Islam and the environment

A school assembly resource for KS2

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.

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

The Arabic
word for
stewardship
is Khalifah.

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)


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

‘The world is beautiful and verdant, and verily
God, 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)


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.


What does the Qur’an teach us about excess?

‘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)


Pollution

Our actions are causing
damage and
destruction to the
natural world.
Deforestation


Polluted
water Drought
Desertification A rise in
resources
diseases

This is leading to climate change

Increased
natural Melting
disasters ice caps

Storms
Floods

Environmental destruction is
affecting plants and animals.

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

Millions of people throughout
the world are suffering from
the effects of 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)

What is the link between the environment and poverty?

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

It is however, the world’s
Image above: Destruction and wealthiest countries that
devastation caused by an earthquake in contribute the most to
Haiti (2010). the affects of climate
change.

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

Many people in the developing
In some parts of world have rural lifestyles, which
the world, rising are heavily dependent upon
temperatures are natural resources.
turning soil into
desert. People are often unable to grow
enough food to make a living.

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



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

Chronic poverty means
People living in the
they are less able than
developing world are
wealthier countries to
most vulnerable to
cope with the effects of
natural disasters.
such disasters.

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



What can you do to help prevent environmental
destruction?

Put into practice the 3 ‘R’s!

•Reduce

•Reuse

•Recycle


Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

• 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
Image above: Malnutrition
ensure environmental sustainability in Ethiopia (2000).

(Image from Islamic Relief
Worldwide)
• In order to reach these goals, urgent
action is needed to stop our environment
from being damaged further

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-Rahman
Llewellyn, in Islam and Ecology, 2003


Biographies

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

Sarah Kilou is a researcher and writer for Islamic Relief’s Development
Education Department. She has experience of the development education
sector, having compiled and produced a series of online resources on Islam
and international development.


Islam and the environment

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