Muslim Greenies: Is Environmentalism UnIslamic?

Muslim Greenies: Is Environmentalism UnIslamic?
Ensuring the earth we live off, the water we depend on and the air we breathe are healthy, sustained and unpolluted is a mild way of explaining what it means to be an environmentalist thirty years ago. Notwithstanding the hippie culture that gratefully promoted it in an anti- war context, being passionate about the place you spend your “testing days” before Paradise should never be Hell, at least for a Believer.
Nowadays being active socially and politically in the anti-global-warming mission defines being a Greenie. Derived from the Greenpeace mission that fought against toxic dumping of nuclear waste, this movement has grown to religious proportions, where cults and scholars promote spiritual concepts like vegetarianism and naturism, cremation and nudism plus pagan worship of earthly bodies as equivalent to fighting to save Earth. On the other hand orthodoxy in religious thought is no help. On one Earth Day clean-up in my school an Imam retorted that this is unneeded since taxpayers take care of clean ups in anyway, and this concept is alien to Islam. I remember meeting our gifted David Suzuki and was thrilled that a man who claims he has no religious affiliation was so dedicated to making sure my existence was eco- friendly! I’m embarrassed at my own ineptitude to such a simple but profound task. Isn’t David a man of faith, then? Is Environmentalism really an innovation?
Islam sets out principles and it’s for the scholars to understand contemporary issues in the light of its sources, viz. Quran and Sunnah.
16:43… if you realise this not, ask of those who possess Knowledge.
I would think that since cleanliness is next to Godliness and the Prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace, really targeted these with front yards in the urban sprawl of Madina to keep them clean, indeed Islam has set the foundations for Environmentalism. Something the Muslims badly need to be involved in, religiously. How about starting with the mosque’ washrooms?
As a matter of fact the Quran beckons our individual and collective participation as our purpose and flouting this objective tantamount to unbearable consequences. As Allah’s Khalifa on earth- as trustees, we have to ensure the gift of water, air, fire and soil are properly maintained. By the way, maintaining their equilibrium underpins traditional Indian Hakeem medicine.
2:30 Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth."
No one is saying go join the Green egg cult or stop driving cars to your mosques, no one is saying turn of your lights and return to the mud huts of pre-civilization. Every society has their norms and mores of conducting a balance living. Like respect for traffic laws garbage rules must be adhered to- it’s an act of Deen to obey the laws of the land, isn’t it?
55:8 In order that you may not transgress (due) balance.
Absent from the first International environmental summit held in Brazil some twenty years ago, the Muslim world as still to make good its bad rap. I remember that, since I was India writing articles and arguing in favour of Muslim Greenies! In those days Green egg magazine published my letter. Sufism caught this naturist cult’s attention for austere lifestyle. With or without mystical dimensions, Islam has already given platitudes to contrasting lifestyles- the self-sacrificing, the neutral non-extravagant and the luxuriant self-responsible.
Simple things like walking to Masjid when we can, knowing for every step guarantees ten rewards, ten sins are forgiven and we’re elevated ten degrees higher in Heaven. Saving water usage during wudu and ghusl- ceremonial washings- knowing that the Companions were told even if you were in the ocean you should still be saving water! Having heat sensor switches for our lights in centres saves fuel consumption hence less carbon depleting actions on the oxygen percentage of the air. This in turn saves people from asthma, etc. The Hadith says when we save a person from any harm, Allah will save us from seventy troubles on the Day of Judgement. Isn’t it a governing principle of Islam to avoid personal and communal harm? Laa darar wa laa diraar fil Islam.
One project we can start with is return of cloth towels in our homes and centers and less destruction of trees through recycling paper. A novel but proven project is collecting computers, recycling. As for planting of trees in Islamic spaces, once permitted, are not mere charitable acts but the Muslim legacy of Andalusia where trees formed the therapeutic matrix of the olden bimaristans- centers of healing. As Imam Zaid Shakir said we don’t have to reinvent the wheel- just join with others already doing it and get on the agenda- Muslim countries and community organizations alike! If we don’t then don’t cry foul.
Q: 8:73 If you don’t corruption will become widespread.
May Allah help us! But will we help ourselves?