In Islam, man as the khalifah of Allah, has to bind a good relationship with Almighty Allah, his Self, fellow human beings (Muslims and non-Muslims) and also with nature. With regard to his relationship with nature, man has to develop a friendly co-existence with the flora and fauna. It is believed that man’s friendly co-existence with nature will eventually lead man to reap the goodness that comes from nature. For his caring and loving attitude towards nature, it will reward him with water, oxygen, flowers, fruits, natural resources and different kinds of food resources. According to Islam, nature is a gift of Almighty Allah. It has been created for the benefit of man. While others outside Islam may entertain the idea that nature is something that needs to be conquered as though it is an enemy, Muslims think differently. To Muslims, nature should be admired and appreciated for its beauty and splendor. In the holy Qur’an, there exist many verses that call man to explore the secrets of nature. The whole idea of Almighty Allah calling humankind to investigate and understand the laws of nature is only for a noble reason. It is expected that such discoveries of Almighty Allah’s handiwork in nature will enable man to be humble and thankful to Almighty Allah for His bounties given onto man. The Qur’an asks the Muslim community to explore nature and the universe in the hope that man will understand the patterns and laws by which Almighty Allah has created all celestial and terrestrial bodies. Upon discovering Almighty Allah’s wonders and creativity in nature and universe, man should feel humbled and submit himself to be the commandments of Almighty Allah. Religious reformer Allama Iqbal was very much in favour with the idea Muslims interacting with nature through the means of scientific approach. To him, in order for man to progress spiritually he must look into the Qur’an as the ‘revealed book’ from Almighty Allah and the universe as the ‘open book’ of Almighty Allah. Iqbal is of the view that science in many ways is not opposed to the religious teachings of Islam. Furthermore, he believed that the scientific facts and findings could complement religion in strengthening one’s faith.
“The naturalism of the Qur’an is only recognition of the fact that man is related to nature, and this relation, in view of its possibility as a means of controlling her forces, must be exploited not in the interest of unrighteous desire for domination, but in the nobler interests of a free upward movement of spiritual life”.
Allama Iqbal highlighted this point in the Reconstruction when he said: In our observation of nature, we are virtually seeking a kind of intimacy with the Absolute Ego; and this is only another form of worship. The scientific observer of nature is a kind of mystic seeker in the act of prayer. In his poems, Allama Iqbal called upon the Ummah to utilize science to improve their lives by extracting the bounties that Almighty Allah has provided for them in the material word. He also highlighted the point that the message brought by the Prophet is very much in harmony with the scientific revolution that was taking place during the early twentieth century. With regard to the relationship between man and nature, Iqbal feels that the calling of man to conquer the material world is not a call meant for man to behave as a tyrant who recklessly plunders the riches and wealth found in the belly of the earth. What he really meant is that, man should use his Almighty Allah-given intelligence in a just and systematic manner in managing the resources available in the physical world to attain his spiritual nearness with Almighty Allah. The naturalism of the Qur’an is only recognition of the fact that man is related to nature, and this relation, in view of its possibility as a means of controlling her forces, must be exploited not in the interest of unrighteous desire for domination, but in the nobler interests of a free upward movement of spiritual life.
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