Climate Change and Islamic Injunctions
Islam is a complete code of life that guides us in all the social, economic, and cultural dominions. Allah Almighty has made the humans caretaker of the earth[1], by giving him powers to manipulate the natural resources. According to the Islamic faith, everybody is responsible for his actions, whether they affect one’s own life or the lives of other living beings. Islam does not allow the wasting of personal commodities or natural resources.
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ
مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ
الْمُسْرِفِينَ [2]
O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your
clothing] at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive.
Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو
بْنِ الْعَاصِ رضي الله عنهما (أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ
وَسَلَّمَ مَرَّ بِسَعْدٍ وَهُوَ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَقَالَ : مَا هَذَا السَّرَفُ يَا
سَعْدُ ؟ قَالَ : أَفِي الْوُضُوءِ سَرَفٌ ؟ قَالَ : نَعَمْ ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ عَلَى
نَهْرٍ جَارٍ
Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Aas (May Allah be pleased with
them) reported that once the Prophet (May Allah shower His blessings and peace
upon him) passed by Sa’d (May Allah be pleased with them) while he was
performing Wudhu. He (May Allah shower His blessings and peace upon him)
why are you wasting water O’ Sa’d? He asked, “Does wasting water imply with
Wudhu as well?” He (May Allah shower His blessings and peace upon him) said:
Yes, even if you were on the bank of a flowing river.[3]
This is only one example of wastage of natural resources
that has been strongly disliked even for ritual purification. How could a faith
allow wasting natural resources just for recreation, that disallows such a
practice for religious purpose.
The Prophet Muhammad (May Allah shower His blessings and
peace upon him) forbade to urinate in the water.[4] The
purpose of this command is to avoid water pollution.
Planting trees has been strongly commended in Islam. Planting
is declared a sort of charity.
Narrated
Jabir bin Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with them) on the authority of Ummi
Mubashir (Wife of Zayd bin Haritha):
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If any Muslim plants any tree and a bird, animal
or human being eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in
charity.” [5]
Today we know
that drastic climate changes are the product of misuse or excessive use of natural resources
and environmental pollution. US Geological Survey observes:
“There are many “natural” and “anthropogenic” (human-induced)
factors that contribute to climate change. Climate change has always happened
on Earth, which is clearly seen in the geological record; it is the rapid rate
and the magnitude of climate change occurring now that is of great concern
worldwide. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb heat radiation. Human
activity has increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere since the Industrial
Revolution, leading to more heat retention and an increase in surface
temperatures. Atmospheric aerosols alter climate by scattering and absorbing
solar and infrared radiation and they may also change the microphysical and
chemical properties of clouds. Finally, land-use changes, such as deforestation
have led to changes in the amount of sunlight reflected from the ground back
into space (the surface albedo).” [6]
[3] Musnad Ahmad: H#6768, 7065, Sunan Ibni Majah:H#425
