Ecological issues such as environmental protection and animal welfare are firmly anchored in Islam. These are also derived from Islamic principles:
- Justice
- Balance
- Mercy
Dealing with the creation
There is a connection between man - animal - and plants, which is mentioned by our Prophet in the following tradition: “If a Muslim plants a tree or sows a field, and a man, a bird or an animal eats from it, it is recognized by him as alms.” (Sahieh Al-Bukhari, Sahieh Al-Muslim)
The world, with all its living and non-living components, is precious and consists of a unique harmony and an outstanding perfection. The Qur'ân al-kerîm states: “Do you not see that Allah has made everything in the heavens and on earth subservient to you and has poured out His grace upon you, visible and invisible?” (Qur'an; 31/20). Man benefits from countless living creatures, plants and animals that have been provided for his benefit, but he is not their owner. From an atom to the universes - Allah is the owner of all existence (Qur'an; 37/5)
Allah enjoins man to respect and value the rights of all that has been entrusted to him for use (Emanah). For this reason, man has obligations towards the nature in which he lives. According to Islam, it is extremely wrong to see the things around us only as consumer goods. Even if these existences were created for our benefit, each of them has its own value and purpose. Islam emphasizes that we must always be aware of this responsibility in our relationship with the environment. However, if people disregard the divine commands and moral rules in their relationship with their environment, the world order will be corrupted. This is expressed in the Noble Qur'an as follows:
“It led to destruction on land and sea, because of what people accomplished with their hands, that Allah might make them feel some of their (wrong) behavior, perhaps they will turn back” (Qur'an; 30/41).
Both the Qur'anic verses and the ahadith1of our Prophet Muhammad (SAV) are seminal on the subject of how we should behave towards beings, plants and animals. The Prophet Muhammad (SAV) forbade the defilement of water sources, roads and shady places that are available for the use of all people (Ebu Dawud, Taharah, 14). In particular, he did not want the water to be wasted.
