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ISLAM

OVERVIEW

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world and the second largest overall, after Christianity, with nearly two billion followers. Muslims will likely become the world's largest religious group in the next half century, according to the Pew Research Center.

Muslims believe that Islam was revealed more than 1,400 years ago in Makkah, located in today's Saudi Arabia. They believe there is only one God, who they call Allah. Muslims believe that Allah sent several prophets to guide people, including Jesus (Isa), and that Muhammad was the final prophet.

Muslims make up a majority of the population in 49 countries around the world. The country with the biggest Muslim population is Indonesia, home to around 13% of the world's Muslims.

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More about Islam & the environment

'There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.'
– Qur’an, 6:38

BELIEFS & VALUES

Islamic beliefs & values share much common ground with conservation.

Khalifa – trusteeship. Islam teaches that Allah created humans to be guardians of His creation. In other words, nature does not belong to us to do with as we wish, but is entrusted by Allah to our safe-keeping. ‘The world is green and beautiful, and Allah has appointed you his guardian over it,’ taught the prophet Muhammad.

Tawheed – unity. The central concept of Islam is tawheed, or unity. Allah is unity, and His unity is reflected in the unity of humanity and nature. We must therefore maintain the integrity of the Earth, its flora and fauna, its wildlife and environment. Our responsibility is to keep balance and harmony in Allah’s creation.

Akrah – accountability. Islam teaches that we will one day be judged by Allah for how we have discharged our responsibilities following the guidance of Islam. Have we been good trustees, and have we kept nature in harmony?

Avoid waste. It is said in the Qur’an that Allah invites us to enjoy the fruits of the earth, but to avoid excess leading to waste, ‘for Allah does not love wasters’.

Shariah – laws of Islam. All these principals have been translated into practical directions for how to live, embodied in the Shariah, the laws of Islam. For example, Shariah law protects animals from cruelty, conserves forests, and limits the growth of cities.

AL-MIZAN – A COVENANT FOR THE EARTH

Islamic scholars and thought leaders, in collaboration with UNEP’s Faith for Earth Initiative, have published a call to action for global Muslims on the environment: Al-Mizan - A Covenant for the Earth.

UNEP's Faith for Earth explains that Al-Mizan (Arabic for ‘balance’), is a 're-statement of the (Islamic) principles governing the protection of nature in a form that meets current challenges', reminding Muslims of their individual and collective responsibility to protect the planet.

Check out the Al Mizan website:
www.almizan.earth
More information from:
www.unep.org/
al-mizan-covenant-earth

EXPLORE MUSLIM ACTION IN CONSERVATION

Evironmentalism is deeply rooted in Islam.

The rising environmental activism among Muslims is based on Islamic teaching, where the environment is frequently mentioned. According to Islamic law (Sharia), the basic elements of nature – water, land, fire, light and forest – belong to all living things, not just humans but humans were given the responsibility of being the earth’s guardians (khalifa), to ensure it will not be damaged or destroyed.

Islam forbids destroying the environment and wasting its resources. One way of doing so is by a fatwa, an Islamic edict. Read below about how fatwas are being used for nature conservation – such as the 2014 fatwa by the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) instructing the country's 230 million Muslims to protecct threatened species from the illegal wildlife trade and other threats.

Muslim countries are also planting trees and conserving water, and water conservation is also a focus among Muslims in Bangladesh where water shortage is a daily problem because of pollution. Read more below about some of the ways Muslims are caring for the Earth.