Staying Alive Forever - Islam and Environmental Conservation (Part 2)

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 two parts) with kind permission from MUIS.

Continued from Part 1.

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Air

“And He it is Who sends the winds as tidings heralding His grace: until when they have raised a heavy-laden cloud, We drive it to a dead land and cause the rain to descend upon it, and thereby bring forth fruits of every kind.” (Al A’raf 7:57)

On Earth, Allah has created the perfect environment for life to exist. As vicegerents, we have the responsibility to ensure that we do not abuse this gift in our use. Gases like carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere when we burn petrol, coal and oil. These ‘greenhouse’ gases trap heat from the sun’s radiation, just like glass traps heat in a greenhouse. Scientists estimate that almost half of the carbon dioxide emissions come from energy we use every day - at home and when we travel.

If no action is taken to reduce these greenhouse gases, scientists predict that by the year 2100, the earth’s average temperature may rise by as much as 12 degrees Celsius, and the global sea level may rise by as much as 90 centimetres! These can bring about melting ice, severe changes in weather (causing hurricanes, tsunamis, floods and drought), and an increase in the spread of disease. The disturbance of natural habitats and the extinction of species will also become a worsening problem. By saving energy we can all help prevent climate change.

Another way we can unknowingly harm the air is by using products which are not bio-degradable. This means they cannot decompose. The only way these products can be destroyed is by incineration. Unfortunately, burning them releases toxic gases into the air and this in turn increases the ‘greenhouse-effect’ mentioned earlier. Some examples of such products are plastics and styrofoam.

Trees

The Quran celebrates the grandeur of nature: the glorious colours, the scenic beauty, the countless varieties of flowers, fruits and exotic birds which Allah S.W.T has provided to enable us to reflect on His Greatness. Because of this, nature plays an important role in the psyche of Muslims and there are more than 700 verses about nature in the Quran:

“And it is He who spreads out the earth,
and set on it mountains standing firm and (flowing) rivers;
and fruit of every kind He made in pairs, two and two;
He draws the night as a veil over the Day (Al-Ra’d 13: 3).”

Rasulullah himself was a committed environmentalist who reminded his followers that they would be rewarded by Allah S.W.T for taking good care of the Earth. He encouraged the planting of trees and banned the destruction of vegetation even during war. In a hadith, he said:

“If any Muslim plants a tree or sows a field, and a human, bird or animal eats from it, it shall be considered as charity from him.” - Sahih Al-Bukhari

According to a Straits Times report on April 18, 2007, more than 100,000 plants and trees will be planted in Singapore in the next year as part of our effort to fight environmental degradation. Apart from beautifying the landscape, they will also help to reduce the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Land

The land provides man and other living creatures with a source of food and livelihood. In the fertile soil that Allah created grows vegetation upon which all living things depend.

“And the earth, We have spread it out,
and made in it mountains standing firm,
and grown in it every thing in balance.
And We have provided in it sustenance for you,
and for those whom you do not support.” (Quran Al-Hijr 15:19-20)

One way we show our gratitude for His gift is by treating it with care – by making sure that our practices do not bring about degradation in its productivity. This could happen if it was exposed to erosion by wind, water, etc.

Ecology

We share the earth with millions of species of living things – from microscopic organisms to huge animals. This is called biodiversity and although scientists estimate there are around 50 million species of these, only about 2.2 million have been identified. Biodiversity is crucial for the environmental system or ecology. Many micro-organisms for example, help in the production of oxygen and other gases in the atmosphere, and maintain the balance between them.

Today, scientists say that approximately 4,500 species are extinct or on the verge of extinction. Littering that has led to pollution of the seas, an increase in the use of non-biodegradable products and other practices have brought about this death. This disorder in biodiversity will shake the balance of nature, and man will pay the price for it.

Let’s use a simple example: if the number of birds decreased, it will lead to an increase in the number of insects which the birds eat. This will lead to a decrease in the amount of crops (as they will be destroyed by the insects) causing man to have less food. During the period of the Great Leap Forward in the 1950s, the farmers in China came upon the idea of killing the sparrows which they found to be a nuisance since they ate the grains in their fields. A public campaign was started. The Chinese however, discovered that with the sparrows gone, they actually harvested fewer crops because more were damaged by insects which were previously eaten by the birds. This led them to re-introduce the sparrows. For the peasants, it was a reversible process. With the extinction of species, man would not be so lucky.

Environmentalists suggest that another way of minimising harm to the environment is through recycling. Technology is available for waste products to be reused after they have been treated so that the amount of waste can be reduced.

Islam therefore supports the maximum use of recycling, and today this can include the recycling of glass, paper, cardboard, metal and even some plastics. This is the idea behind the Bring Your Own Bag Day and the campaign to encourage recycling of plastic bags for shopping. Studies have shown than non-biodegradable bags can survive 1,000 years! The more we recycle our shopping bags, the fewer non-biodegradable materials end up floating around out there, clogging up the earth’s pores after we are gone.

The wonder of the balance of nature is one of the signs of the greatness of Allah which we are often called upon to reflect. With proper care-taking, this chain of life can be sustainable and last – for the next 1,000 years – as the saying goes. When man creates disorder in the cycle, destruction will occur and the quality of his life on earth will be jeopardised.

Environmental conservation is the duty of all Muslims. Wastage, abuse, misuse, destruction, and pollution of natural resources are all transgressions against the natural order which ultimately cause injury to the environment and the beautiful earth Allah has provided for us to live in.

We must be prepared for death as if it will come tomorrow, but Allah in His Wisdom does not tell us to stop the preparation there. Instead, we are to prepare for this world as if we will be alive for the next 1,000 years. In doing so, Islam teaches us to develop a long-term attitude about our life on earth with a consciousness that every decision made in this world makes a difference and that we will in the hereafter be made accountable for our every single action.

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Note: The copyright of the article belongs to the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS).

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