04/24/2015
Friday Wisdom
By Dr. Metwalli Amer
Friday, April 24, 2015
Earth Day
Last Wednesday, April 22nd, Americans celebrated the 35th anniversary of Earth Day. As Muslim Americans, we must recall with pride Islam’s stance on environmentalism. In the Qur’an, men and women are viewed as Allah’s vicegerents on Earth, (2:30). Allah created nature in a balance (Mizan) and made mankind responsible to maintain this equilibrium through wise governance and sound personal conduct.
The Qur’an also describes the believing men and women as those who “walk on Earth in humility” (25:63). Scholars have interpreted this verse to mean that Muslims are to protect nature’s many bounties given to them by the Almighty. Preservation is therefore more than a good policy recommendation; it is a commandment from Allah.
Islam teaches Muslims to have the responsibility to protect the environment as stewards of the Earth. It also tells that Allah created all things in perfect balance and measurement. There is a purpose behind all living and non-living things; each species has important role to play in that balance.
Allah gave human beings certain knowledge which allows us to use the natural world to meet our needs. However, we are not given free license to exploit it or to be greedy in use it. Muslims believe that all living things, including human beings, are subservient to Allah alone. Thus, we are not masters who rule over the earth, but servants of Allah with a responsibility to maintain the equilibrium. The Quran says: “It is Allah who has appointed you as viceroys in the earth … that He may try you in what He has given you” (6:165). In another verse: “O children of Adam! ... eat and drink, but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the overabundance.” (7:31)
