage
In line with this teaching, Islam has prohibited the wastage of all-natural resources and their excessive consumption. We see today that water scarcity and food shortages have become major problems due to our exploitative use of our planet’s precious resources.

But Allah the Almighty states in the Holy Qur’an:

‘…eat and drink but exceed not the bounds; surely, He does not love those who exceed the bounds.’ [2]

Allah also instructs us to not focus on extravagance and to share the benefit of everything that He has bestowed upon man:

‘And He it is Who brings into being gardens, trellised and untrellised, and the date-palm and cornfields whose fruits are of diverse kinds, and the olive and the pomegranate, alike and unalike. Eat of the fruit of each, when it bears fruit, but pay His due on the day of harvest and exceed not the bounds. Surely, Allah loves not those who exceed the bounds.’ [3]

In this regard the Holy Prophet (sa) set a golden rule, he said:

‘Don’t waste water even if you were by a running river’. [4]

This is because water is the origin of life, as the Holy Qur’an says: ‘And We made from water every living thing.’ [5]

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Suggested reading and viewing

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet | Official Trailer | Netflix

A Slight Twist Makes David Attenborough a Great Teacher for God of the Abrahamic Faiths