The topic on man and nature is one that has been discussed over the centuries. This topic has caught the attention of many scholars that come from many diverse field of specialization. As an appreciation to the great contribution of nature to the human survival, some have equated nature to God. Since the two are synonymous to them, they worship nature alongside with God. Others thought that nature is an obstacle to the human lives and men need to conquer and prevail over nature. In the light of these two extreme positions, this paper intends to explore and investigate the relationship between man and nature from the Islamic perspective. Apart from that, this paper would like to find out as to why the Muslim community is not paying due attention to the conservation and preservation of nature at a time when there is a serious call made by others to stop the ongoing environmental degradation that is happening all over the world. It is hoped that an investigation of this nature would bring to light as to what should be the ideal relationship of man with nature from the Islamic perspective.

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DEPARTMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL AND INTER-DISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Man & Nature:
An Islamic Perspective
By:
Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak
2nd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON QUR'AN AND SUNNAH
Date: 13th & 14th March, 2015
Organized By: Dept. of Qur’an & Sunnah, KIRKHS, IIUM

2. • Man was given the natural disposition
• Man is placed on the highest pedestal in the
hierarchy of creations
• Man was not the First Creation of Allah SWT
• The world was prepared for Man before his
coming
• Man was created in the best of moulds
• Man was taught by Allah, as such, he
possesses the creative intelligence
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3.  At times man’s position can go higher than
the angels and lower than animals
 Man is given the freedom of choice to choose
his way, either to be thankful or ungrateful to
Allah
 Man is given the ‘Amanah’
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5. “We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and
the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to
undertake it, being afraid thereof. But man
undertook it (the Trust);- he was indeed unjust and
foolish...” (Surah Al-Ahzab:72)
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6.  the material world, especially as surrounding
humankind and existing independently of
human activities
 the natural world as it exists without human
beings or civilization
 the elements of the natural world, as
mountains, trees, animals, or rivers
 natural scenery
 the universe, with all its phenomena
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nature)
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7.  All matter and energy, including the earth, the
galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space,
regarded as a whole
 The earth together with all its inhabitants and
created things
 The human race
 The sphere or realm in which something exists
or takes place
 (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/universe)
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8.  Word "environment" is most commonly used
describing "natural" environment and means the
sum of all living and non-living things that
surround an organism, or group of organisms
 (http://ecological-
problems.bolgspot.com/2008/08/environment-definition-and-
meanig.html)
Two Types of Environments:
1. Natural Environment
2. Controlled Environment
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9.  Everything is created for the benefit of Man
and he has been created to stand on trial on
the Day of Judgment
 This world is given to man as an unfinished
product, but all the necessary requirements
for Man’s survival can be found in it
 Man takes the position of Allah’s
representative on earth (Khalifatullah fil Ardh)
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10.  It should be a cordial relationship
 Man and Nature need to respect one another
 Both are creations of Allah
 The natural world is a gift of Allah
 Utilize/benefit from Nature appropriately
 In the case of Muslims- they control large
reserve of oil and gas in the world today
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“ O you assembly of Jinns and men! If it be you
can pass beyond the zones of the heavens and
earth, pass you! Not without authority shall you
be able to past!” (Surah Ar-Rahman55:33)

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“Behold in the creation of
the heavens and earth, and
the alternation of night and
day,- there are indeed Signs
for men of understanding”
(Surah 3:190).

13.  There are communities in the world that
worship Nature and other life forms present
in Nature
 From ancient to the modern age there are
people who worship the sun, fire, snake, and
other objects found in nature
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14.  There are communities in the world that
equate Nature to God
 Nature is the manifestation of God
 Pantheists say, “God is everything and
everything is God”
 In Islam, though the natural world offers
splendour, source of light, energy, food, etc.
to man, Islam forbids Man from worshipping
Nature or the Universe.
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15.  In Islam, worship is only due to Allah, as our
Lord and Cherisher.
 Contrary to the Pantheists, Islam says
“Everything is God’s”
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16.  Air pollution in the form of emission of toxic
gases
 Water pollution- rivers and the oceans around
the globe
 Deforestation- ‘Slash and burn’ results in Haze
 Global Warming- Unpredictable weather
conditions, melting of the ice at the poles etc.
 Acid Rain
 Modern Warfare
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17.  Wars are devastating on the environment.
Often, as in the gulf war, millions of tons of
crude oil are dumped into the ocean…..
Military vehicles burn millions of gallons of
fuel and dump millions of tons of CO2 into
the atmosphere. There is no real way to
measure the exact amount pollution caused
by war, but in general, it is safe to say that
war is bad for everyone and everything.
 http://www.lenntech.com/environmental-effects-war.htm
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18.  At the moment there is somehow greater
consciousness in the West on the
conservation of Nature compared to the
people in the East
 Green Peace/ Nature lovers/ Animal Rights(
creatures on land and sea) all coming from
the West.
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19.  People in the West have learnt their lesson
after the two World Wars.
 Knowledge/Research/Technology
 The ‘Here and Now’ is very important
 They would love to preserve the flora and
fauna for their posterity
 Research orientated life
 Research funds are available
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20.  Ignorance/Negligence
 Poverty
 War & Crisis
 Taken for granted that the Natural World is a
gift from Allah
 Consumer Mentality
 Attitude towards life: over emphasis on the
‘Hereafter’
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21.  Oil rich Muslim countries should provide
funds for environmental studies
 Nature study should be included in the
curriculum at all levels of schooling
 Science subjects should be given equal
emphasis like all other religious subjects
 Muslims should be in the forefront in
producing documentary movies on nature
 There should be more laboratories in the
schools to conduct scientific investigations
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22.  Ecology in the countries involved in the
mining, oil and gas industries should be
constantly monitored as they do not pose a
threat to human lives.
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23. Syukran Jazilan
Thank you
Terima Kasih
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