7 Sunnas of Stewardship – Living Green Series
The Living Green Series takes us through our responsibilities towards green living and environmental stewardship. In this segment, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin speaks about the sunnas connected to environmental stewardship.
Ustadh Amjad highlights some key practices of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, with regards to the environment. He explains some Islamic values with respect to environmental concern.
He begins by quoting a hadith, “People who show mercy to others will be shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Be merciful to those on earth, and the Lord of the Heavens will be merciful to you.” This teaches us that all of us as believers have a responsibility of mercy to the animals, the environment, other people, and even inanimate objects.
- Have concern. Be mindful of what you use, and be careful not to waste. Recognize that your usage affects others. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, told us not to waste water, even if making wudu on the banks of the Euphrates River.
- Eat good food. Ensure the food you eat is blessed, is nourishing,and has not been oppressed or mistreated. Most of the meat we eat nowadays is grown on factories rather than farms. Similarly, many of the plants grown nowadays are sprayed with pesticides that we aren’t meant to ingest.
- Have reverence for all of Creation. Know that everything in Creation glorifies Allah, and that we have a special connection to it all. Allah has created the environment in a natural balance, but us humans are disrupting it.
- Reuse. Create a relationship with what you have, rather than throwing things away. The Prophet would give names to all of his household items.
- Reflect. Allah has praised “those of deep reflection,” in the Qur’an. The natural order of the world is meant for us to reflect on. Take some time out and reflect in nature.
- Balance. Every part of Islam is about harmony and balance. We are called to give everything its right. We need to use resources, but we can do this in a way that is not excessive.
- Concern. Learn more about the problems around us, and take steps to rectify it. Whether it be an endangered species, or a shortage of water in a place far away, we need to take responsibility for the actions of the human race.
About the Series
What is the place of green and environmental stewardship in Islam? How does the Qur’an view concern for the environment? What is your responsibility towards the environment? Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin and Shaykh Ali Hani answer these are other critical questions by citing several prophetic traditions emphasising environmental consciousness and awareness.
