Islam, Muslims and the Natural World

By Nehal El-Hadi

Muslims believe the world is God's gift to mankind and that there is proof of His existence in every natural object. The finest grain of sand, with its patterned arrangements of atoms, displays the minute detail of His reckoning. From the smallest of viruses to the largest of plants and animals, every living creature presents signs of God's creational capacity. The universe serves as a reminder that the extent of His creation is still unknown to man, and in this wondrous Universe, man's place is that of the ultimate creation.

Muslims believe that the Qur'anis the word of God (Allah) as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It serves as the source of the Muslim worldview — together with the Hadith and Sunnah — and contains all the information needed to lead a good, true Muslim life, from the basic tenets of Islam to laws governing Muslim societies.

The Qur'an describes the special status of humans in creation, and is another piece of evidence of Allah's existence. The natural world, like the Qur'an, is considered irrefutable proof of Allah's existence, and Nature is usually referred to as "the second book" of Allah.

A Story of Creation

Islam's story of creation is narrated in the Qur'an, and the purpose of creation was for Allah to be known and worshipped. He created the Universe and everything in it with a single command; [Creator of the heavens and the earth from nothingness, He has only to say when He wills a thing: 'Be' and it is] (Al-Baqarah 2:117).

However, this is not a haphazard or whimsical creation. Rather, it demonstrates Allah's infinite power and capability — [It was not in sport that We created the heaven and the earth and all that lies between them] (Al-Anbiyaa' 21:16).

Laws were set for the functioning of Allah's universe, and in the Qur'an all creation submits to Allah's will; "Islam is thus not limited to humans, but is applied to the whole universe and to everything in it" (Othman, 1992).

Nature and the Origin of Humanity

The story of the origin of man in Islam is similar to those in the teachings of Judaism and Christianity; Allah created Adam from clay. Allah then breathed His spirit into man, thus favoring him over all of his other creations. Humanity was appointed Allah's khalifah (vicegerent) on earth because of this; "the status of man is definitely higher than the place of non-living objects, plants and animals because the number of attributes of God in man is much greater than in other creatures" (Hashmi, 1967).

Mankind's elevated status in the world therefore gave humanity two major privileges not afforded to other creatures: 1) freedom of choice, and 2) specialized knowledge, or "creative knowledge" (Rahman, 1980).

The world being humanity's gift and legacy from Allah (humanity does not assume ownership, the ownership of the universe belongs to Allah, humans are merely "caretakers") has resulted in two prevailing attitudes about the natural world. The first is that because Allah placed His creation in the hands of humanity, it became a trust and according to the laws of Islam, was to be protected and maintained. The second is that since man holds a special place in the world, which is a gift to mankind, then all environmental concerns can be addressed with the sentiment "Allah, in His infinite Mercy and Generosity, will provide".

Ideally, the presence of the former attitude would provide a greater regard for the natural world. The second attitude stems from a blind faith in divine intervention and a general sense of arrogance and irresponsibility. However, the majority of ordinary Muslims, like the majority of the world's population, remain in a state of inactivity, unaware of the threats to the planet and its inhabitants.

Muslims believe that when Allah created the universe in submission to His will, He made everything with great care and measure and then left it to its own devices, governed by the laws he gave:

[He ushers in the dawn, and made the night for rest, the sun and moon a computation. Such is the measure appointed by Him, the omnipotent and all-wise] (Al-An`am 6:96).

Everything was created in balance, and left for mankind to look after. The earth was made rich in bounty and gifts that humanity was invited to discover and use to its benefit. Because of negligence and irresponsibility, however, the delicate balance of nature has been disturbed with negative consequences.

Every Living Thing From Water

According to some Muslim scholars, the natural world can be divided into three main components: the first being water, the source of all life; second, the atmosphere; and finally, the plant and animal kingdoms (Ba Kader et al., 1983; see also Khalid and O'Brien, 1992). The teachings of the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad contain guidelines on how to interact with these components of the natural world.

Water is the source of all living things in more ways than one — [We made every living thing from water] (Al-Anbiyaa' 21:30) — and is essential for their survival. Because of the importance and necessity of water, under Islamic law all living beings are granted equal privileges and equal access to water as a right. In this case, no distinction is made between humans and any other creature.

In addition to being a source of drinking and irrigation, water plays another role as a life-giving substance; aquatic ecosystems sustain a rich array of living creatures, and water's value as a life vessel is two-fold.

As we have come to discover all over the world, water shortages make conservation and preservation of freshwater resources crucial, at least until a more viable method of desalination is produced.

Islamic law also designates protocol and guidelines for water use in a way to minimize dispute over what is considered to be an inalienable right.

The Air, the Plants, the Animals

The atmosphere — in this case including oxygen required for breathing as well as air movements — is also a creation of Allah that is in our best interests to protect. Emissions and toxic waste released into the atmosphere taint Allah's creation, causing global warming and exposing all living creatures to toxins. Islam teaches responsibility for ensuring that our actions do not negatively affect others, yet the effects of air pollution are global.

In Islam, greenery is loved and gardens are considered to hold properties similar to Paradise. Planting trees is a virtuous act, earning favor from Allah.

As mentioned earlier, mankind was given special status and elevated above the rest of creation. However, because all living creatures are considered by definition Muslim, as Muslims believe that all creation submits to God, and they all have designated roles in the universe, Islam forbids the harming of any creature apart from what benefits mankind.

The Qur'an reminds humanity that animals and plants also have their purpose in life and fulfill roles assigned to them by Allah.

Each human being has a responsibility for preservation and protection of self and all others. This is represented in the teachings of Islam by the prohibition of substances that may pollute the mind or body, such as narcotics, alcohol, or anything that may cause potential harm.

Mankind's Responsibility

Humanity has a duty to protect and take responsibility for the well-being of Allah's creation. The world and everything in it provides for needs of mankind.

However, the utilization of this creation should be done in a respectful and responsible manner, all the while recognizing the generosity of Allah. Muslims believe in accountability, and cruelty to Allah's creation and lack of respect of the natural world will be one of the bases for judgment.

The religious duties of Muslims that are relevant to dealings with the environment are as follows:

No extravagance, excessive use or over-utilization;

No illegitimate or unlawful attempt at destroying the natural resources;

No damage, abuse or distortion of the natural environment in any way;

Construction and development of the earth, its resources, elements and phenomena through the improvement and betterment of natural resources, the protection and conservation of all existing forms of life, the cultivating of land and the reclamation and cleansing of the soil, earth and water (Ba Kader et al., 1983).

In Shari'ah, there are regulations and guidelines on how we are supposed to treat the natural world. This ranges from the prohibition of cruelty to animals, which includes overworking them or causing them undue stress, to the allocation of water resources, as well as the process behind land designation.

Cruelty to living creatures is absolutely forbidden. A variety of stories and anecdotes exist in Islamic teachings regarding the evil of those who mistreated animals, and the virtue of those who went out of their way to demonstrate kindness to animals.

It is forbidden in Islam to kill animals without necessity. The slaughtering of animals for consumption provides food and clothing, while hunting for sport is considered unnecessary cruelty.

It is also prohibited to cut down trees without just cause. Damage to the natural environment and all living things is a criminal offence and laws do exist for protection, assigning punishments to those who oppose the law. The punishment of crimes against nature, as well as the duty to protect and conserve Allah’s creation, makes Islam very much in tune with the needs of the environment.

Let There Be Light

Knowledge is light, and one of Islam's strongest themes is the pursuit of knowledge. Only with knowledge can humans discover the extent of Allah's creation, and be left with no other recourse than to submit to His worship. Following this principle, educating people about issues affecting the environment, and how the consequences of their actions and behaviors can have positive or negative effects on their surroundings should ideally lead to a more favorable relationship with the environment.

Islamic law needs to be applied in environmental cases. For everything ranging from animal rights violations, to large-scale pollution, Shari'ah provides a detailed and comprehensive method to approaching the environment and its resources.

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Works Cited

Ba Kader, A.; Al Sabbagh, A.; Al Glenid, M.; Izzidien, M. (1983) Basic Paper on the Islamic Principle for the Conservation of the Natural Environment. Switzerland: International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Dawood, N.J. (2003) The Qur'an – a translation. London: Penguin.

Hashmi, A. (1967) An Introduction to Islamic Ideology. Karachi: Ali Book Depot.

Khalid, F. and O'Brien, J. (1992) Islam and the Future of Mankind. London: Alhani International Books Ltd.

Rahman, F. (1980) Major Themes of the Qur'an. Chicago: Bibliotheca Islamica.

Al-Qur'an 2:28

"How can you disbelieve in Allah when you were lifeless and He brought you to life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you [back] to life, and then to Him you will be returned."

Al-Qur'an 3:102

"O ye who believe! Heed Allah as He deserves to be heeded, and die not except in a state of Islam [in submission to Him]."

Al-Qur'an 6:59-60

"And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record. And it is He who takes your souls by night and knows what you have committed by day. Then He revives you therein that a specified term may be fulfilled. Then to Him will be your return; then He will inform you about what you used to do."

Al-Qur'an 7:172

"And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware.""

Al-Qur'an 10:31

"Say, "Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? Or who controls hearing and sight and who brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living and who arranges [every] matter?" They will say, " Allah ," so say, "Then will you not fear Him?" "

Al-Qur'an 10:34-36

"Say, "Are there of your 'partners' any who begins creation and then repeats it?" Say, " Allah begins creation and then repeats it, so how are you deluded?" Say: "Of your 'partners' is there any that can give any guidance towards truth?" Say: "It is Allah Who gives guidance towards truth, is then He Who gives guidance to truth more worthy to be followed, or he who finds not guidance (himself) unless he is guided? Then what is [wrong] with you - how do you judge?" And most of them follow not except assumption. Indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all. Indeed, Allah is Knowing of what they do."

Al-Qur'an 10:45

"And on the Day when He will gather them, [it will be] as if they had not remained [in the world] but an hour of the day, [and] they will know each other. Those will have lost who denied the meeting with Allah and were not guided"

Al-Qur'an 15:21-25

"And there is not a thing but that with Us are its depositories, and We do not send it down except according to a known measure. And We have sent the fertilizing winds and sent down water from the sky and given you drink from it. And you are not its retainers. And indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritor. And We have already known the preceding [generations] among you, and We have already known the later [ones to come]. And indeed, your Lord will gather them; indeed, He is Wise and Knowing."

Al-Qur'an 16:61

"And if Allah were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon the earth any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it]."

Al-Qur'an 19:66-67

“And man says, ‘When I have died, am I going to be brought forth alive?’ Does man not remember that We created him before, while he was nothing?”

Al-Qur'an 23:12-16

"And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging. Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah , the best of creators. Then indeed, after that you are to die. Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, will be resurrected.”

Al-Qur'an 23:32

"And We sent among them a messenger from themselves, [saying], "Worship Allah ; you have no deity other than Him; then will you not fear Him?""

Al-Qur'an 23:73-77

"And indeed, you invite them to a straight path. But indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter are deviating from the path. And even if We gave them mercy and removed what was upon them of affliction, they would persist in their transgression, wandering blindly. And We had gripped them with suffering [as a warning], but they did not yield to their Lord, nor did they humbly supplicate, [and will continue thus]. Until when We have opened before them a door of severe punishment, immediately they will be therein in despair."

Al-Qur'an 23:78-85

"And it is He who produced for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful. And it is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered. And it is He who gives life and causes death, and His is the alternation of the night and the day. Then will you not reason? Rather, they say like what the former peoples said. They said, "When we have died and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected? We have been promised this, we and our forefathers, before; this is not but legends of the former peoples." Say, [O Muhammad], "To whom belongs the earth and whoever is in it, if you should know?" They will say, "To Allah ." Say, "Then will you not remember?"

Al-Qur'an 23:86-92

"Say, "Who is Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Great Throne?" They will say, "[They belong] to Allah ." Say, "Then will you not fear Him?" Say, "In whose hand is the realm of all things - and He protects while none can protect against Him - if you should know?" They will say, "[All belongs] to Allah ." Say, "Then how are you deluded?" Rather, We have brought them the truth, and indeed they are liars. Allah has not taken any son, nor has there ever been with Him any deity. [If there had been], then each deity would have taken what it created, and some of them would have sought to overcome others. Exalted is Allah above what they describe [concerning Him]. [He is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, so high is He above what they associate [with Him]."

Al-Qur'an 23:99-103

"[For such is the state of the disbelievers], until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, send me back. That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind." No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected. So when the Horn is blown, no relationship will there be among them that Day, nor will they ask about one another. And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] - it is they who are the successful.But those whose scales are light - those are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally."

Al-Qur'an 23:112-116

"[ Allah ] will say, "How long did you remain on earth in number of years?" They will say, "We remained a day or part of a day; ask those who enumerate." He will say, "You stayed not but a little - if only you had known. Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned?" So exalted is Allah , the Sovereign, the Truth; there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Noble Throne."

Al-Qur'an 40:57

“The creation of the heavens and earth is greater than the creation of mankind, but most of the people do not know.”

Al-Qur'an 40:67-68

"It is He who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot; then He brings you out as a child; then [He develops you] that you reach your [time of] maturity, then [further] that you become elders. And among you is he who is taken in death before [that], so that you reach a specified term; and perhaps you will use reason. He it is who gives life and causes death; and when He decrees a matter, He but says to it, "Be," and it is."

Al-Qur'an 41:39

“And among His Signs, that you see the earth barren, but when We send down water (rain) to it, it is stirred to life and growth (of vegetations). Verily, He Who gives it life, surely is Able to give life to the dead (on the Day of Resurrection). Indeed He is Able to do all things.”

Al-Qur'an 44:38

“And We did not create the heavens and earth and that between them in play."

Al-Qur'an 51:56

"And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me."

Al-Qur'an 52:35-37

"Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain. Or have they the depositories [containing the provision] of your Lord? Or are they the controllers [of them]?"

Al-Qur'an 82:6-7

"O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous, Who created you, proportioned you, and balanced you?"

Al-Qur'an 88:17-22

"Then do they not look at the camels - how they are created? And at the sky - how it is raised? And at the mountains - how they are erected? And at the earth - how it is spread out? So remind, [O Muhammad]; you are only a reminder. You are not over them a controller."

Al-Qur'an 112:1–4

"Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him."

Narrated Abu Huraira: Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said,

(Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 479)