Shaikh Hamza Yusuf began by outlining that the purpose of human existence is to cultivate the earth, worship God, and establish leadership. He used evidence from the Quran and scientific sources to support claims about humans being responsible for illnesses and environmental destruction by abandoning their role as caretakers of nature. For example, global warming and depletion of sea creatures show humans ignoring their duty. Diseases are also a result of exceeding limits, like increasing obesity. Islamic economics can help curb the exploitation of nature and moral erosion by positioning economic actions within the Quranic framework. This would allow humans to properly govern themselves and the world to accomplish their role as leaders and achieve salvation.

1. AIN ATIYA AZMI BINTI NAZMI 1710222 ECON 1710 SECTION 2
Task 1 (a)
Sovereignty is the ascendancy of self-rule expedited by enlightenment to respond unerringly
and timely to external circumstances.
Task 3 (a), (b)
(a)
Yes, I believe everything he said is true.
(b)
Shaikh Hamza Yusuf began by bringing forward the idea that earth cultivation, worship
and caliphate are the purpose of human existence. His methodology is derived from the
Quranic framework in which he laid down verses narrating the claims. As Muslims, the
Quran is the Holy Scripture which is infallible and becomes our primary source of belief.
However, he did not merely try to indoctrinate the audience by blindly forcing the divine
revelation on them. Instead, he asked them to use their five primary senses to ponder, reflect
and even challenge those claims.
In addition, he also compiled scientific discoveries from authentic and credible sources and
opened their eyes on the observable evidences happening around the world. He used the
Quranic verses to explain natural phenomena and instances where the Quran has
legitimized and forecasted certain practical consequences. In the end, he had succeeded to
combine innate cognition with the role of experience in order to come up with a justified
true belief.
An example of a true point is when he claimed that humans are the culprits for all the
worldly illnesses. A verse from ar-Rum commended that the corruption (fasad) occurring
throughout the land and the sea are due to the hands of men. Biosphere destruction such as
the global warming and depletion of sea creatures are felt and seen by all. These tumults
are all proofs that humans have abandoned their role as vicegerent towards nature and have
been led astray by greed.
The second point is when he called attention that diseases in the humans themselves are
also a result of their own wrongdoings. Allah has mentioned in al-A’raf that humans should
eat and drink but they must not be excessive as He loathes those who commit excess.
However, statistics of obesity cases is on the rise with Muslim countries dominating the top
ladders. Autism has also become a social norm due to excessive use of technology that
impairs social abilities. These are all pragmatic evidences that humans have surpassed their
boundaries and as a result of failing to govern themselves, they also fail to govern the rest
of the world.
Therefore, Islamic economics comes as a saviour for the sake of mankind’s future. By
positioning economic actions within the Quranic framework, we are able to effectively curb
erosion of moralities that are caused by the liberals’ ideology of exploitation. Nature is
God-given and we are entrusted to cultivate it wisely. It is not merely an object to be
exhausted for human consumption. To protect against corruption, sovereignty should first
be established in the centre of individuals before extending it to external causes. Only then
can we accomplish the role of khilafah and redistribute our resources sensibly to achieve
falah.