People are often surprised when I tell them that my faith, Islam, has an ecological imperative. In fact, I believe that all faiths have, at their very core, this same imperative.
I wrote a book about this.
Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet examines Islamic principles that support environmentalism and presents stories of Muslim Americans who are part of the solution across four areas -- water, waste, energy and food. The book also makes a case for interfaith involvement in the environmental movement.
In my book tour across the country, I talked to many Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists and atheists regarding their stance on humanity's role on the planet Earth. I have come to understand two core concepts which resonate across those strands of belief (and disbelief).
The first concept is to leave the Earth better than we found it. The second concept is that humans must be agents of change.
The idea of leaving the Earth better than we found it closely aligns with the role of prophets: to leave human beings better than they found them. Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (among many others), peace and blessings be upon them all, brought messages and teachings to improve the state of their people, whether it was to instill hope, end slavery, or abolish corruption.
In Islam, there are several sayings of the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, where he tells people to pick up trash wherever they see it, or to respect a river and never waste its water. There are similar teachings in other religions, but this is not just a religious idea. When I was an Outward Bound instructor, our mantra was to leave no trace. We always left a campsite better than we found it. As children, our parents raised us to clean up after ourselves. Why not extend this ethic to the Earth as a whole?
We have inherited a great thing in this Earth and all its bounty. Why not leave it better than we found it for those who will come after us?
The second concept, to be agents of change, is presented in the Quran, the Holy Book of Islam:
"Truly, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves" (Quran 13:11).
To put it bluntly, we cannot wait for God. Change can come from us and be supported by God. Prayer is essential but it must be combined with action.
In order to act, we must recognize what our actions have done thus far. There's another verse in the Quran that supports the idea that humans do actually impact the planet: "Corruption has appeared on the land and in the sea because of what the hands of humans have wrought. This is in order that we have given them a taste of the consequences of their misdeeds that perhaps they will turn to the path of right guidance" (Quran 30:41).
People of faith, it's time to stand up and admit that we have been part of the problem. This is our planet and it is our mess. We have to start fixing it. Whether you call it climate change, pollution or Armageddon, we were not put on this Earth to be coy. We have a responsibility to fix what we broke, and its not going to happen by just wishing -- or praying -- it away. God is here to help us help ourselves. We have to pray AND be actively engaged in the hard work of protecting the planet.
Our prophets are history's greatest agents of change. Jesus was active in transforming people with his actions. Moses confronted Pharaoh and led his people to freedom. Prophet Muhammad enacted rules to prevent people from taking advantage of one another in business.
To all the self-proclaimed religious people: We send blessings upon our prophet; now, let's emulate them. It's time to roll up our sleeves, accept our faith's imperative and get the Earth out of this ecological mess.
Follow Ibrahim Abdul-Matin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ibrahimSalih
Jennifer Grayson: Eco Etiquette: A Year Without BlackBerry
Earth Day - Islam and Earth Day
Interview: Green Deen Says Muslims Can Recast Their Image | Change ...
Also speaking is Aman Ali, from the 30 mosques project. If you are interested in
learning about Islam and global citizenship, check out this event:
http://melibeeglobal.com/seminar/
Islam extolls charity to humankind but perhaps it is forgotten that we can be of additional service to humankind and God by encouraging environmental stewardship. In the communities in my area (Seattle), masjids have encouraged participation in Earth Day and Arbor Day celebrations.
This is something that should be encouraged by practitioners of any faith.
On the surface this may appear silly not to waste the water even from the ocean, but as recent reports have shown, not only ocean waters been polluted, but our fresh water is in great danger of disappearing and in the near future many countries water shortage may reach a critical mass. Besides, The Prophet's wisdom of the importance of water has clearly proven to be correct based on what the world will be facing.
The Quran has stated to not only Muslim but to everyone as well, that we are vicegerents of this earth and its our responsibility to take care of it and not be wasteful.
"O sons of Adam, attire yourselves at every time of worship; eat and drink, but do not be wasteful, for God does not like the prodigals. " (Quran 7:31)
They wanted to survive, and plenty of religions died out due to a population deforesting their land too quickly, having a dustbowl or drought, poor soils, etc.
The religions which survived necessarily HAD to be those conducive to good agriculture.
A central tenant of the Abrahamic religions is the coming "paradise" after life on earth. The value of the earth is really minimal as the real reward will be in paradise, not on this slowly dying rock.
It is a pity that they have been prevented from opening their minds.
Of the 99.99% of Muslims who are not extremists, however, a lot may be concerned with the environment.
Most oceans are over-fished; especially those throughout densely populated areas like SE Asia.
Many large mammals go extinct or are under threat.
There's no logical background to each of those points being specifically made about Jews or Muslims.
Dailykook wasn't denigrating Israel. he pointed out how the people of Gaza destroyed greenhosuese that were left for them when Israel left Gaza.
I'm sure that despite that occasion you cite a friend of a friend having seen, that they use bins. Littering, however, is a problem common across the world, with the main exceptions being more Socialist, community-minded, smaller countries such as Scandanavia, or more socially oppressive countries like Japan or China.
Other than that, littering happens - especially here.
But I also have traveled throughout the Gulf states and find it worth point out that the area is one of the absolute cleanest I've ever seen in my life. There are HUGE fines for littering in much of the Muslim world... Singapore's known for them as well.
Islam looks at global warming
http://oreaddaily.blogspot.com/2005/12/islam-looks-at-global-warming.html
Man and Pollution/ Islam and Modern Science
http://theislamicscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/man-and-pollution.html
The Vatican Declares Pollution One of the Most Deadly Modern Sins
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/03/vatican_new_sins.php
Jews were forcibly baptized, then treated as heretics under the Inquisition if they dared to return to Jewish ways. Jews were accused of poisoning wells in an attempt to exterminate Christians (oh, the irony!). Jews were forced into ghettos. Jews were prohibited from participating in a wide variety of occupations. Jews were ordered to wear identifying badges by religious authorities so that everyone would know who they were."
http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/christian/blfaq_viol_holocaust.htm
Enough of this toxic and hateful remark.
And don't forget there is no such thing as clergy in Islam, like Christianity and Judaism. Islam does not require you to listen to an Imam or Ayatollah. The different groups within Islam are the result of people self-identifying with one interpretation of the Koran over another.