Islam and Ecological Sustainability: An Exploration into Prophet’s Perspective on Environment

Abstract

The Quran— which is considered as the most sacred Islamic Scripture, the Word of Allah was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) via the Archangel Gabriel over 1400 years ago—and the Hadith— The Prophet Muhammad's (peace and blessings be upon him) cherished traditions, sayings, and affirmations in respect to religious issues embody Islam's perspective on the cosmos and the Divine, as well as humanity's relationship with both. When Allah constructed it, every detail was carefully thought out. These supernatural techniques guarantee the existence and protection of natural resources. Islam's environmental teachings are based on the fundamental understanding of how interconnected humans and all other living things are with the rest of the earth. Additionally, our survival and the survival of future generations depend on this information. Because caring for the world also includes caring for our own needs. Islam, is often referred to as a religion which unlike any other dictates it’s followers as to how they are supposed to be leading their life. It not only lays down religious perspectives about what is to be followed in a good and bad sense (i.e. to say the concept of Haraam and Halaal) but also brings about guidelines for the minutest of details of everyday life.  According to Islam, protecting the environment is the only way to maintain the delicate balance of life. The Quranic teaching that humanity has been given guardianship over nature is supported by the most well-known Hadith on environmental issues, which states that, "The earth is green and beautiful, and Allah has appointed you his stewards over it."

Although in the recent times the environmental crisis in Muslim nations has recently worsened due to a complicated web of issues, including globalization, economic competition, and political conflicts among the economically dominant states. In order to avert the destruction, a number of Islamic academicians and experts stressed the importance of reconsidering and going back to the Islamic environmental teachings. On the other side, many intellectuals have denounced Islamic beliefs as wholly ethical and unscientific without fully examining its discourses and detailed sermons. Since this has been emphasised as a key element of Islam as a religion and way of life, the mere fact that Islamic beliefs place weight on the individual's obligation to preserve the ecosystem needs to be thoroughly investigated. This paper highlights how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations in 2015 for environmental conservation stand aligned with lslam's strong commitment to protecting the environment and these traditions of the Prophet Muhammad's environmental practices which were practiced years ago.  Environmental ethics and practices may be enhanced by focusing on the Islamic perspective on contemporary environmental concerns (such as resource depletion, pollution, and poverty). This study aims to stimulate the teachings of Islam on environmental issues in order to advance the role of religious and scientific organisations in environmental protection. providing appropriate responses. Several environmental challenges are discussed in this article from an Islamic viewpoint.