Safei-Eldin Hamed, Ph.DTexas Tech University

Reflections on the Relationship between Science and Spirituality: Reflections on the Relationship between Science and Spirituality: A Multi-disciplinary ColloquiumA Multi-disciplinary Colloquium

April 13April 13thth, 2005, 2005Lubbock, TXLubbock, TX

Seeing the Environment Seeing the Environment through Islamic Eyesthrough Islamic Eyes

Seeing the Environment through Islamic EyesSeeing the Environment through Islamic Eyes

• Harvard University Conferences (1998)

• The Key Question: What role can religion play in addressing our global environmental crisis?

• What are the Islamic values pertaining to natural resources management and environmental planning?

• Is it practically possible to derive from the Islamic jurisprudence a set of environmental planning and Management guidelines?

ISLAM AND ECOLOGY

RELIGION, ETHICS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT:

Questions to the World Questions to the World

What is required to attain sustainable development on earth ?

How should we build capacity for that goal?

Questions to the Muslim WorldQuestions to the Muslim World

How can the Muslim environmentalist respond to the global problems of pollution and natural resources depletion?

What is the Islamic approach to achieving an environmentally sustainable development world community?

The Issue of the Real and the IdealThe Issue of the Real and the Ideal

Intentions

ActionsValue System

(Theoretical) Stewardship (Khilafa) Equilibrium

(Mizan) Communities on earth

(Ummah) Justice (Adl)

Moderation (Taowsot)

Institutions (Practical) Hisbah (Office of

public inspection) Waqf

(Endowment) Iqtaa (Land grants)

Ihya (Development of waste lands) Hema (Reserved zone)

Haram (Forbidden area)

Stewardship (Khilafa)Stewardship (Khilafa)

• “Then We appointed you stewards in the earth after them, to see how you would behave”.

• (Qur’an, 10:15)

Equilibrium (Mizan)Equilibrium (Mizan)

• “And the earth We have spread out, set thereon mountains firm and immovable; and produced therein all kinds of things in due balance.”

• (Qur’an 15:19)

Equilibrium (Mizan)Equilibrium (Mizan)

• We made from water every living thing”(Qur’an 21:30)

• “It is He who has made the sea subject, that ye may eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender.”

(Qur’an 16:14)• “And He caused rain to descend on you from

heaven to clean you therewith.”• (Qur’an 8:11)

Communities on earth (UmmahCommunities on earth (Ummah)

There is not an animal that lives on earth, Nor a being that flies on its wings, but forms part of communities like you.

(Qur'an, VI: 38)

Why revitalizing traditional Islamic institutions?Why revitalizing traditional Islamic institutions? The size of the Muslim world 75 developing countries Urbanization, industrialization &

pollution. The need for appropriate ethics Islam’s unique paradigm and

environmental values Development as a question of values The historical record of Shari’ah The failure of borrowed economic

models and development systems The widening gap The failure of governmental

institutions

Call for new ethicsCall for new ethics • A new ethics, embracing A new ethics, embracing

plants and animals, as plants and animals, as well as people, is required well as people, is required for human societies to live for human societies to live in harmony with the in harmony with the natural world on which natural world on which they depend for survival they depend for survival and well being” and well being”

• IUCN, World Environmental Strategy, 1980

•

Is sustainable development possible?Is sustainable development possible? The newly established agencies The existing legislation

How much public involvement and Shura would existing governments allow?

Do we have a blue print for revitalizing Islamic models?

Who sets the goals? Which models are pursued? Which are resisted? Do we know whether prevailing norms and practices

are compatible to the ideals of the Shari’ah and the principles of sustainability?

Can Muslim countries afford the costs of information? How do leaders perceive the information age?

How independent and ethical can a development planner be?

The size of the Muslim world

Should we anticipate any change?

Ideas for the futureIdeas for the future

Sustainability of the earth is vital for the future well-being of humanity. This can only be attained through solidarity of purpose and a commitment to environmental ethics and values.

Ideas for the futureIdeas for the future

Islam could play an important role in this venture, particularly since it has been for sometime a rich, yet untapped source of environmental ideas and ideals.