Shafaqna English- This summer has been defined by record-breaking heatwaves and images of raging wildfires in the UK and all over Europe; everyday life has been significantly disrupted for many. Director of the Islamic Foundation for Ecology, who said that Islam has a deeply rooted environmental ethic, said that the opportunity now is to turn places of worship into places of climate resilience for communities, and that we are developing an interfaith toolkit to help places of worship prepare for and respond to climate impacts.
Kamran Shezad, director of the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, said that Extreme heat is increasingly part of our experience here in the UK, and climate change does not discriminate. We are all experiencing the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with a changing climate regardless of faith or background.
Islam has a deeply rooted environmental ethic, Mr Shezad says, with the Quran making repeated references to the natural world as part of God’s creation. “Human beings have a responsibility to care for the earth,” he said.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) provide principles for living with moderation
“The teachings and example of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also provide principles for living with moderation, avoiding waste and treating creation with care and compassion.”
These principles are the foundation of Al Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth, a declaration on the environment developed through collaboration between Muslim scholars, environmental experts and institutions, with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme.
“Al Mizan brings together Islamic teachings on creation, stewardship, justice and responsibility and calls upon Muslims to respond to the environmental and climate crisis as a matter of faith,” Shezad says.
In a series of guides designed by Shezad, he makes several Quranic references, including: “It is He who has appointed you stewards in the Earth.”
“The aim is not to expect people to live perfect lives, but to become more mindful of the choices we make and the impact those choices can have. It is easy to feel that one person’s actions are too small to make a difference. But when millions of people make small changes, those actions can add up to something significant.
“And from an Islamic perspective, there is another dimension too … our intentions matter, and our efforts to care for God’s creation have value in themselves.”
But Islam is an inherently communal religion with family, interpersonal relationships and institutions at its core. Shezad believes that faith communities have an “important role to play in advocating for the changes needed to reduce emissions, protect nature and help our communities to adapt”.
“Places of worship have significant social capital. They are trusted spaces at the heart of their communities, with established networks, committed volunteers and the ability to bring people together around shared concerns,” he says.
Praying for rain
Part of the work has also been spiritual. Muslim scholars across the UK called on the community to pray for rain shortly after drought was declared across more than 70 per cent of the UK on 10 August.
The practice, known as Istisqa, means seeking water from Allah through a range of means, including prayer. During the time of the Prophet, the region — mostly arid desert — was often beset by a shortfall of rain.
An action list published by Islamic Portal urged imams to call for rain in Friday sermons and to be mindful of water use.
Sources: Religion Media Centre