Staying Alive Forever – Islam and Environmental Conservation (Part 1)
October 3, 2007 by Eugene
Filed under Education and Environmentalism, Singapore
The article below was first published in the Apr-Jun 07 edition of NADi by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS). We find the article enlightening and it gave us more insights on how the teachings of Islam promote environmental consciousness and protection. We think that more people should be exposed to the relationship between the environment and religion. So we have republished the article below (in 2 parts) with kind permission from MUIS.
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“Strive for your life in the hereafter as if you will die tomorrow.
Strive for your life on earth as if you will live forever.”
A community of excellence which is well adjusted contributes towards the care of the larger society they live in.
On 18 April 2007, Singapore celebrated Earth Day with a host of activities aimed at promoting environmental consciousness among the people. Muslims here responded positively to this effort and lent it our full support. This article explains that in contributing to the protection of the environment, Muslims are actually performing a sacred duty commanded by Allah S.W.T to all man, as stewards of the Earth.
As Muslims we believe strongly in the hereafter. In the famous hadith, Rasulullah S.A.W reminds us to be prepared for our future life in the next world, as if we would leave this one tomorrow.
Islam, however, does not teach us to neglect this world in our pursuit of the hereafter. On the contrary, Muslims are told to work diligently on earth, to establish peace and justice and to ensure its prosperity. In the Quran, Allah states:
But seek, with the (wealth) which God has given to you,
the Home of the Hereafter,
But do not forget your portion in this world:
but do good, As God has been good to you,
and seek not (occasion for) mischief in the land:
For God loves not those who do mischief.
(Al-Qasas 28:77).
When Allah made us His vicegerents, He gave us stewardship to exercise over the Earth. Stewardship implies care taking: using our intelligence to manage, preserve and protect the natural environment. In fact, we are asked to revere the environment because Allah states that “Greater indeed than the creation of man is the creation of the heavens and the earth” (Al-Ghaafir 40: 57). Hence, when the Quran says good Muslims “walk on the Earth with humility” (Al-Furqan 25: 63), it could be taken to mean that they respect and protect the gifts of nature which Allah has bestowed us.
So how can we as Allah’s trustees on Earth, “strive for our life on earth as if we will live forever”?
Perhaps the hadith could be interpreted on a more metaphorical level. To ensure that it will survive for the next thousand years, we have the responsibility to maintain the good condition of the earth, and to ensure its sustainability and good health for future generations. One way we can do this is through environmental conservation.
What is Conservation?
Conservation means using natural resources in such a way that it cuts down waste and maintains the resource as much as possible.
Conservation enables us to preserve the resources while continuing to use them. It allows a resource to be passed on to the next generation without giving up the benefits of the resource now.
Conservation also involves using renewable resources so that the resources can be replenished. In other words, we do not take out more than nature can replace in a given amount of time.
How Can We Conserve?
….But waste not by excess:
for God loves not the wasters.
- Surah Al An’am 6: 141.
Environmental conservation is not just about “going green”. It is about making the best use of scientific knowledge and understanding so that we produce solutions that will provide a sustainable environment – one that will last “the next 1000 years.” Defined this way however, environmental conservation seems very big and too distant for us to do anything about. But there are actually many things we can actually do when we bring the focus closer to home.
Water
One of the simplest and most powerful methods of environmental conservation we can practise is to reduce waste in our household: by cutting down the amount of water that we use.
The Quran frequently reminds us about how precious natural resources like water, air and land are and prohibits good Muslims from wastage:
“Say: Have you considered, if your water were one morning to have seeped away, who then could bring you clear-flowing water?” (Al-Mulk 67: 30)
Islam forbids extravagance in using water. It is related that the Prophet passed by his companion Sa’ad, who was performing his wudhu’ (ablutions), and said:
“What is this wastage, O Sa’ ad?”
“Is there wastage even in washing for prayer?” asked Sa’ d;
and he said, “Yes, even if you are by a flowing river!” – Ibn Majah
By thinking carefully about our water use in the home and changing some water-wasting habits, it is easy to save water. For example, turning the taps off when we brush our teeth or cutting down the amount of water when we perform our wudhu’ (ablutions) can save up to five litres a minute. Water is the world’s most precious resource, and in a country like Singapore where we do not even have an adequate supply of water for our own needs, saving it is more critical than ever. Not only can we help protect the environment, we save ourselves money in the process.
Another aspect of environmental protection is water pollution. As Muslims, we are prohibited from polluting water. In fact, Rasulullah S.A.W was so strict about this that he did not allow his followers to even bathe in standing water, what more pollute it with excrement and urine when they relieve themselves.
He said: “None of you should pass his urine or bath in a water source.” – Sahih Bukhari.
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To be continued in Part 2.
Note: The copyright of the article belongs to the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS).
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>Islam forbids extravagance in using water.
Yes. Thanks for informations.