With the current global warming crisis, discussing the environment and ways of preserving it is no longer a luxury. In this lecture, the speaker will discuss the deep reasons that led to the exploitation of our planet Earth. The Islamic worldview represents a unique model for a transition to sustainable development focused on harmony between human and nature, and thus the environmental challenges we face today is an indicator of a moral and ethical crisis.
Everything in the universe is in worship to God, and corrupting the planet is essentially silencing a community of worshippers. The speaker will elaborate on the subject through Qur’an and the Prophetic traditions, as well as the notable works of Muslim scholars and saints. He will illustrate the difference between caring about the environment because of mere pragmatic concerns and caring for it on the basis of an ontological understanding of the world. Religion, thus, can become a powerful solution to the colossal environmental crisis we are facing today.
