A General Introduction to Islam's Attitude towards the Conception of the Universe, Nature, Natural Resources and the Relation between Man and Nature.
1.
Whatever God has created in this universe was created in due proportion and measure both quantitatively and qualitatively. God says "Verily, all things have we created by measure"1 [Quran 54: 49], and says, "Everything to Him is measured"2
[Quran 13: 18}, God says, "… And produced therein all kinds of things in due balance"3 [Quran 15: 19]. In the universe there is diversity and variety of forms, colours and functions. In the universe and its various elements there is fulfillment of man's interests and evidence of The Creator’s greatness; He it is who ascertains and determines all things, and there is not a thing He has created but celebrates and declares His praise. "He who has spread out the earth for you and enables you to go about therein by roads (and channels) and has sent down water from the sky. With it have we produced diverse pairs of plants each separate from the others. Eat (for yourselves) and pasture your cattle; verily, in this are signs for men endowed with understanding"4 [Quran 20: 53].
Man is part of this universe, whose elements are complementary to one another in an integrated whole. However, man is a distinct part of the universe and has a special position among the other parts of the universe. The relation between man and the universe, as defined and clarified in the "Glorious Qur'an," is as follows:
- A relationship of utilization, development and subjugation for man's benefit and for the fulfillment of his interests.
- A relationship of meditation on, and consideration and contemplation of, the universe and what it contains.
2.
God's wisdom has ordained to grant man inheritance on earth. Therefore, in addition to being part of the earth and part of the universe, man is also the executor of God's injunctions and commands. And as such he is only a mere manager of the earth and not a proprietor; a beneficiary and not a disposer or ordainer. Man has been granted inheritance to manage and utilize the earth for his benefit, and for the fulfillment of his interests. He, therefore, has to keep, maintain and preserve it honestly, and has to act within the limits dictated by honesty.
3.
God has granted all of us the inheritance of all sources of life and resources of nature. Thus, the utilization and sustainable use of these resources is, in Islam, the right and privilege of all people. Hence, man should take every precaution to ensure the interests and rights of all others since they are equal partners on earth. Similarly, he should not regard such ownership and such use as restricted to one generation above all other generations. It is rather a joint ownership in which each generation uses and makes the best use of nature, according to its need, without disrupting or upsetting the interests of future generations. Therefore, man should not abuse, misuse or distort the natural resources as each generation is entitled to benefit from them but is not entitled to own them permanently.
4.
The right to utilize and subjugate natural resources, which God has endowed upon man, necessarily involves a commitment on man's part to conserve them both quantitatively and qualitatively. God has, indeed, created all the sources of life and resources of nature so that man may realize the following objectives:
It follows that man should not distort the environment because it must remain permanently suitable for human life and settlement. Nor should he use natural resources irrationally or in such a way as to destroy living resources or spoil their habitats and food bases.
5.
The attitude of Islam to the environment, the sources of life and the resources of nature is a positive attitude in as much as it is based on protection and prohibition of abuse and destruction; it is also based on construction and development. This is clear in the idea of revival and restoration or recovery of lands through agriculture, cultivation and construction. God says, "It is He who hath produced you from the earth and settled you therein"5 [Quran 11: 61]. The Prophet (God bless him and grant him peace) says "On Doomsday, if anyone has a palm shoot in hand, he should plant it"6.
This positive attitude involves taking measures to improve all aspects of life: hygienic, nutritive and psychological, for man's benefit and the maintenance of his welfare and well being, as well as for the betterment of life for all future generations.
6.A correct Prophetic tradition related by Ahmed in Al-Musned, related by Al-Bokhary in Al-Adub Al-Mufrad and by Abo Dawood Al-Tialisee in his Musned
