Sharing the Earth’s Resources
Islam and the environment
Sharing the Earth’s Resources
Arshad Gamiet
Bracknell Forest Interfaith Week. Wednesday 16 November 2016
Good evening, everyone. Thank you for inviting me to speak tonight. I’d like to greet you properly, in the greeting words of paradise: As-salaamu’alaykum, Peace be with you!
In the next few minutes, I’d like to share with you my own understanding of what Islam says about sharing the Earth’s resources.
This important topic is closely related to those big existential questions that we all ask ourselves at some point in our lives:
Who are we? Where have we call come from, and where are we all going to after we die? Why are we here? Does it matter? Should it matter? Are we really just grandchildren of monkeys, products of a random explosion of matter and energy 14 billion years ago? Is our life on earth a desperate, one-off race to find happiness before we die? Is death really a full stop, a final curtain with nothing behind it? Or, is there another life beyond time and space? And, are we perhaps even part of a carefully constructed cosmic plan, crafted by a Master Planner?
More than 50 years ago as a teenager in 1960s South Africa, I started looking for the answers in the Holy Quran and in the Prophetic Hadith, the sayings of Muhammad, may God’s peace and blessings be on him.
For tonight’s topic, I’ve chosen some verses that clearly address the subject of “Sharing the Earth’s Resources.” They explain the role of human beings in the grand scheme of things. They urge us to faithfully discharge the honour, the Trust that we have been given, to be good custodians, good stewards of all that the Earth has to offer. I have the chapter and verse references if you need them, but to save time I’ll just read the English translations:
“And when your Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: Will You place therein one who will do harm and will shed blood, while we sing Your praise and sanctify You? He said: Surely I know what you do not know.” (Quran 2:30)
In another verse, the Quran declares:
“We have honoured the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favours, above a great part of our creation.” (Quran 17:70)
“We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid of this Trust: but man undertook it;- He was indeed unjust and foolish.” (Quran 33:72) In chapter 36, Yaseen, the Noble Quran reminds us;
“Glory to Allah, Who created in pairs all things that the earth produces, as well as their own (human) kind and (other) things of which they have no knowledge.”
(Quran 36:36) The evocative and lyrical chapter known as Al Rahman, The All Merciful, begins like this:
“Allah, The Most Merciful! He created human beings: He taught them speech (and intelligence). The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed; And the herbs and the trees – both (alike) bow in adoration. And the heavens has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance (of Justice), In order that ye may not transgress (due) balance. So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance. It is He Who has spread out the earth for (His) creatures:Therein is fruit and date-palms, producing spathes (enclosing dates);Also corn, with (its) leaves and stalk for fodder, and sweet-smelling plants. Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny? (Quran 55:1-13)
Dear friends, I think these verses speak for themselves. They don’t need my explanation. Moving on to the serious environmental problems we face, here is a very appropriate verse for today.:
“Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea because of what the hands of people have earned, so He (Allah) may let them taste some of [the consequence of] what they have done, that perhaps they will return [to right conduct].” (Quran 33:41)
My dear friends: Bear in mind that these verses were revealed by the Angel, Gabriel, to Prophet Muhammad, 1,400 years ago. They do indeed speak to us, as if they were revealed only yesterday!. The lesson is clear: To reverse global warming, food insecurity, species extinction and ecological disaster, we must change our personal habits. We must change our attitude, change our lifestyle. We have to stop treating Planet Earth as if it’s just another giant shopping mall orbiting the sun!
Islam not only explains our role as human beings in our precarious relationship as stewards of the environment. Islam also provides us with practical advice. It shows us how we can fulfil our God-given role in a way that is sustainable for future generations.
One example: Don’t waste water. Prophet Muhammad was standing next to one of his companions, who was washing himself, preparing for prayers. He reminded his companion not to waste water. His companion asked, “Even if I’m using water from a river? The Prophet replied: Don’t waste water, even if you’re by a river.”
As a great teacher and exemplar, Prophet Muhammad lived and ate very frugally. He advised us that the worst thing we can fill is our stomach. In a well known Hadith, he said that we should only fill one third with food, one third with water, and leave one third empty. Nowadays, with growing problems of obesity and diabetes, medical professionals confirm that this is really good advice. It’s a simple matter of priorities. Need must always prevail over greed. We must satisfy our need, and stop our greed. If we can control our appetite for food, it becomes a lot easier to control our appetite for so many other things….
On planting trees, Prophet Muhammad said:
“The Earth is green and beautiful, and Allah has appointed you his stewards over it. The whole earth has been created a place of worship, pure and clean. Whoever plants a tree and diligently looks after it until it matures and bears fruit is rewarded. If a Muslim plants a tree or sows a field and humans and beasts and birds eat from it, all of it is love on his part, an enduring charity.”
Again, on planting trees and keeping focussed on our duty, even in times of calamity, he said:
“If the day of Judgement comes upon you while you are holding a little seedling in your hand, then go ahead and plant it.” (Saheeh Muslim)
In other words, Don’t panic. Be Islamic! Trust Allah. Love, worship and adore Him. Biyadikal khair, Says the Quran: In His Hand is all good. History is safe in His hands! He is our generous Landlord who has entrusted us with the keys to His property. We are the tenants. We’ll be held to account. We have to treat all the other tenants well. The other tenants are: fellow human beings, the animals, the plants, the soil, the water we drink and the air we breathe. We enjoy all this as a gift from the Generous Life-Giver. We abuse it to our own peril.
Islam invites us to treat every human being, every animal, plant and natural resource with respect. When we do so, we show a courtesy to our Generous Benefactor. In Islam, sharing the earth’s resources in an environmentally responsible way isn’t just a catchy slogan. It’s a moral obligation, a spiritual imperative.
Thank you. As-salaamu’alaykum. Peace be with you all.