Category Archives: EcoIslam

The Importance of Planting Trees in Islam

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There is an inseparable relation between the environment and our soul. Islamic teachings on environment offer a completely integrated view of the Universe where human souls and the environment are all part of one living, conscious whole. The Holy Quran exhorts us to live a balanced, moderate and sustainable life without causing any harm to the Earth. It says, “And do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.” (2:60) and “And do not desire corruption in the land. Indeed, God does not like corruptors.” (28:77). In the Quranic view, corruption on earth is not confined to only political crimes … Continue reading →

Eco-Friendly Lifestyle for Muslims – 6 Practical Steps

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We live in a world with rampant environmental degradation and an overconsumption of natural resources. The situation has escalated to a level that inaction today means the end of civilization as we know it in the near future. An eco-friendly lifestyle is no longer a choice; it is a necessity. Islam teaches us to live in harmony with nature. Muslims should live modestly and refrain from being either too miserly or too flagrant in their spending. Examining the need for an eco-friendly lifestyle and the Islamic ruling is important. In this green living guide for Muslims, we will look at … Continue reading →

Integrating Faith and Sustainability: The Essence of Eco-Islam

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The climate crisis has become a key issue in recent years. Changing temperatures and weather patterns have raised alarm bells worldwide, impacting every aspect of our lives. The average global temperature is 1⁰C above the global average levels before the Industrial Revolution. At this rate, scientists estimate that average global temperatures may rise by 2⁰C by 2100. This will spell disaster for the environment at large. Even minute changes in the environment can spell an ecological disaster. Let us investigate how the climate crisis is impacting our lives and what we can do as Muslims to avert the unfolding disaster. … Continue reading →

ﻤﺒﺎدئ اﻻﺴﺘداﻤﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﻤﺎرة اﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴدﻴﺔ اﻹﺴﻼﻤية

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تشتمل تعاليم الدين الإسلامي على الكثير من مبادئ الاستدامة التي تداخلت مع التنظيم الإجتماعي والسلوك الإنساني للمجتمع والتي انعكست على النتاج العمراني، والعلم الحديث قادرعلى تطوير قدرات الانسان من أجل استغلال المصادر الطبيعية بشكل يفوق ما حققته العمارة التقليدية، بيد أن ذلك يتطلب تطبيقا منهجيا للعلم ومقارنة شاملة بين الإنشاءات الحديثة والتقليدية، وإحياء المبادئ التي اعتمدت عليها الحلول التقليدية. بغير هذه الطريقة لا يمكن للعمارة الحديثة أن تتفوق بإنجازاتها الإنسانية والبيئية على ما قد أنجزته العمارة التقليدية، حيث أن الوسائل والأفكار المعمارية التقليدية قد تفقد أهميتها مقابل الراحة والسهولة اللتين توفرهما الحلول الميكانيكية، لكنها تسببت بالإستعمال غير المحدود للآلة والذي … Continue reading →

Sustainability Principles in Traditional Islamic Architecture

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Islam came with many sustainability and environmental conservation principles, which appeared in all aspects of the Islamic society. This green vision of Islam is also reflected in the city planning and traditional architecture. Infact, Islamic cities were shaped by Islamic beliefs on environmental conservation and sustainability. The traditional house adopted in Islamic architecture respects the environment in more ways than one: first by minimizing the impact of harsh natural environment conditions such as hot climate, relative humidity and solar radiation intensity, second by maximizing the potential possibilities of these conditions to achieve the thermal comfort of inhabitants and utilizing the … Continue reading →

Islamic Perspectives on COP

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It is a ripe time to reflect briefly on the upcoming COP from an Islamic perspective. By now everyone is well aware of the cause of severe climatic disturbances which affect us all and the poorest and most vulnerable in particular: sheer greed and unbridled, reckless, consumption. Islam has always provided the keys to a harmonious life in which humans refuse to take more from nature than they need for their sustenance and enjoyment. Islam has repeatedly warned about the imbalances and inequalities that would arise if one were not to follow its recommendations. God created the world in balance … Continue reading →

What Does The Quran Say About The Natural Environment

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For a Muslim, caring for the environment is a part of faith. There are many verses (known as ‘ayahs’) about the natural environment. The Quran describes plants, animals, the elements of rain and wind as resources for use by people and animals. Some features of the natural environment, such as water, are mentioned several times as proof of God’s existence and power. The Holy Quran asks the reader to ‘think, ponder and reflect’ on the natural signs in the world and contemplate their purpose. Read on to know more about the Quran and natural environment: On Rainwater Cycle ‘It is … Continue reading →

How Islam is in Harmony with Nature

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The ecological crisis of the world presents one of the biggest challenges of our time. Through prophets and messengers, God has revealed holy books that bring both glad tidings and warnings, so that people act in a righteous and just manner. In the Holy Quran, God speaks of creating everything in balance, and warns that transgression of the balance shall have disastrous consequences. This holds true not just for the world around us, but also for our souls, for Islam does not differentiate the world of man from the world of nature. There are over 6,000 verses in the Holy Quran … Continue reading →

Rediscovering the Natural World – The Islamic Approach

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Today more than half the world’s population live in cities. Our increasingly urban lives have ensured an almost total disconnection from the natural world to the extent that it is not uncommon to meet children who believe that milk originates in plastic supermarket cartons. It is as well to be conscious of this as much is left out in their education, both religious and secular, to the extent that we are continuing to cause irreparable harm to the Earth. Muslims are no exception to this, having also adopted urban lifestyles and modern modes of living that reveal an almost complete … Continue reading →

Islamic Principles on Waste Minimization

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Since the beginning of time, waste has been an environmental issue for humans. Waste is often equated with trash, but even before the existence of trash, there was waste. Understanding the various forms of waste can help us identify ways to avoid and reduce it. Muslims have had lessons on avoiding and reducing waste for over 1,400 years and we can all benefit from the guidance offered in Islam through Quranic injunctions and Prophet’s Sunnah. The Holy Quran says: It is He Who has brought into being gardens, the cultivated and the wild, and date-palms, and fields with produce of … Continue reading →

Our Earth: A Gift for Humanity Which Should be Protected

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Ecological living is about protecting and preserving the environment of planet Earth, through recognizing the uniqueness of its various eco-systems and species. Every individual habitat supports all manner of life. Awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgement and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only we can hear the language of other beings as we can understand the generosity of the earth and learning to give our own gifts in return. Earth was given as a gift for humanity and the human being was created and established on this earth as … Continue reading →

The Concept of Garden in Islamic Culture

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The Arabic words Hadiqah, riyad, janna, raudah refer to the garden in its classical sense, with different nuances. The words bustan, munia, ruzafa, buhaira, ‘ars refer to the large agricultural or leisure estates generally located on the periphery of towns. These terms and others go to show the diversity of meaning in the concept of garden in the Islamic culture. In Islamic Culture, the garden is above all the essence of elements of Creation: Creation itself is a garden. This garden is at the heart of all the flowering Islamic civilization: beauty, mathematics, architecture, spirituality, poetry, botanic sensibility, hydraulics, biodiversity… … Continue reading →