Blessed Teachings with Mr. Abobakr Islam and the Environment

Mr. Abobakr Mohammed teaches Arabic and Islamic Studies, and is immensely loved and respected by his students for the sheer dedication he pours into each and every lesson of his. Mr. Abobakr believes that Islamic Education is not a subject, rather, it is a way of life, and his most important objective is that his students become good human beings, guided by values of humanity. In this very special column, Mr. Abobakr will talk of contemporary events and topics in light of Islamic teachings.

You may wonder what relation there is between Islam and the environment. You probably think Islam is only about Masjids (mosques), but the reality is different. The masjid is only one small part of Islam. Allah says:

“O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely .” (2:208)

In this verse, the word “completely” is the key word. “Completely” represents the unique relationship between you and Allah, between you and people, and between you and the universe. I can surely say that this is Islam. It looks like an equation when you understand it, you understand the reason behind your existence. I’m talking about the third kind of relationship, which is between us and the universe, an open book, for anyone, to read carefully, letter by letter and miracles after miracles. The universe is Allah’s creation, well-created and organized with not a single flaw. Allah says:

“You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency.” (3:67)

Allah created everything in the universe, made it under man’s control and gave us a brain, which is the most honourable gift.

And because everything has a reason, Allah gave us the brain to ponder over the universe around us and our sophisticated human body. Allah says:

“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for Ulul Albab.” (3:190)

Ulul Albab are the people who not only have a brain, but they put it to its correct use. They are “men of understanding” on looking at the sky, they can read the presence of One God, the Best Creator and the one who is Beautiful and loves beauty.

I myself cannot imagine a person wasting or damaging the environment as we do not possess any, but we are only guardians who should pass on the entrusted property to the next generation. Allah says:

“And Allah loveth not those who do mischief.” (5:64)

“And do no mischief on the earth after it has been set in order: that will be best for you, if ye have Faith” (7:85)

“Eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters.” (7: 21)

“And do good as Allah has been good to you. And do not seek to cause corruption in the earth. Allah does not love the corrupters.” (28:77)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized the importance of environmental sustainability in many of his sayings and acts. The Prophet (PBUH) said,

“If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift (sadaqah) for him.”

"If the Final Hour comes while you have a shoot of a plant in your hands and it is possible to plant it before the Hour comes, you should plant it."

For a long time, I was thinking about this saying of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) because this saying gives you no choice but to do good deeds, even if you know that your goodness won’t be effective. If everyone took the initiative to plant just one tree, we would help in protecting the environment, and bringing back to being as pure as it once was.