The environment is a significant component in Islamic teachings, with an abundance of reference to it in the Holy Quran. This includes principles of reducing wastage, cleanliness, and man as stewards to protect the environment.
However, there seems to be a lack of effort to relate these Islamic principles to contemporary issues. While issues such as Islamophobia and Muslim oppression may still be of interest to many, issues of climate change, water and food security, are just as important, given that many Muslim countries are victims of climate change (developing countries) with very little capacity to fend themselves. At the same time, other Muslim states are contributors to it (Indonesia and the gulf Arab states are some of the world's highest carbon emitters).
There is also seems to be a lack of environmental action and ethic amongst Muslims. How many of us actually make the effort to recycle, reduce our carbon footprint, or support products that have environmentally-friendly labels?
While there may be individual Muslims out there that do care for the environment, what seems to be lacking is a unified Muslim voice that says "We care for our environment and we want to protect it and be part of the global movement." There are Muslim groups out there advocating this, but it has yet to hit a critical mass.
I somehow also feel that such teachings on the environment seem to be considered less relevant or rather brushed over in many Muslim circles. Why is that? Environmentalism -just like Islam - is a way of life. All we need to do is actually incorporate it into our lives. It doesn't require big audous efforts, but rather its the little steps that count the most.
A discussion of contemporary issues in relation to Islam will not only make Muslims understand their religion with a more holistic perspective, but also further bridge so-called divides between Muslims and non-Muslims, thereby building cooperation on issues that affect all of mankind.
I look forward to your thoughts on this.
Wassalam.
Salam Su3aD.
I really think that the matter that you asked is really very important and as what you said, it is neglected by the common muslim people.
I think the muslims might feel that environmental things might not be the important thing, since muslims today might feel that Islam is simply a ritiual.
It is wrong - It is a way of life , as what you have successfully mentioned...
Being said that , we have responsibilities towards the environment as we are sharing the environment and it is our responsible to keep the environment clean etc...
And since people feel that Islam is just a ritual, environmental issues are not in their dictionary. they just focus on the hukums in islam...
I really feel that these environmental issues could be one of the methods to pull those people to be a better muslims ( since to them, it is secular based) or even working together between non-muslims as what you have stated.....
Hmm, lets come to the environmental issues that muslim countries faced....
Based on what I have read, US is the number 1 carbon producing , followed by China and so forth. These developing countries are not the most producing, although they might be producing similarly much...
These countries have no choice, but have to produce industries to modernise their countries eg coal - electricity plant, which might pollute the air in its products formed..
But what about the US, which had already developed? .....
This also comes back to we as muslims who should be responsible. If we are not responsible enough to dispose our rubbish properly etc, it just reflects badly on us and also Islam . it is as if Muslims are not taught how to respect the environment, but just don't want to follow the rules that has existed ....
Wassalam
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