"We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: but man undertook it; He was indeed unjust and foolish." (Quran 33:72)

Green is the color which is most often associated with Islam and coincidently green is also the color which is associated with the environmentalist movement. While the modern Environmentalist movement goes back to the efforts of Rachel Carlson, one can argue that the care of environment has been integral to most of the religious traditions of the world. In recent years environment friendly groups have emerged in all the major religions of the world, perhaps the strongest statement on the issue has come from the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, nicknamed the Green Patriarch, who stated harming the environment could be considered a sin. Many Evangelical Christians have also shown keen interest on the issue of Environmentalism which call Creation Care. In rural Thailand, Buddhist monks have ordained trees as part of their monastic order with the consequence that villagers refrain from cutting down such trees. Islam is no exception to the surge in religious interest in the environmentalist movement. Recently Environmentalism has come to the fore again mainly through the media spotlight generated by Al Gore and thus this is a good opportunity to see how the issue affects Muslims as individuals and as a whole.

According to the Islamic world view, while humans are God's vicegerents on Earth, they do not have absolute autonomy but rather they have been entrusted the Guardianship of the Earth. The Islamic tradition is rich with references to issues like the protection of the environment and even animal rights. In well known hadiaths, prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is known to encourage planting trees, admonish cutting down trees even in the times of war and being kind to animals. Even the concept of halal and haram in food item recognizes certain permissible practices in raising, treating and sacrificing animals.

In its drive to catch up with the industrialized world, the developing world is currently going through a process of rapid industrialization which will have adverse consequence for the environment. Since majority of the Muslim countries are part of the developing world the process of environmental devastation is rapidly progressing in these countries. The idea that we must first catch up with the developed world and then address these issues also contributes towards indifference towards environmental issues without the realization that by the time we 'catch up' it may be too late not just for us but for everyone else. Like most major cities of the world, slums and air pollution have become a common feature of cities in majority Muslim countries. This is despite the fact that according to the well known hadiath of the prophet (peace be upon him) cleanliness is supposed to be half of faith.

A lot of material has been written on the Islamic perspective on the environment. However as with many other aspects of contemporary Muslim life, there is a disconnect between theory and practice. Thus one can ask that if care for the environment is such an important part of the Islamic tradition then why has this subject not been on the top of the Muslim agenda? The main reason could just be economic, in most poor countries as in the rest of the world economics take precedence over everything else and thus the short term gain trumps the long term adverse effects of environmental degradation. Consider the example of Dubai which has been lauded as a model for development in the Muslim world. However it may not be a sustainable model for development as it is fostering a culture of consumerism run amok. In the drive to consume more and more, people do not realize that large amounts of pollutants are actually come from consumer waste. Again moderation in consumption, one of the most important virtues in Islam, is the need of the hour. Abundance of a resource does not justify its wastage, as prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised Muslims not to waste water even if they were near a river.

Many Muslim countries have a strong incentive to be concerned by environmental issues. The Maldives is in the danger of being the first country to be swallowed by the rising seawater by the effects of global warming, Bangladesh also runs the risk of permanent flooding of large parts of fertile delta, deforestation in Pakistan and Indonesia, the Sahara desert is encroaching on civilization in many African countries. All is not lost as there have some success in the Islamic world on the Environmental front. In Zanzibar, Islamic teaching are actively being used to encourage people towards conservation, Niger is another example where land has been reclaimed from the Sahara desert by planting trees, Oman has been successful in reintroducing the native Oynx to its wilderness and Islamic organizations with an environmental agenda have also sprung up in recent years, in Iran alone there are almost 150 environmentalist organizations.

The most articulate and reasoned voice in contemporary Muslim discourse on the environment is that of Syed Hossein Nasr. According to Nasr the environmental crisis is not an isolated phenomenon but is rather part of the spiritual crisis of our age. Consequently one cannot address one type of crisis without addressing the other. Given that in most Muslim countries environmental awareness amongst the elites as well the masses is missing so what can an average Muslim do in the face of growing environmental crisis? Here the dictum, "Think globally, act locally" may apply. A good start would be to spread awareness of environmental issues amongst other Muslims and relate it to how this issue is fundamental to an Islamic understanding of man's place in the universe. Additionally one can combine religious injunctions with pragmatic concerns by stressing that without addressing environmental problems economic growth cannot be sustained.

A substantial grassroots environmental movement amongst Muslims has yet to arise. It could be because environmentalists in the Muslim world have not really tapped into their own tradition to further their arguments. It is also important to work closely with people of other faiths and ideologies on this issue since this is something that effects all people on this planet. This also ensures that Muslims organizations do not have to reinvent the wheel every time but rather they can use and augment the expertise and know-how of their counterparts. No contribution or act in this issue should be taken to be insignificant because in this endevour there is no such thing as an insignificant good deed, as prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "If the Hour (Judgment Day) is about to be established and one of you is holding a palm shoot, let him take advantage of even one second before the Hour is established to plant it."

Well, we are waiting for these co-called "enlightened American Muslims" to provide us leadership in this area. Once they are done with running around in SUVs and voting Republican/Democrat, maybe their children's children's children will provide us with some solutions. In the meantime we just have to sit in large air-conditioned mosques with large parking lots and have these conventions in large city convention centers like everybody else.

Reminds me of the time, one of these so-called leaders gave me a book about the Amish people. Excitedly pointing out "look, look at this, we need to go to these people and show them Islam." And I could not stop laughing for years. Idiot, they are the ones "living Islam" and you are going to show them what? Your hypocritical bulls**t "house of God" in the suburbs? Some people, I tell ya.

Muslims should be required to fast from "electricity" for 30 days. Simple really.

And 30 days of fasting from Gasoline! How could I possibly miss that.

Especially as this would force Airabs to actually manufacture something tangible for 30 days. Hah.

In the UK, there is the IFEES: http://www.ifees.org/ - I gather they and Ecobites organise and engage in a great deal of good work, and the founder of IFEES has been working on Green issues for many years. I think Muslim grassroots green action is developing in the UK, especially as more 2nd/3rd generation Muslims branch out beyond the traditional 'Muslim' graduate subjects of medicine/law/technology to study Environmental Sciences.

Yes, I agree that it will be up to the next generation of Muslim leaders to take up the cause of protecting the environment, just as they have also been getting more involved with Politics, Media and Social welfare issues for the community. It is already happening, with recent presentations about the environment at local mosques here in the Bay Area. I believe also ISNA will be having a seminar about the subject at their convention this year as well.

I enjoyd very much reading the art.ur right theres gen lack of concern for environtlsm among elites in most mus countries.Yet id caution about genrlizg--depends on the "who" of elites(ie those in power/decision-makg circles or elseware?).my gen impressin,havg livd in mus world,elites in the oppostn or grassrts/mass movmts etc r more likely to b receptiv 2 environ than 2nd cat.I saw (growng) # of off(and unoff) registrd ngos/groups/individs concernd about whats genrly called "bee'a" ( Arabic 4 enivorn--both social & physical).Mass movmts callng 4 pol & soc reform have also targetd situtin of "khiraab" (Arabic 4 "destruction" & is rel8d 2 wastefulness, carelessness).ur right in that natural priorities among the lay publics in most muslim countries over environ,but a slowly & growing linkge outside corridors of powr leads to question not their existce but their ult impact, & visiblty. Raisg the q of visiblty also leads into possiblty of few enterprisg busmen seekg devlpt w/environ sustainablity.#'s of these would be less than in West, but I'd not discredit the possiblty since not all busmen have supportd powr elites' concern for rapid econ prog over enivron. Finally,we cant leave out the role that intl community can play in helpg devlpg world 2 prog 2 decent living stdrds while keepg environmlist vision.But the intl commnity's role(s) will ONLY b effectve 2 extent that genuine pol will exists--& that will necess depend upon will & energy of largest econies.here Ive lot of skepticsm b/c of mixd msges that largest econies have given w/respect to other issues affectng global econ prog like controvers in imbalnces of intl trade & demands 4 econ reforms thrusted @ develpg econmies(like esp in africa).4eg how can WB,IMF,& West demand afrc econies reduce (& eventully elimin8) trade barriers over signif econcly crucial prods(eg cocoa & coffee)when US & EU engagd (& cont 2 do so) in heavy trade & econ protectism over similar prods & genrly agri-industs?u can read alot about unfair practices on sites like Oxfam.main pt: attempt 2 pressure Mus countries 2 go green comg from West & intl orgs will b seen as mixd msgs @ best & outright hypocrisy @ worst if Westrn societies & elites--both in/out of govt--dont lead by demandg & enforcg a substantv reverse 2 "business-as-usual" practices.

hijababa,
pls dont use "airabs" as this is racially derogatory term.

"Airabs". Oops. Sorry. Stand corrected. Bad doggie. Ganda bacha. I should be more respectful of Arabs. They may not manufacture anything, but Allah did chose them to safeguard His religion. May they get just reward for bearing that huge pain in the *** responsibility.

Another quality article from Aurangzeb... The point that the development and environment protection have to be together is well versed and one cannot occur without the other one.

We keep forgetting that the world is not ours, we just occupy it for a while.

If the hadith at the end does not open people's eyes, I do not know what else will?

First ~ Muslims in the US have a real difficulty putting up infratstructure. The cost is so prohibitive and people are spread out.

I think we need to come to terms with fact that the envirnomental problem is directly linked to industrialisation. Human progress of the twentieth century, being secular and capitalistic, had no scientific basis to value the environment. Actually .. there still isn't scientific basis to value the environment!! The gains outweigh the losses. Ever think that the green movement, like Europes anti-slavery movement, can only reap benefits when its economically possible to.

>> part of the spiritual crisis of our age.

Capitalism. The meaningless pursuit of empty material gain. The tacit enforcement of an organised economically profitable value system.

>> "We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof.."

Aren't we the ones, as muslims (like other ecologically aware spiritual cultures), who acknowledge even the state of submission of animals and inanimate objects? The people of a middle and balanced way? I resent the idea that we need to make Islam greener. We need to be more Islamic.

Our imam is outspoken in support of the environment, that said, I am a big supporter of the environment. I participate in letter writing for environmental issues, using an old fashioned (no gas) mower, walking to wark instead of driving and organizing recyclying campaigns. I just look at it as a simple act that springs from my faith.

hijababa,
I came across someone who "contributed" with postings like these before,so i'll spare myself another long argument. You should be smart enough to realize that your comment & response to mine proves only ignorance, simplemindedness, racism, & immaturity. Then again, may be i had too much of high expectations for your mindset.

Salaam -

I share the desire expressed within this article for a grassroots Islamic environmental movement to develop. I suggest that those who wish to contribute to this urgent process, to enthusiastically do so.

In the UK, Ecobites mentioned earlier, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ecobites , is the first Islamic environmental elist in the country & has been actively facilitating the development of such a movement for a number of years. Joining Ecobites is a good way to stay updated. IFEES was also mentioned earlier. Another active group, The London Islamic Network for the Environment (LINE), http://www.lineonweb.org.uk is the UK's first local Islamic environmental group and has regular monthly meetings. It also organises Green Outings, as well as delivering talks & workshops. Their comprehensive website also has a paper on Islam & climate change, which I highly recommend.

"It is also important to work closely with people of other faiths and ideologies on this issue since this is something that effects all people on this planet. This also ensures that Muslims organizations do not have to reinvent the wheel every time but rather they can use and augment the expertise and know-how of their counterparts..." Great concluding thought, wonder why it isn't discussed in comments? Around the world, including USA, there is environmental energy among groups not wholly or exclusively Islamic in constitution, which would welcome cooperation and alliance with all interested parties. Alt.muslim's collegial Unitedmuslims.org notes some beginnings in this area. I look forward to their input to alt.muslim some day soon.

Good point regarding working with other groups who have expertise, whether or not their label is Islam. If you look at the events and forums etc.. on the websites of the networks mentioned in my recent post, you'll see that they are pretty progressive and do precisely that, thus maximising their effectiveness.

It thus seems to me that in the UK, at least, the foundation for a strong Muslim environmental movement is there. What is now needed is for it to be promoted more widely and for more Msulims to enthusiastically enter into it.

I'm not so sure this kind of cooperation with other groups is happening to the same extent in other countries, however.