ISLAMIC SHARIA AND ENVIRONMENT:
THE SHARI’AH’S ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
What do these following verses say about the environment and man’s relationship to it?
What is the Ultimate Objective(s) or maqsad (maqasid) that Islam seeks to establish as the basis for this relationship?
Let us read a few of the verses which precede and succeed the one we are discussing. Allah says in [7:54-58]:
“Indeed, your Lord is God, who created the heavens and earth in (the span of) six days. Then, (befittingly) He settled Himself over the Throne. He causes the night to enveil the day, pursuing it incessantly. And the moon and the stars are subjugated by His command. Most surely, to Him belongs all the creation and all the command. Blessed be God, Lord of (all) the Worlds. [54]
(O believers!) Call upon your Lord, in humility and privately! Indeed, He does not love the transgressors (who violate God’s commandments). [55]
Nor shall you spread corruption in the earth after it has been set aright (by God). So call upon Him, in fear and hope. Indeed, the mercy of God is (ever) near to those who excel in (doing) good. [56]
For it is He who sends the winds bearing glad tidings before (the rain-showers of) His mercy-until when they lift heavy clouds (aloft), We drive them to a lifeless land. Then upon it, We send down water. Then We bring forth with it fruits of every kind. Thus do we bring forth the dead, so that you may become mindful (of your own resurrection).[57]
As for the wholesome land-its plants come forth by the permission of their Lord. Yet as for that (land) which is befouled-they come forth (from it) only meagerly. Thus do We transform the signs (of God) for a people who are thankful.“[58]
This is neither the only place where the Qur’an discusses man in terms of his environment nor is the prohibition of harm the only principle it seeks to teach man about. Moreover, it should be obvious that serious discussion of the issues at hand may not be possible without the full study of all Texts in the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, pertaining to the environment, as well as to man’s proper outlook upon it.Yet, for the purpose of our discussion here, we will assume it to be sufficient to allude to these points and note them briefly. Here are the observations various scholars have mentioned concerning the revealed knowledge one might come to in the contemplation of verse [7:56].
1. Earth was not inherently or originally suitable for man to inhabit. Then Allah changed its inhospitable condition by setting it aright, a perfectly furnished habitation for life, and specifically for man.
2. After Allah has made the Earth eminently habitable, man is not to abuse it or cause any harm in it or in any way corrupt it. That is, he is neither to destroy life or being upon it recklessly, nor damage its habitability.
3. Invoking Allah’s blessings and praying for His help is necessary for surviving while living on earth, not just because this enhances our relationship with Allah and with creation, but, more importantly, because man will surely be mischievous on Earth, and therefore a corrupting influence, and without Allah’s mercy our fate upon the Earth is ominous.
4. Man should not lose hope in Allah’s mercy because He is merciful; He is watching what we do; and He is well aware of all that we do. Yet for us to really be in His mercy at all times, we have to do good and definitely refrain from disobeying Him.
Posted by: MuQeet in Qur'an and Environment
THE SHARI’AH’S ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
What do these following verses say about the environment and man’s relationship to it?
What is the Ultimate Objective(s) or maqsad (maqasid) that Islam seeks to establish as the basis for this relationship?
Let us read a few of the verses which precede and succeed the one we are discussing. Allah says in [7:54-58]:
“Indeed, your Lord is God, who created the heavens and earth in (the span of) six days. Then, (befittingly) He settled Himself over the Throne. He causes the night to enveil the day, pursuing it incessantly. And the moon and the stars are subjugated by His command. Most surely, to Him belongs all the creation and all the command. Blessed be God, Lord of (all) the Worlds. [54]
(O believers!) Call upon your Lord, in humility and privately! Indeed, He does not love the transgressors (who violate God’s commandments). [55]
Nor shall you spread corruption in the earth after it has been set aright (by God). So call upon Him, in fear and hope. Indeed, the mercy of God is (ever) near to those who excel in (doing) good. [56]
For it is He who sends the winds bearing glad tidings before (the rain-showers of) His mercy-until when they lift heavy clouds (aloft), We drive them to a lifeless land. Then upon it, We send down water. Then We bring forth with it fruits of every kind. Thus do we bring forth the dead, so that you may become mindful (of your own resurrection).[57]
As for the wholesome land-its plants come forth by the permission of their Lord. Yet as for that (land) which is befouled-they come forth (from it) only meagerly. Thus do We transform the signs (of God) for a people who are thankful.“[58]
This is neither the only place where the Qur’an discusses man in terms of his environment nor is the prohibition of harm the only principle it seeks to teach man about. Moreover, it should be obvious that serious discussion of the issues at hand may not be possible without the full study of all Texts in the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, pertaining to the environment, as well as to man’s proper outlook upon it.Yet, for the purpose of our discussion here, we will assume it to be sufficient to allude to these points and note them briefly. Here are the observations various scholars have mentioned concerning the revealed knowledge one might come to in the contemplation of verse [7:56].
1. Earth was not inherently or originally suitable for man to inhabit. Then Allah changed its inhospitable condition by setting it aright, a perfectly furnished habitation for life, and specifically for man.
2. After Allah has made the Earth eminently habitable, man is not to abuse it or cause any harm in it or in any way corrupt it. That is, he is neither to destroy life or being upon it recklessly, nor damage its habitability.
3. Invoking Allah’s blessings and praying for His help is necessary for surviving while living on earth, not just because this enhances our relationship with Allah and with creation, but, more importantly, because man will surely be mischievous on Earth, and therefore a corrupting influence, and without Allah’s mercy our fate upon the Earth is ominous.
4. Man should not lose hope in Allah’s mercy because He is merciful; He is watching what we do; and He is well aware of all that we do. Yet for us to really be in His mercy at all times, we have to do good and definitely refrain from disobeying Him.
Posted by: MuQeet in Qur'an and Environment
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