Islam and environmentalism

Islam is a perfect system and God has given every living thing rights. The Earth too has rights. There are more than 700 verses in the Quran that tell us to reflect on nature, that this is the proof of God's existence and perfect plan. It repeatedly say that those who can't see that are basically ignorant. How true that is. How can one look at a peacock or a delicately decorated bird or fish and not be amazed by God? How can one look at the way the Earth systems work together. How delicate it all is. If one can put this beauty in the hands of cold science, they haven't reflected enough. Just look at how it all works together. Take a seemingly simple thing like rain and look at the entire system and how it relies on land, air, water to work. That is no accident.


"And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth: behold, in that there are Signs indeed for those who reflect." Qur'an, 45:13


"Do you not see that God has subjected to your (use) all things in the heavens and on earth. And has made His bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, (both) seen and unseen?" Qur'an, 31:20


"He has made subject to you the Night and the Day; the Sun and the Moon; and the Stars are in subjection by His command: verily in this are Signs for people who are wise." Qur'an, 16:12.


"…He has subjected the sun and the moon (to his Law)! Each one runs (its course) for a term appointed. He does regulate all affairs, explaining the Signs in detail, that you may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord." Qur'an, 13:2

"It is He who has made the sea subject, that you may eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender., and that you may extract therefrom ornaments to wear; and you see the ships therein that plough the waves, that you may seek (thus) of the bounty of God and that you may be grateful." Qur'an, 16:14.


"It is God who has created the heavens and the earth and sends down rain from the skies, and with it brings out fruits wherewith to feed you; it is He who has made the ships subject to you, that they may sail through the sea by His command; and the rivers (also) has He made subject to you." Qur'an, 14:32


"Then We subjected the Wind to his power, to flow gently to his order, whithersoever he willed …" Qur'an, 38:36


Qur'an and nature


"…they have hearts wherewith they fail to comprehend, and eyes wherewith they fail to see, and ears wherewith they fail to hear….Such (humans) are far astray from the right path. (Qur'an 7:179).


"And be not like those who say, 'we have heard', while they do not hearken. Verily, the vilest of all creatures, in the sight of Allah, are those deaf and dumb ones who do not use their rationality." (Qur'an 8:21,22).


In the Quran, we are told we are God's vicegerents on Earth. (2:30, 35:39). God created nature in a balance and we are to maintain His fragile creation.

Believing men and women are described as those who "walk on the Earth in humility." (25:63).


"There is not an animal on earth, nor a bird that flies on its wings, but they are communities like you…". (Qur'an 6:38).


Every being celebrates the praises of Allah. Each one has his own mode of prayer and praise. It is not necessarily with words, because language is peculiar to man only, but other beings celebrate the glory of Allah through other modes of self-expression. Unto Allah is the ultimate return of all. Qur'an 24:41


The seven heavens and the earth and all things therein declare His glory. There is not a thing but celebrates His adoration; and yet ye mankind! ye understand not how do they declare His glory…(Qur'an 17:44).


For example, the Quran states: "And it is He who spread out the earth, and set thereon mountains standing firm and (flowing) rivers; and fruit of every kind He made in pairs, two and two; He draweth the night as a veil over the Day. Behold, verily in these things there are signs for those who consider." (13:3)


Further, God compels Muslims in the Quran to respect and revere the environment when He says, "Greater indeed than the creation of man is the creation of the heavens and the earth." (40:57)


"Make not mischief on the earth" 2:11.

"And He taught Adam the nature of all things…" Qur'an, 2:31


"And the earth We have spread out; set thereon mountains firm and immovable; and produced therein all kinds of things in due balance." Qur'an, 15:19


"Violate not the sanctity of the symbols of God" 5:3.


"…And make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for God loveth those who do good." Qur'an, 2:195


Verily in the heavens and the earth, are Signs for those who believe. And in the creation of yourselves and the fact that animals are scattered (throughout the earth), are Signs for those of assured Faith. And the alteration of Night and Day, and the fact that God sends down Sustenance from the sky, and revives therewith the earth after its death, and in the change of the winds,-are Signs for those that are wise." Qur'an, 45:3-5


And don't forget, we come from the Earth and we return to it (our bodies). Man was created from clay, and so a part of nature.


Hadith


Imam Ali said "O Ammar, grieve not if the pleasures of this world are kept away from you. Honey, the best and sweetest food, is the saliva of an insect, the bee. The nicest dress is made of silk which is the refuse of a small worm. The most refreshing scent, musk, is the blood of an animal, the deer. The best drink is water which is also used by animals to quench their thirst. The most passionate act is cohabiting in which urinative organs are used."


Imam Ali said "Be like a bee; anything he heats is clean, anything he drops is sweet and any branch he sits upon does not break."


The Holy Prophet Muhammad(s) puts it in these words: "All creatures are like a family (Ayal) of God: and he loves the most those who are the most beneficent to His family. Bukhari


The Holy Prophet(s) used to say: "Whoever is kind to the creatures of God, is kind to himself."

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet(s) as telling of an incident that happened to another prophet in the past. This prophet was stung by an ant and, in anger, he ordered the whole of the ants' nest to be burned. At this, God reprimanded this prophet in these words: 'because one ant stung you, you have burned a whole community which glorified Me'. (Bukhari and Muslim).


Prophet Muhammad said: "If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity." (Bukhari)


Prophet Muhammad said "If the Hour (Judgment Day) is about to be established and one of you is holding a palm shoot, let him take advantage of even one second before the Hour is established to plant it."


“The earth has been created for me as a mosque and as a means of purification.” Bukhari


Prophet said" “Whoever brings dead land to life, that is, cultivates wasteland, for him is a reward therein.”


Bukhari said: “The men of science disapprove of exaggeration and also of exceeding the number of ablutions of the Prophet.” and the Prophet warned against water pollution by forbidding urination in stagnant water.


“If anyone wrongfully kills even a sparrow, let alone anything greater, he will face God’s interrogation”


Prophet said "Would like to it to die twice? Why didn't you sharpen your blade before laying it down?"

" If you kill a sparrow senselessly, it will hasten to God on the Day of Judgment saying : O Lord! So and So killed me for play and not for use!"


"There is reward in [caring for] every living being."

"Then We made you heirs in the land after them, to see how you would behave!" Qur'an, 10:14


This is us. Let us behave....


"I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me." Qur'an, 51:56


How can we ruin Earth, God's possession. You wouldn't purposely ruin a neighbor's possession, why ruin God's?

I compiled this quickly and it sure isn't exhaustive...i'm probably missing tons of info but it's what I could do at the moment...