Environmental Ethics of Islam

Abstract

Islam is the monotheistic religion articulated by the Quran, the word of God, and by the teaching of Muhammad (PBUH). Islamic ethics is its moral principles, which defines what is good for the society. It enlightens the sacred views that man must strive to maintain the harmony of their inner and outer environments, in conformity with the world of nature.

In the Quranic theology of creation God created this cosmos out -of-nothing. He created man, as a vice-gerent on this earth. He created lands seas, mountains, plants and animals, and than entrusted all this to humans to take advantage of it. So humans are now guardian of this cosmos for a limited period of time. After this life He will audit and judge the individual for using or misusing the world. The earth thus is a testing ground of the human species.

In other words, the Quranic environmental ethics tells us that God has trusted humans His world. They have to prove them selves capable of this trust, by maintaining a balance, in a way to get benefits from the nature, and protect it from discards. Thus the relation of humans to its 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.”[1]

The article focuses to investigate the ethics in the Quran and teachings of the Prophet regarding the relationship of man towards the natural world.

Key Point: Environment and Islam; Quranic Environmental Ethics; Islam and Nature; Islamic Ethics toward the Natural World, Islam and the Eco- System.

[1] . The Qur'an 55:1-9