2010م - 1444هـ








paper introduces the subject of Islam and the Envi-

ronment through four areas:



First, it discusses the Islamic view of the environ-

ment: the Holy Qur’an speaks of how God created the



environment with Truth, and how everything in the en-

vironment is His sign and praises Him. The Holy Qur’an



thus shows the inherent value of creatures and of life,

and how each creature in nature must be respected and

cherished by human beings as their fellow beings.

Second, this paper asks what the relationship between

man and the environment is. How is man to act towards

the environment? God created man as His vicegerent

(khalīfa) on earth, making the earth a dwelling place



for man, and ensured that man’s needs could be pro-

vided by the earth. Man has the right to use the earth,



the animals, and the minerals to help him in his stay on

earth. However, with this right comes the responsibility

of manifesting the qualities of the Creator, which have





The Holy Qur’an and the Environment



been placed in man’s primordial nature (fitra), the pri-

mary ones being Mercy and Justice.



Third, this paper discusses human corruption and

how it is linked to environmental pollution. The Holy

Qur’an sets out complete spiritual and moral guidelines

for man. He is told to walk humbly (Luqmān, 31:19); not to

be wasteful or extravagant; not to disrupt the balance

that exists in nature and not to change the creation of



God. In our time all of these commandments are ig-

nored, and in fact their opposites are looked upon fa-

vourably. To live in such a manner throws creation out