The
Quran states that life was created from water (11:7; 21:30). The importance of
water and its equitable distribution among the people and animals is stressed:
“…We send down water from the sky, pure water, so as to bring to life with it a
dead land and to quench the thirst of Our creatures, both animals and humans, in
large numbers. We keep distributing it among them, so that they would reflect.”
(25:48-50). According to the Quran, Prophet Saleh’s nation, the Thamud, was
destroyed because they refused to share the food and water with the she-camel
(11:64). Prophet Noah was warned of the imminent flood. He was taught, through
revelation, to build a huge boat and to put on it a pair of every species of
animals as well as his followers. This is a lesson in preserving the species,
which had turned into endangered species and would have otherwise been wiped out
by the flood. The command to save the animals came before the command to save
the Believers (11:40). --
Nilofar
Ahmed
By Nilofar Ahmed
25 Jun, 2010
THE verse, “Corruption has spread in the land and
the sea because of what they had committed” (30:41), seems to refer to the
trespasses that human beings have committed against nature, leading the earth at
a dizzying speed to an impending ecological disaster.
Muslims need to look at the Islamic scriptures to
determine their spiritual and ethical framework regarding responsibility towards
preserving the environment. In Surah Ibrahim it is said: “God is He who created
the heavens and the earth, and sent down water from the sky, then brought forth
fruits with it for you to eat. He gave the ship under your control, so that it
may sail on the waters by His command, as well as gave the rivers in your
power.
“He made the sun and the moon to serve you, both
obeying the same law, and made the night and the day useful to you. And
(besides) gave you everything that you asked for. If you try to count the
favours of God, you will not be able to. Indeed, human beings are unjust and
ungrateful.” (14:32-34).
Being ungrateful also means not using a gift in
the manner, and for the purpose, intended by the Giver. In Surah Al-Baqarah it
is also said that everything on the earth has been created for ‘you’ (2:29). The
‘you’ here refers to all human beings including all future generations. We
should take care of these blessings, and should realise our moral accountability
to God as well as to the future generations, in order to fulfil the rights of
Allah and the fellow human beings on us.
The Quran states that life was created from water
(11:7; 21:30). The importance of water and its equitable distribution among the
people and animals is stressed: “…We send down water from the sky, pure water,
so as to bring to life with it a dead land and to quench the thirst of Our
creatures, both animals and humans, in large numbers. We keep distributing it
among them, so that they would reflect.” (25:48-50). According to the Quran,
Prophet Saleh’s nation, the Thamud, was destroyed because they refused to share
the food and water with the she-camel (11:64). Prophet Noah was warned of the
imminent flood. He was taught, through revelation, to build a huge boat and to
put on it a pair of every species of animals as well as his followers. This is a
lesson in preserving the species, which had turned into endangered species and
would have otherwise been wiped out by the flood. The command to save the
animals came before the command to save the Believers (11:40).
That life is sacred is borne out by the fact that
the Kaaba and its precincts, covering about 50,000 sq km, are a sanctuary (7:96;
28:57; 95:3), where the killing of the smallest of creatures and damaging the
smallest of plants is strictly forbidden, when in a state of ihram (5:96). The
meat of an animal becomes lawful only after asking for permission by pronouncing
God’s name over it, at the time of slaughter. Indiscriminate killing of animals
is a grave sin and disturbs the balance of nature resulting in disorder.
We are told, “God does not like disorder” (2:
205). Even hunting is permitted only in order to consume the meat and not for
the pleasure of enjoying a sharp-shooting spree. The Prophet (PBUH) exhorted his
followers to be kind to animals. He forbade giving them pain or killing them
unnecessarily.
The Prophet taught: “God does not like those who
waste” (7:31). Even as the head of his people he led a simple life, in which the
resources of the earth were not wasted, requiring their just distribution. He
taught people not to waste food; he wore simple clothes and slept and ate on the
floor. He is reported to have emphasised the importance of planting trees,
especially from which human beings and animals could eat, as a way of protecting
the environment. He said that one should complete the process of planting a tree
and not run away, even if the Day of Judgment suddenly approached.
Islam as a code of life assigns duties as well as
responsibilities. In the light of the Quran and the Sunnah, we must realise that
we are accountable and, therefore, strive to change and adapt our lifestyle and
social structures in order to leave the world in a habitable state for future
generations.
nilofar.ahmed58@gmail.com
Source: Dawn,
Pakistan
9:20 PM
Sultan Shahin
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