The Relationship between Two Specific Views in Islamic Theology and Environmental Destruction (original) (raw)
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Islam, Christianity, and the Environmental Crisis
2021
Access the recording here. Access the audio transcript here. What can religion offer for resolving the environmental crisis? How can we recover a sacred view of the universe? What resources can the Islamic and Christian traditions offer in response to the environmental crisis? This lecture examines the spiritual and intellectual origins of the environmental crisis, rooted in the desacralization of nature in the modern period. It surveys traditional Islamic and Christian views of nature and offer resources, from the Christian heritage and Islamic understandings of the relationship of God, humanity, and nature, that can address our contemporary environmental crisis and help recover a sacred view of the universe. Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr is University Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University, Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr is regarded as one of the leading Islamic thinkers in the world today. A pioneer in addressing the roots of the environmental crisis from a theological p...
For the last two hundred years, unprecedented environmental challenges and irreversible mass extinctions have been caused on the Earth including a rising trend in the global temperature during the 20 th century. The loading capacity of the world has already been reached, and severe tensions between unending demands of the human beings and the finite natural resources of the world have become more apparent. The seemingly innocent and dulcet " laissez-faire " rhetoric in capitalist system promoted the removal of all meaningful checks and balances pertaining to production and consumption activities, and have resulted in the terrific destruction of our natural assets. Excessive consumption (and so production) and squandering are in the heart of the global environmental problems, and there is a strong need for the revival of the critical human values of moderation and thriftiness. Cumulative burden of individual irresponsibility can no longer be tolerated. Recent experiences demonstrate that any development model devoid of an ethical view on the environment, will be dominated by the uncontrolled exploitation of the natural assets with irreversible damages. Islam, as a religion of moderation, presents a viable alternative towards addressing the current challenges. Moderation refers not only to the personal lives of the believers but also to their interaction with fellow human beings and the nature they live in. Nature has been created in order, balance and with extraordinary esthetic beauty, and all these aspects of nature while enhancing man's life here, should be honored, utilized and protected accordingly. All patterns of man's production and consumption should be based on an overall order and balance of nature, which is a fundamental component of any meaningful approach towards a more environmentally friendly socioeconomic development.
Environmental Degradation: An Islamic Perspective
Published in Social Science Review, Journal of the Faculty of Social Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. Volume 27, Number 1, June 2010, pp. 185-199
In the contemporary world environmental crisis is considered as one of the burning issues for human being. We are now entering into the post modern era, yet environmental degradation exists as a major concern. Though it touches the mind of all the key thinkers, it seems to remain a threat. With the help of world organizations and governments, we are trying to get rid of this problem. But if the people of all walks of life do not become conscious about the prevention of such kind of degradation, obviously these will not have any result. Islam, one of the major religions of the world which have, as followers, one fifth of world population, can play an important role in this regard. Its rules-regulation and moral lessons may inspire people on these issues so that we can implement our policies to protect the environment and make our earth suitable for the upcoming generations. In this context, here the solutions and preventing measures of Islam for removing environmental degradation are described elaborately.
Islamic and Muslim Environmentalism
2019
Kurdish environmentalism is gaining ground but has not yet become significantly influential in society. The environmental movements have long been held to belong to left wing politics and to be less identified with religious ideas, but today environmental awareness is also reaching the religious establishment. This article presents some of the current secular and religious environmental trends in Kurdistan region of Iraq. Recent scholarly interest in religions and ecology reaffirm the importance of religious models in understanding humanity's place in nature. While Islam provides detailed ethical principles on the environment, the majority of Muslim majority countries show an apparent indifference to environmental issues. Due to the complexities in Muslim majority countries in relation to environmental issues, this paper contends that there is a need for an examination of the different aspects of Muslim environmentalism, and to what extent environmental practices are influenced by Islamic environmental ethics. Therefore, this paper develops a multipronged approach whereby both environmental and non-environmental practices by Muslims are discussed, giving an overview of Islamic attitudes towards ecology and environmental practices and suggesting reasons for Muslim nonconcern for the environment. Moreover, the paper illustrates how Muslims in western and Muslim majority countries implement Islamic environmental ethics. Finally, western and eastern Muslim thinkers who have written on Islam and the environment are explored.
Islamic perspectives on environmental protection
International journal of applied research, 2016
There is a growing concern about the threats posed by environmental issues throughout the World. Global warming, freshwater depletion, biodiversity reduction, hole in the ozone layer are all examples of such threats. How serious is it really? And what is to be done to change the direction? Many researchers have begun to look into underlying philosophical causes for man's rapacious attitude towards his environment. Part of this search involves a look at root philosophies affecting the human outlook and interaction with the world and the responsibility religion shares in creating the attitudes and philosophies that have led to the desecration of nature. Environment protection is an important aspect of Islam. Protection of the environment is essential to Islamic beliefs and mankind has the responsibility to ensure safe custody of the environment. This paper is an attempt to briefly present some aspects of the Islamic perspective on environment protection in the light of Quranic ver...
Is Islam Pro- or Anti-Environmental? Interpretations and Implications
Religion has, throughout the centuries, been a powerful institution on the macro level, yet also stands as a force having significant influence in people’s personal lives. This does, however, lead to questions of how a traditional institution such as religion may or may not be adequate to address problems of the Late Industrial Era, most notably the environmental crisis. In this paper, we inquire how various dimensions of Islamic literature and thought can contribute to preserving the natural environment. We find that concepts such as “dominion of men over the earth” and “specialness of humankind” can lead to anti-environmental interpretations of Islam. Nevertheless, other interpretations of Islamic teachings emerge that are compatible with environmental stewardship. However, a number of Islamic governments have shown a decided bias against environmental stewardship, particularly in cases where there is an authoritarian government and one placing an emphasis on economic “development”. In counterpoint, Islamic Mysticism, or Sufism, can provide a spiritual context for environmentally conscious action.
Environmental Sustainability: What Islam Propagates
2011
Through the teaching of Islam, the earth is mentioned more than four hundred times in the Qur'an, whereas the sky and beyond are mentioned only about three hundred times. This article intends to explore and share that Islam does understand the earth to be subservient to humankind. Therefore, the earth should not be administered and exploited irresponsibly. Based on the teachings and principles of Islam, one leads to a strong sense of goodness and purity of the earth. In Islam, human and environment interaction is guided by the notion of the person as a vicegerent or steward of the earth. The extensive evidence provided by the Holy Quran is indicative that the earth is an important protected element for future sustenance of the next generation and is to be a safe place to keep. Despite that, the concept of sustainable development on the earth is complex and murky. It lends itself to several interpretations and it is still in the process of evolution. However, an evaluation of different approaches to the concept leads to the same goal. The underlying issue behind the various interpretations is eventually the concern on how the environmental perimeter is sustained. The rapid deterioration of human environment is nothing but a crisis of values. Muslims and mankind at large are being instructed to look after the environment and not to damage it. Therefore, an Islamic way of a sustainable environmental life entails living in "peace and harmony (salam)" at individual, social as well as ecological levels. All human activities have some impact on the environment. And for that this paper will display the reconciliation of Islam and environmental sustainability through the perennial reference of the Holy Quran and the Words of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Islamic View Towards Environment Preservation
KnE Social Sciences
Environment is one of global issues humans are facing today. The worsening condition of global environmental cannot be apart from various problems from garbage, logging, and air pollution due to industrial or transportation activities as the main factors of the environmental crisis. The basic principles of ecology are to protect, maintain, utilize and preserve the environment for the life of future generations. In the context of power, the idea of ecology and environmental sovereignty is related between God, humans and nature. The results of this study showed that Islam is very concerned with these environmental issues as proven through many discussions contained in classical fiqh literature, such as discussion of thaharah (cleanliness), ihya al-mawat (opening the unused land), al-musaqat and al-muzara’ah (utilization of land belonging to others), laws related to the sale and purchase and ownership of water, fire and salt, the rights of pets and other issues related to the environme...
Some Islamic Views on Environmental Responsibility
Allah created all things with precise measurements. These divine measures guarantee the survival and sustainability of natural resources. This paper discusses some of the environmental aspects in the view of Islam and makes a comparison between the Islamic thought and some scientific theories. Results show that whereas Western theories emphasise environmental protection as a response to external forces and the achievement of special interests, Islam considers environmental protection as the only way of maintaining the balance of life.
Negative role of Quran in Environmental Crisis: Claim or fact
Complexity of environmental problems and diversity of its dimensions have caused the multiple comments, which expressed about these problems ' roots. Some of these comments have introduced the monotheistic religions, including Islam as responsible of much of these environmental crises. This article which is written in a descriptive and analytical method investigates this claim and evaluates it with the teachings and instructions of the Quran. The result of this paper shows that not only the teachings of the Quran don t cause the problems, but also falling away from ethical teachings of religion is greatly led to environmental risks The main points of Qur'anic verses concerning environment are: comprehensiveness, internal enforcement and the universal adoption by all of Islamic sects.