Protection and Conservation of All Basic Natural Resources
God's wisdom has ordained that some creatures shall serve others. One perceives God's providence and wisdom everywhere in the universe, attesting to His greatness, omnipotence and omniscience as The Wise Maker. God's wisdom has also ordained that all creatures shall be in the service of mankind. The Glorious Qur'an has made it clear that each known or unknown creature in the universe performs two major functions: a social function in the services of mankind and a religious function in so far as it evidences The Maker's omnipresence, wisdom, omniscience and omnipotence.
The following is a description of the basic natural elements:
God created water as the source and origin of life. God says, "We made from Water every living thing"1 [Quran 21: 30]. Plants, animals and man all depend on water for life and existence. Without it their lives would cease to exist or continue. God says, "Behold! …. In the rain which God sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead…"2 [Quran 2: 164] and He also says, "It is He who sendeth down rain from the skies; with it we produce vegetation of all kinds"3 [Quran 6: 99] . In addition to this vital function, water has another socio-religious function to perform which is purgation of the body and clothes from all dirt, impurities and defilement so that man may encounter God clean, pure and purged. God said in His Glorious Qur'an, "….and He caused rain to descend on you from heaven to clean you therewith”4 [Quran 8: 11] and says, “…and we send down pure water from the sky”5 [Quran 25:48].
God has also shown us other functions of sea and ocean water. It represents a suitable biotope for many organisms and creatures which play vital roles in the development of this world and the perpetuation of life. God said, "It is He who has made the sea subject, that ye may eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender, and that ye may extract therefrom ornaments to wear; and thou seest the ships therein that plough the waves, that ye may seek thus of the bounty of God"6 [Quran 16: 14]. He also says, "Lawful to you is the pursuit of water-game and its use for food for the benefit of yourselves, and those who travel"7 [Quran 5:96].
Conservation of this vital element is undoubtedly the basis for the preservation and continuation of life in its various forms whether vegetative, animal or human. Whatever fulfils and helps to achieve the basic necessities is itself a necessity. Therefore, any attempt at marring the vital and social functions of this element, whether by spoiling or polluting it with any material that would make it an unsuitable environment for some living organism or any such attempts to mar its function as the source of life, will necessarily lead to a complete halt or cessation of life itself. The juristic rule is "what leads to the forbidden is itself forbidden".
Owing to the importance of this vital element as the main source of life, God made its use the privilege of all human beings, without discrimination. All mankind is entitled to use it without monopoly, compulsion, coercion, corruption or abuse. God said, "And tell them that the water is to be divided between them"8 [Quran 54:28] and the Prohpet (God bless him and grant him peace) said, "People share three things: water, pasture and fire"9.
2. Air
This element is no less important that water for the perpetuation and preservation of life. The air may also have other functions which man does not perceive or which are not of immediate interest to him. However, they are functions which God deliberately meant to create, as man has been made aware of by the Glorious Qur'an. For example, God sends the wind to torment and torture some races of people in revenge and retaliation. On the other hand, He sends the winds to others as a sign of mercy, benevolence and good omen. Likewise, the Qur'an attaches a vital importance and a great function to the winds namely that of pollination. God said, "And we send the fecundating winds"10 [Quran 15: 22]. Winds are also clear evidence of God's omnipotence, bounty, provision and perfection. He also said, "Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the Night and the Day; in the sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind; in the rain which He sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead; in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the earth, in the change of the winds, and the clouds which they trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth; - here indeed are signs for a people who are wise"11 [Quran 2 : 164].
9. A correct prophetic tradition related by Abo Dawood with correct ascription.
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Since the air performs all these vital and social functions, it follows that its
conservation, pure and unpolluted, is an integral part of the conservation of life I self
which is one of the main objectives of Islamic jurisprudence (Shariah). The juristic rule
is "what fulfils and satisfies necessities is itself a necessity". Therefore,
any attempt at polluting it or marring its function or even spoiling it is considered an
attempt at hindering God's wisdom and creation. This equally hinders and cripples man's
role in the development of this world.
3.Plants and Animals
No one can doubt the importance, great use and benefit of plants and animals for mankind. In addition, the Glorious Qur'an mentions the aesthetic and decorative functions of these creatures in addition to their other functions and, since peace of mind is one of the religious requirements which should be fully satisfied, God in creating all plants and animals provides pleasure and enjoyment to man so as to satisfy his peace of mind, a factor which is essential for man's proper functioning and full performance. The Glorious Qur'an also mentions other functions which these creatures perform and which man may not perceive, namely the mandatory functions of worshipping God, declaring His praise and bowing down to Him. God said, "Seest thou not that to God bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on the earth -- the sun, the moon, the stars, the hills, the trees, the animals…"12 [Quran 22: 18] and God says, "There is not a thing but celebrates His praise, and yet ye understand not how they declare His glory!"13 [Quran 17: 44] And He says, "Whatever beings there are in the heavens and the earth do prostrate themselves to God -- with good will or in spite of themselves"14 [Quran 13: 15]. Islam emphasizes all measures for the survival and perpetuation of these creatures so that they can fully perform the functions assigned to them, for He considers them living communities, exactly like mankind. God says "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"15 [Quran 6: 38]. Also the Prophet (God bless him and grant him peace) has rightly shown us, through his commandments and teachings, how to rear and conserve these creatures. An ant once stung one of the Prophets who then ordered a whole colony of ants to be burned down in retaliation. God taught him in rebuke, "Thou hast destroyed a whole nation that celebrates God's praise for an ant stung thee"16. The Prophet of Islam also told us of a woman who would be sent to Hell because of a cat she locked up without feeding or releasing too feed on vermin of the earth17. God thanked a serf who saved a dog from death by giving it water to drink, thus quenching its thirst18. The Prophet of Islam has forbidden leaving animals to starve19 and damned a group of people who used a bird as a target20.
Islam looks upon these creatures in two ways:
- As living creatures in themselves attesting to God's wisdom and omnipotence;
- As creatures subjected in the service of man and playing a vital part in the development of this world.
Hence the necessity of conserving and developing them both for their own sake and for the benefit of mankind.
16. A correct Prophetic tradition related by Al-Bokhary, Mouslim and others.
17. A correct Prophetic tradition related by Al-Bokhary, Mouslim and others.
18. A correct Prophetic tradition related by Al-Bokhary, Mouslim and others.
19. A correct Prophetic tradition related by Al-Bokhary, Mouslim and others.
20. A correct Prophetic tradition related by Al-Bokhary, Mouslim and others.
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