We & the World we Live in?
| Khatib : |
Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: |
226 |
| Khutbah Date: |
02/02/07 |
[b]وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلاَئِفَ الأَرْضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَكُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُمْإِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ[/b][i]It is Allah Who has made you His vicegerents, inheritors of the earth: He has raised you in ranks, some above others: that He may try you in the gifts He has given you: for your Lord is quick in punishment: yet He is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” [/i][b][Q 6:165] [/b][b]State of the World[/b]A report this week by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); a group of hundreds of scientists and representatives of 113 governments; concluded that global warming is well under way. (Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation into the future.) These changes have a direct bearing on the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, heat waves, hurricanes, and tornados … affecting also quality of air and growth of food. This, together with pollution is undermining the conditions of living and poses a direct challenge to the quality of life, infact it poses a threat to life itself.[b]The Dangers We Face[/b]Another recent research by The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment consisting of 1,300 researchers from 95 nations over a period of four years; concluded that human activities threaten the Earth's ability to sustain future generations. The report indicates that human abuse of the environment, through pollution, deforestation and indiscriminate exploitation of the natural resources has caused irreversible changes that are degrading the natural processes that support life on Earth. This will impact on hunger, poverty and healthcare. Scientific research indicate that[list][*]60% of world ecosystem services have been degraded[/*][*]Of 24 evaluated ecosystems, 15 are being damaged.[/*][/list] The World Conservation Union (IUCN) latest report species threatened with extinction…[list][*]25% of mammals [/*][*]20% of reptiles[/*][*]11% of bird species [/*][*]34% of fish[/*][*]12.5% of all plant species[/*][/list]If present trends continue one half of all species of life on earth could be extinct in by the end of this century. [b]Creator & Creation[/b]There are more than 500 verses in the Qur'an dealing directly with nature, the environment and natural phenomena. In fact, numerous chapters (surahs) are titled after either animals or natural phenomena. These references to the natural world around us aim at ... [list][*]conscientizing us about the Creator of creations [/*][*]instilling in us a sense of respect for Allah's creation[/*][*]making us cognizant of our inextricable relationship with nature[/*][/list] [b]Creation[/b]The Qur’an regards not only nature but all universe as the creation of Allah (rabbul ‘aalimeen / Creator of all existing things). The relationship of everything as the creation of the Creator leads to awareness that …i)we are part of a larger single unit/system (‘aalam)ii)all existence is facilitated by the Creator (concept of rububiyyah)iii)our interaction with everything is bound by our interconnectedness to the Divine (khalq)[b]Qur’anic Purpose[/b]The main purpose of the Qur’an, according to M. Iqbal is [i]“to awaken in man the higher consciousness of his manifold relations with God and universe”.[[/i][Iqbal,M - The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam]
[b]انَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَالْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَوَمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ مِنَ السَّمَاء مِن مَّاء فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الأرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخِّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاء وَالأَرْضِ لآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ[/b][i]Verily, in the creation of the heavens and of the earth, and the succession of night and day: and in the ships that speed through the sea with what is useful to man: and in the waters which God sends down from the sky, giving life thereby to the earth after it had, been lifeless, and causing all manner of living creatures to multiply thereon: and in the change of the winds, and the clouds that run their appointed courses between sky and earth: [in all this] there are messages indeed for people who use their reason. [/i][Q 2:164]Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, spiritual luminary and scholar of the 20th century reflected on the above verses as follows: [i]“Glory be to the One who made the garden of the earth an exhibition of His art, a gathering of His creatures, a place of manifestation of His power, the means of His wisdom, the flower-bed of His mercy, the tillage of Paradise, a place of passage of creatures, for the flood of beings, a funnel for His artefacts. The adorned animals, decorative birds, fruit-bearing trees, and flowering plants are miracles of His knowledge, wonders of His art, gifts of His munificence, propitious signs of His grace. The blossoms smiling at the embellished fruits, the birds twittering in the breezes of the early morn, the pattering of the rain on the petals of the flowers, the tender affection of mothers for their infants and young all show to jinn and men, and spirits and living creatures, and angels and spirit beings a Loving One making Himself known, a Merciful One making Himself loved, a Tenderly Kind One bestowing His mercy, a Gracious Bestower manifesting His kindness.” [/i][Abdülaziz Hatip. Risale-i Nur’dan Dualar,][b]Human Responsibility[/b]
[i]~ I’mar ~ We are of the earth, living on the earth [/i][Q11:61]Sayyid Qutb writes in his exegesis … Prophet [i]Salih reminded them (the people of Thamud) about their origination from earth, the creation of every individual from the nutrition of the earth or from its components that make up their bodies. Despite being (created) from this earth and its elements, Allah appointed them vicegerents so that they may inhabit it! He wanted them to be vicegerents [/i]…[ Sayyid Qutb, Fi Zilal al-Qur’an.][b][i]~ Umam ~ [/b][/i]As the human community is part of nature [i]so too do other creations form communities [/i]at their respective levels, and Allah reminds us of this in the Qur'an [Q 6:38]. The Prophet also reminded us … “all creation are part of God’s dependants; and God loves most those who are best to his universal dependants.” If the rest of creation is considered as [i]constituting of communities [/i][Q6:38] then there is the added responsibility of dealing with them with greater circumspection. Dr Frederick Denny of the University of Colarado writes; [i]With respect to humankind’s stewardship of the earth, the privilege entails a profound responsibility. Other living species are also considered by the Qur’an to be “peoples or communities” (umam). The creation itself, in all its myriad diversity and complexity, may be thought of as a vast universe of “signs” of God’s power, wisdom, beneficence, and majesty. [/i][Islam and Ecology: A Bestowed Trust Inviting Balanced Stewardship][b] ~ Balance/Ordeliness ~ [/b]There is a degree of orderliness in creation of Creator. [i]He has made everything to the measure of excellence[/i][Q 27:88] [i]Behold, everything have We created in due measure and proportion [/i][Q 54:49]. Humanity should behave in such a way that would maintain the balance that exists within the environment. Rather, we should retrieve the balance that has existed before we have caused, collectively, many ecological disasters: [i]“And the earth We have spread out; set thereon mountains firm and immovable; and produced therein all kinds of things in due balance.” [/i][Q 15:19 ] [b]
~ Khilaafah ~ [/b]The human being, in the Islamic world-view [Q2:30] is considered a khalifah / vicegerent The declaration of the institution of khilaafah, which Allah has informed the angels about, was reinforced by the verse that shows that Allah has taught Adam the ‘names’ (asmaa’) of all things: [i]“And He taught Adam the nature [names] of all things…” [[/i] [Qur’an, 2:31 ] The renowned classical Interpreter of the Qur’an, Ibn Kathir said in his exegesis, regarding the above verse [Q2:31]: [i]“The right (interpretation) is that Allah Taught him the names of all things: meaning … their particulars, attributes and functions.” [/i]This discussion leads us to realize that there is an organic connection between creation and function, between proper knowledge and right behavior, between awareness and responsibility.[b]
~ Amaanah ~ [/b]In her/his capacity as a vicegerent, the human being is perceived as the trustee of the earth. She/he is not supposed to cause corruption in any form on earth (i.e. the environment). Life on earth entails great responsibilities. It is a amaanah / trust, requiring awareness of accountability. It is followed by either reward or punishment. These meanings are mentioned in the Qur’an and the sunnah. Vicegerency as a test is found in the following verse: [i]“It is He Who has made you (His) vicegerents, inheritors of the earth: He has raised you in ranks, some above others: that He may try you in the gifts He has given you: for your Lord is quick in punishment: yet He is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” [/i][Q 6:165] [b]
Taskhir ~ use (not for human only), not abuse ~ [/b]The earth is made available for human use, without abuse or misuse. [i]Subjected/ of service to humanity is whatever is in the celestial spheres and the earth; Surely, in all these there are signs for those who reflect [/i][Q45:13]. We deduce from the above-mentioned Qur’anic principles that "although the various components of the natural environment serve humanity as one of their functions, this does not imply that human use is the sole reason for their creation.[b]Care for World We Live in[/b][list][*]Realize that …[b]لَخَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ خَلْقِ النَّاسِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ [/b][i]“The creation of the heavens and the earth is far greater than the creation of mankind, but most of mankind do not know it” [Q 40:56][/i][/*][*]Remember, what we do to the world, we do to ourselves. [/*][*]Reflect on the Prophetic advice …[b]ان الدنيا خَضِرَة ٌ حِلوة ٌ و ان الله مُستخلِفُكم فيها فناظرٌ كيف تعملون[/b][i]the world is green and delightful and Allah has put you in charge of the world and is observing carefully how you deal with it. [/i][/*][/list]
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