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Environmental Ethics In Islam

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/climate-change/protecting-the-environment-in-times-of-war-66854

Provide a clear and short review of the fundamentals and broad approaches to environmental ethics from an Islamic perspective

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Islamic Law (Shariah)

EVERYTHING

The primary sources of Islamic law are:

The Holy Book (The Quran)
The Sunnah (the traditions or known practices of the Prophet Muhammad )
Ijma' (Consensus)
Qiyas (Analogy)

Huda. (2020, October 29). What Are Sources of Islamic Law? Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/sources-of-islamic-law-2004417

https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/finance/sharia-law/

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Monotheism (Tawheed)

EVERYTHING

Ecologists believe that all living things are signs of God's power and mercy because they have their own metaphysical existences that reveal God's power and grace. (Gada, M.Y. 2014)

(To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth all obey His will and it is He who originates creation) Qur'an 30:25

(وَمِنۡ اٰيٰتِهٖۤ اَنۡ تَقُوۡمَ السَّمَآءُ وَالۡاَرۡضُ بِاَمۡرِهٖ) الروم 25

(لِّلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ) الشورى 49

(لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ ٱلثَّرَىٰ) طه 6

(To Allāh belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills.) Quran 42:49 and (To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and all that is between them, and all that is under the soil.) Quran 20:6

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The origin of the earth

https://www.vox.com/2014/10/22/18093054/global-warming-explained

Hadith “The world is green and beautiful and Allah has appointed you as His stewards over it".

In Quran chapter 6:65 (And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order,)

(وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَاحِهَا) الأعراف 56

Human health, agriculture, forests, and aquatic life, in fact the whole ecosystem is affected by problems associated with water.

(Mian.H.et al.2013 )

According to specialist study estimated the production of desalination plants exceeded 3.5 million m3/day. This represents 60% of total urban water in the year of 2010. This represents the ratio of gray water wasted by human during baths , showers, washing machines and bath ram sinks, comprising 60 -70% of the total water demand.(Mohammad.I.Al.et.el.2011)

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Responsibility and Trust (Khalifah)

https://climate.nasa.gov/resources/global-warming-vs-climate-change/

(It is He (Allah) Who appointed you Khalifs on this earth) Quran 6:165.

(وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَٰٓئِفَ ٱلْأَرْضِ) الانعام 165

''We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: but man undertook it;- He was indeed unjust and foolish' 'Quran (Alahzab:72)

Man, as God's vicegerent (Khalifa) on Earth, is just a resource manager, not an owner, disposer, or beneficiary, The essence of such Islamic-based environmental ethics is that God created all of the resources on which life depends as a trust (amana) in our hands. (Mamat.N.M, 2012.p.92)

instructs humans to stop wasting resources and actions that could lead to degradation of the environment, because the human privilege to exploit natural resources should be as guardians of the natural world, not as owners of this world (Sobri et al., 2021; Zafar 2021).

In Islam itself, human contact with the environment is referenced several times in Holy Quran, which is backed up by Hadith and further elucidated in depth by companions and scholars. The verse in the Holy Quran about humans being assigned as khalifah begins with a general interaction between humans and the world.

Man, as God's vicegerent (Khalifa) on Earth, is just a resource manager, not an owner, disposer, or beneficiary, The essence of such Islamic-based environmental ethics is that God created all of the resources on which life depends as a trust (amana) in our hands.(Mamat.N.M, 2012.p.92)

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Equilibrium

by Ana Valverde Prieto @anavalpri

https://www.almrsal.com/post/918323

(There is not an animal on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but communities (Ummah) like you. Nothing have We omitted from the Book, and they shall be gathered to their Sustainers in the end.) Quran.

(Verily, all things have We created in proportion and measure) Quran 54:49

(إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ) القمر 49

Equilibrium is defined as a state of equality among all of God's creations, all of which were made in precisely the same rights. (Rizk, R. 2014)

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Balance Life

Getty Images

(Verily, the spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayāṭīn (devils), and the Shaiṭān (Devil Satan) is ever ungrateful to his Lord.) Quran 17:26 and chapter 25:67 (And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes).

(وَلا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيراً إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِرَبِّهِ كَفُوراً) الإسراء: 26

(وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَنْفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ قَوَاماً) الفرقان 67

the Qur'anic environmental ethics tell us that God has trusted humans His world. They have to prove themselves capable of this trust, by maintaining a balance, in a way to get benefits from nature and protect it from discards. Thus the relation of humans to their environment is a relation of “the trustee” and “the trust”. The Qur'an says, “Cheat not in maintaining the balance. Establish just measure and do not fall short in maintaining the balance.

The Qur’an says “Muslim social ethics is a quest for equilibrium, accepting the mandate of trusteeship and striving to be a moderate community (Ummah Wasata)” and this applies to everything as well as the natural resources like construction material. (Mian.H.S et al.2013)

That warn against being lavish and wasteful in many domains, as well as against being frugal and stingy, as one must be temperate in consumption in a right and balanced way. The devil is portrayed in the Qur'an as an extravagant individual, and it is well recognised that this depiction is improper and does not match what is right.

As a result of this the environmental ethics, it is bigger than be just a matter of resources, it is a human relationship mixing between the world and religion and the material with the value, to formulate a life that suits the message which has been given to the human on the earth (inheritance and construction), then the ethical values and morals it is the most important thing which contributes .

Therefore, man should not abuse, misuse, or distort the natural resources as each generation is entitled to benefit from them, but is not entitled to 'own' them in an absolute sense(Gada.M.Y et Al, 2014.p.133)

the Qur'anic environmental ethics tell us that God has trusted humans His world. They have to prove themselves capable of this trust, by maintaining a balance, in a way to get benefits from nature and protect it from discards. Thus the relation of humans to their environment is a relation of “the trustee” and “the trust”. The Qur'an says, “Cheat not in maintaining the balance. Establish just measure and do not fall short in maintaining the balance.(Mian.H.S et al.2013)

The Qur’an says “Muslim social ethics is a quest for equilibrium, accepting the mandate of trusteeship and striving to be a moderate community (Ummah Wasata)” and this applies to everything as well as the natural resources like construction material.(Mian.H.S et al.2013)

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Saving water

Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad said when he saw his friend Saad performing ablution (wudu): “What is this extravagance, O Saad?” So, Saad replied, Is there an extravagant in ablution? The Messenger replied: “Yes, even if you are on a flowing river.”

Qur’an is clear that water is “the basis of life on earth in all its forms” (Quran. 21:30)

(وجعلنا من الماء كل شيء حي) الأنبياء 30

(We created you from the (earth), we will return you to it, and we will bring you out of it once more.) Quran 20:55

The Islamic perspective on natural resources

And it's noteworthy to mention that if you can't find water for ablution in the case of not existing or being rare you can do "tayammum" According to this verse in the Quran " if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.(Al-nisa:43)"

Islamic law also contends that water is a commonly held resource, as such access to and use of this essential commodity cannot be legally refused unless the source is on private land. Yet the owner of that land and source of water is required to only use water for reasonable use. Islamic law also prohibits the pollution of water, from sources such as untreated sewage and factory outflows because such acts make water “unwholesome and injurious to life, particularly river and marine life, with severe consequences for human livelihoods that are dependent on healthy rivers and seas” (Nadwi 2020, p.1).

water has been an essential element for human survival. It has no religion, yet no religion is complete without water and this formed the basis of civilizations.

For instance , about 330 million people in India are facing regular water shortage. In 2016, 300 districts spread across 13 states in India, suffered from an acute shortage of drinking water. A lot of water amount wasted every day especially with ablution, to a previous study by Abu Rozaiza has measured the amount of water used for ablution in almost 40 masjids and the two holy mosques and found that 3-7 L of water per person at a time is being used for ablution.(Abid.N.et al.,2020)

In another study, he stated the average amount of water used for ablution in some mosques, schools and government buildings is 2.5-4.5(Abid.N.et al.,2020)

In the process of ablution, usually the tap is let running, which results is good amount of clean water being wasted without any use.It could be said that almost half of the water from the tap flows into the drains directly without any contamination.(Abid.N.et al.,2020)

According to Ahmed Aljabri professor of mechanical and and Masdar Institute says"it has been estimated that the average water. Over the course of the day (which includes five prayers), that can amount to 120 liters. Such unnecessary water for wudu." (Khalifa University, 2018)

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Trees and plantation

https://treesisters.org/blog/how-to-start-your-own-tree-planting-project

حديث (إذا قامت الساعةُ وفي يد أحدكم فسيلة فليغرسها)

Prophet (PBUH) said “If the Hour starts to happen and in the hand of one of you is a palm shoot or seedling; then if he’s able to plant it before the Hour happens, and then let him plant it”

Tree plantation is essential as trees are very useful to us in various ways. It gives us food, wood, shade, and life. It keeps our environment suitable for living by the supply of oxygen, and that link to providing water and the public utility, especially for the crowded places and facilities like mosques and to the surroundings as well. According to Islam plants are creatures that praise God and are worthy of respect. Moreover green has always been considered to symbolize peace and the color of the clothes of the people of paradise. So that explains why Muslims are interested in plantation and water facilities, especially in places where people visit a lot Like mosques, especially in the golden age of Islam it's rare to find a mosque in Andalus without green planting and fountains in its surroundings. (Mian.H.S et al.2013)

It incorporates Islamic environmental ethics ideas. Even if all hope is gone, planting should continue since planting is beneficial in and of itself. The planting of the palm shoot maintains the growth process and sustains life even if no benefit is anticipated. In this regard, the Muslim is like the soldier who battles until the last bullet is fired. (Sadia, H. Rahman, A. 2013)

the prophet said, "There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him.“

Tree plantation is essential as trees are very useful to us in various ways. It gives us food, wood, shade, and life. It keeps our environment suitable for living by the supply of oxygen, especially for the crowded places like Mosques and buildings . According to Islam plants are creatures that praise God and are worthy of respect. (Mian.H.S et al.2013)

Moreover green has always been considered to symbolize peace and the color of the clothes of the people of paradise. So that explains why Muslims are interested in plantation, especially in the places where people visit a lot Like mosques. (Mian.H.S et al.2013)

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Conservative Lands

Islamic concept of Hima , must be adopted, which permits the creation of not only animal sanctuaries, but also any form of environmental reserve, whether of plant, fish, birds or any form of endangered species. Noman bn.Bashir reported that, the prophet commented “Truly every king has a sanctuary (hima) (grazing land) which is forbidden(haram) to the people.” (Mian. H.S et al.2013.p.32)

It incorporates Islamic environmental ethics ideas. Even if all hope is gone, planting should continue since planting is beneficial in and of itself. The planting of the palm shoot maintains the growth process and sustains life even if no benefit is anticipated. In this regard, the Muslim is like the soldier who battles until the last bullet is fired. (Sadia, H. Rahman, A. 2013)

the prophet said, "There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him.“

Islamic concept of Hima , must be adopted, which permits the creation of not only animal sanctuaries, but also any form of environmental reserve, whether of plant, fish, birds or any form of endangered species.(Mian. H.S et al.2013.p.32)

Noman bn.Bashir reported that, the prophet commented “Truly every king has a sanctuary (hima) (grazing land) which is forbidden(haram) to the people.”

(Mian.H.S et al.2013.p.32)