13: Appreciating Nature and Preserving the Environment
"Allah has subjected to you (O human beings) whatever is in the skies and the earth;
Behold! Therein are sure signs for those who reflect. "
(Qur'an 45:13)
Nature in the Qur'an
There are more than 500 verses in the Qur'an dealing directly with nature, the environment and natural phenomena.
In fact, numerous chapters (surahs) are titled after either animals or natural phenomena. These include ...
Al-Baqarah The Cow, Al-An'aam The Cattle, Ar-Ra'd The Thunder, An-Nahl The Bee,
An-Noor the Light, An-Naml the Ant, Al-'Ankabut the Spider, At-Toor the Mountain,
An-Najm the Star, Al-Qamar the Moon, Al-Buruj the Constellation of Stars,
At-Tariq the Night Star, Al-Fajr the Dawn, Ash-Shams the Sun, Al-Layl the Night,
Ad-Duha the Morning, At-Teen the Fig, and Al-Feel the Elephant.
These references to the natural world around us aim at ...
- conscientizing us about the Creator of creations
- instilling in us a sense of respect for Allah's creation
- making us cognizant of our inextricable relationship with nature
Reflect upon Nature & the Environment
We are commanded (Q7:179) to use our sensory, conceptual and moral faculties to appreciate the realities around us
and to be heedful of the signs we see and the lessons we learn.
We are encouraged to reflect upon the creation of the celestial and earthly spheres, upon the operations of nature,
upon the alternation of night and day, upon the variety of life forms, upon the vegetation with all its variety and
its tendency to decay and regenerate (Q3:190, Q13:2-4, Q10:6, Q45:5, Q42:29, Q35:27,Q30:19,Q87:4).
Surely, in all these there are signs for those who reflect (Q45:13).
Natural Disposition
The Qur'an and Prophetic traditions make constant reference to Fitrah natural disposition. We are ...
- informed that every person is actually born upon pure natural disposition
- instructed to live according to the best of our nature (Q 30:30)
- made aware that every creation submits its existence to a natural pattern (Q3:83)
Natural Communities
As the human community is part of nature so too do other creations form communities at their respective
levels. Allah reminds us of this in the Qur'an (6:38)
The thought-provoking incident between the wise Prophet Solomon / Sulayman (pbuh) and the community of ants related
in Surah an-Naml(Q27:16-19) serves as a great lesson in human consideration of other creation.
"We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which
we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect." Aldo Leopold
There is an age-old native Indian saying: "Reflect on the fact that the land belongs to a vast family of which
many are dead, few are living, and countless numbers are still unborn."
Do Not Abuse Nature Nor Destroy The Environment
We are commanded in the Qur'an: And do not cause disruption/corruption/mischief/chaos on earth after it has been so well ordered/organized (Qur'an 7:56)(Q 67: 3-4)
- Greed
Man's greed and desire for material profit tends to make him oblivious of the irreparable destruction caused to the environment.
Mahatma Gandhi rightly said that "there is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed."
If we are not careful, then "Humanity is on the march, earth itself is left behind." David Ehrenfeld in 'The Arrogance of Humanism'. - Nature is Invaluable
Native Indian Chief Seattle of the Duwamish Tribe said: "Wilderness complements and completes civilization. I might say that the existence of wilderness is also a complement to civilization. Any society that feels itself too poor to afford the preservation of wilderness is not worthy of the name of civilization."
An ancients Cretian prophecy warns: "After the last tree has been cut down; after the last river has been poisoned; after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten."
Chief Seattle said, "Whatever befalls the Earth - befalls the sons of the Earth. Man did not weave the web of life - he is merely strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."
We need to understand, value and appreciate nature.
"Activities that destroy environment always end up destroying life. Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better", said Albert Einstein. - Compassion for Creation
Prophet Muhammad reflectively said: "Have mercy for those on earth so that the One above may have mercy on you."
Pierre Troubetzkoy echoed the Prophet's sentiments when he said: "Why should man expect his prayer for mercy to be heard by What is above him when he shows no mercy to what is under him?"
Watch How You Deal with the World
"Allah has subjected to you (O human beings) whatever is in the skies and the earth; Behold! Therein are sure signs
for those who reflect" (Qur'an 45:13).
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) reminded us that the best of Allah's creation are those most beneficial to his creation,
advised us that the world is green and delightful and Allah has put you in charge of the world and is observing carefully
how you deal with it.