A Pioneer of the Environment
- From: "Faris Jawad" <ana_faris_bila_jawad@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 13:21:37 -0400
A Pioneer of the Environment
By Francesca De Chatel
The idea of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as a
pioneer of environmentalism will initially strike many as strange. Indeed,
the term "environment" and related concepts like "ecology", "environmental
awareness" and "sustainability", are modern-day inventions, terms that were
formulated in the face of growing concerns about the contemporary state of
the natural world around us.
However, a closer look at the Prophet's life reveals that he was a staunch
advocate of environmental protection. One could say he was an
"environmentalist avant la lettre", a pioneer in the domain of conservation,
sustainable development and resource management, one who constantly sought
to maintain a harmonious balance between man and nature. From all accounts
of his life and deeds, we read that the Prophet had a profound respect for
fauna and flora, as well as an almost visceral connection to the four
elements, earth, water, fire and air.
He was a strong proponent of the sustainable use and cultivation of land and
water, proper treatment of animals, plants and birds, and the equal rights
of users. In this context the modernity of the Prophet's view of the
environment and the concepts he introduced to his followers is particularly
striking; certain passages of the Hadith could easily be mistaken for
discussions about contemporary environmental issues.
Click here to read full article
http://www.islamonline.net/english/introducingislam/Environment/artic
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