Islam Ensures a Healthy Earth

Islam & Earth

Before the world knew the importance of caring for our dear planet, Islam was already an advocate on its behalf. Initially neglected, the call to care for our planet intensified when scientist discovered the phenomenon called ‘Global Warming’. According to scientists, Global warming, also referred to as climate change, is the observed century-scale rise in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system, and its related effects. 

Currently, the floods, tsunamis, landslides and other natural disasters are being blamed on global warming. Whether global warming is factual or political, one thing has been made apparent; humans must plant trees. 

The 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm marked the beginning of a global awareness of the interdependence between people, other living species and our planet, as well as the establishment of World Environment Day on 5 June and the UN Environment Programme. 

In 1992, Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the Statement of principles for the Sustainable Management of Forests were adopted by more than 178 Governments at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3 to 14 June 1992. 

The General Assembly, in order to achieve a just balance among the economic, social, and environmental needs of present and future generations, to promote harmony with nature and the Earth, and noting that Earth Day is observed each year in many countries, decided to designate 22 April as International Mother Earth Day through resolution A/RES/63/278, adopted in 2009.

Every year, whatever the theme of the campaign, planting trees is always an integral part.

Islam has always praised the planting of trees, global warming might not be the reason for this, but Muslims who plant trees are said to have a good chance of making Jannah (Paradise).

Muhammad (SAW) said, “If the Hour (the day of Resurrection) is about to be established and one of you was holding a palm shoot, let him take advantage of even one second before the Hour is established to plant it." - Al-Albani.

A Muslim’s desire is always to make his last deed a good one.

Muhammad (SAW) also said, "If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift (sadaqah) for him."

Islam believes in a concept called Sadaqatul Jariya, this refers to a deed that will continue to generate reward for an individual even after his/her death because it will continue to benefit the living.

These Ahadith show that there is no doubting the fact that planting trees is a good deed in Islam.

Asides glorifying the planting of trees, Islam forbids the unnecessary cutting down of trees. 

Whenever Muhammad (SAW) would send out Muslims for war, he (SAW) would advise them thus, “I advise you ten things. Do not kill women or children or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place. Do not slaughter sheep or camels except for food. Do not burn bees and do not scatter them. Do not steal from the booty, and do not be cowardly.”

Though not explicitly, a verse in the Glorious Qur’an criminalizes the destruction of plants of which trees are among.

ALLAH (SWT) says, “And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allah does not like corruption”. Suratul Baqarah (2:205)

So we see, if trees would have their way, they will migrate to Islamic lands.

Another practice which has been found to be deleterious to the earth is poor toilet manners. Some people-especially men, are fond of urinating and in extreme cases, defecating into water bodies. The impact of this might be minimal if the water body involved is not stagnant (e. g a stream or a river). However, it is very bad if the water body involved is stagnant. 

The human wastes in this case ferments causing pollution of the air which could cause illness to the humans and even animals around. Chemically, fermentation is a process that releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere (CO2 is a major green house gas). This means the more people practice this dirty habit, the more CO2 is released into the atmosphere consequently, the more severe global warming becomes.

Muhammad (SAW) said, "Beware of the three acts that cause you to be cursed:  relieving yourselves in shaded places (that people utilise), in a walkway or in a watering place”.

With these, one would imagine what if the world had practiced these teachings of Muhammad (SAW) for the past 1, 400 years? The answer is simple, the world would have never heard of the term ‘global warming’ and all the humans and animals that have died in all the natural disasters that have occurred due to global warming would have still been alive today.