Islam and the environment

A school assembly resource for KS2

Copyright © Islamic Relief 2010

Islam teaches us that God is One.

God has almighty power over everything; all life is created by Him and belongs to Him.



God has given human beings a higher status than all other living creatures on earth.

The Arabic word for

stewardship is Khalifah.

God has given humans the important role of stewardship over all animals and plant life.

Muslims believe that looking after the planet is a great responsibility and a test from God.

This responsibility is a trust between God and humankind.

The Arabic word for trust is Amanah.



What does the Qur’an teach us about our responsibility over the earth?

‘It is He who made you successors on the earth

and raises some of you above others in ranks, to test you

through what He gives you. (Prophet), your Lord is swift

in punishment, yet He is Most Forgiving and Merciful.’

(Qur’an 6:165)

‘The world is beautiful and verdant, and verilyGod, be He exalted, has made you His stewards

in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves.’

(Hadith related by Muslim from Abu Sa’id al-Khudri)


What did Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),teach us about our responsibility over the earth?


Environmental damage and destruction

We often fail to act as good stewards over the

earth.

We take more of the planet’s natural

resources than we need.



‘Children of Adam, dress well whenever

you are at worship, and eat and drink (as we have

permitted) but do not be extravagant: God

does not like extravagant people.’

(Qur’an 7:31)

What does the Qur’an teach us about excess?

Deforestation

Pollution

Our actions are causing damage and

destruction to the natural world.



Desertification

Polluted water

resourcesDrought A rise in

diseases

Melting ice caps

FloodsStorms

Increased natural

disasters

This is leading to climate change

Image right: People waiting to receive emergency food packs in the Somali region of Ethiopia, an area affected by famine and drought. IR was involved in emergency food distribution and water supply (2003).

(Image from Islamic Relief Worldwide)

Image left: Melting ice caps in the Arctic are affecting the habitats of many animals such as

polar bears.


Environmental destruction is affecting plants and animals.

Millions of people throughout the world are suffering from

the effects of climate change.


It is however, the world’s wealthiest countries that contribute the most to the affects of climate change.

Image above: Destruction and devastation caused by an earthquake in Haiti (2010).


The people who are most affected by changes to the natural environment are those who live in the world’s poorest countries.

What is the link between the environment and poverty?


In some parts of the world, rising temperatures are turning soil into desert.

Many people in the developing world have rural lifestyles, which are heavily dependent upon natural resources.

People are often unable to grow enough food to make a living.

Why are the world’s poorest people often most affected?

Image left: Emergency water distribution in Ethiopia (2003).


Chronic poverty means they are less able than wealthier countries to

cope with the effects of such disasters.


People living in the developing world are

most vulnerable to natural disasters.

Image right: Naeem Muhammad from Islamic Relief USA, looking at the devastation caused by the tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia (2005).


Why are the world’s poorest people often the most affected?


Put into practice the 3 ‘R’s!

•Reduce

•Reuse

•Recycle

What can you do to help prevent environmental destruction?


• These were compiled by the United Nations in the year 2000

• The aim of the MDGs is to halve chronic world poverty by 2015

• Goals included are to reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and

ensure environmental sustainability

• In order to reach these goals, urgent action is needed to stop our environment

from being damaged furtherCopyright © Islamic Relief 2010

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Image above: Malnutrition in Ethiopia (2000).



Acknowledgements

Islam and the Environment:

A school assembly resource for KS2 (7–11 yr olds)

Written and produced by Sarah Kilou, Development Education, Islamic Relief UK

Edited by Samia Ahmed, Senior Development Education Coordinator, Islamic Relief UK


Credits

Photographs: Islamic Relief Worldwide and Islamic Relief UK

Resources consulted:

The Qur’an (A new translation) by M.A.S Abdel Haleem, 2005

Islam and the Environment: Summary Paper produced by Islamic Relief

The Basis for a Discipline of Islamic Environmental Law by Othman Abd-ar-RahmanLlewellyn, in Islam and Ecology, 2003

Biographies

Samia Ahmed is the Senior Development Education Coordinator at IslamicRelief. Samia has had various leadership and management roles as well asexperience of teaching Key Stage 2 national curriculum subjects in anindependent primary school. She has a Masters in Islamic Studies and iscurrently learning Classical Sciences in Islam from a London based scholar,as well as being involved in educational projects in London. She has alsowritten and published two children’s books from the Bilal’s Day Out series.

Sarah Kilou is a researcher and writer for Islamic Relief’s DevelopmentEducation Department. She has experience of the development educationsector, having compiled and produced a series of online resources on Islamand international development.


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