Almighty Allah has created the world and the universe perfect in proportion, measure and balance as a life-supporting system. “All the elements in the universe are interdependent and connected, and have a value to each other, over and above their value to humans; for humans need the earth in order to exist, but the earth has no need for humans” (Quran). “Indeed the earth and what it contains is a means of subsistence for all creatures, not only for humans” (Quran). These verses stress the fact that each single element in the environment plays an essential part in the sustenance, maintenance and preservation of the whole. In other words, the function of all created things is to serve creation itself, i.e. all created things have an ecological function. A further function of creation is to service humans. “Almighty Allah has passed the whole of creation to humans by virtue of the trust placed on them” (Quran). Quranic verses describing nature and natural phenomena out number verses dealing with commandments and sacraments. Of more than Six Thousand verses, some Seven Hundred fifty, or one-eighth of the Book, exhort believers to reflect on nature, to study the relationship between living organisms and their environment, to make the best use of reason and to maintain the balance and proportion Allah has built into His creation. The earth’s resources land, water, air, minerals and forests are available for humanity’s use, but these gifts come from Almighty Allah with certain ethical restraints imposed on them. We may use them to meet our needs, but only in a way that does not upset ecological balance and that does not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The Islamic approach to the environment is holistic. Everything in creation is linked to everything else; whatever affects one thing ultimately affects everything. Man was created from the essence of nature and so is inextricably bound to it. Because of its ability to think and reason, humanity has been made trustee or steward of Almighty on earth. Nature is created on the principle of balance, and as steward, it is humanity’s responsibility to ensure that our actions do not disrupt this balance.
Nature’s rights over mankind include protection from exploitation, degradation and destruction. Greed, affluence, extravagance and waste are considered tyranny against nature and a transgression of those rights. The Qur’an always teaches that human need cannot justify transgressing the equally legitimate needs of other species.
Man can detect Allah’s “signs” in all the natural phenomena that surround him and should, therefore, observe them better to understand “God’s way,” the Quranic term for “laws of nature”. Thus “in the change of the wind”, “in the succession of night and day”, “in the mountains towering above the earth”, “in the hives of the bees and the light of the birds”, “in the springs that gush forth from within the earth”, “in the water that comes down from the sky, giving life to the earth after it had been lifeless”, “in the wonder of the seed”, and numerous other Quranic verses, Almighty reminds humanity that there are “messages for those who reason and think”. Every created thing has inherent value, an ecological value and a utilization value for humankind both as spiritual sustenance and material resource. Humankind’s rights over nature are rights of sustainable use based on moderation, balance and conservation; future generations have a similar and equal right. Nature’s rights over mankind include protection from exploitation, degradation and destruction. Greed, affluence, extravagance and waste are considered tyranny against nature and a transgression of those rights. The Qur’an always teaches that human need cannot justify transgressing the equally legitimate needs of other species. As stakeholders in the global village, it is also incumbent on us all to take due care of the environment.
