Islam and sustainability are entwined with each other, and to be a Muslim means taking care of the world around us, whether it’s people, animals or plants. When we consider the teachings of the Qur’an and Hadiths, it becomes extremely clear how deeply sustainability and Islam are linked. And how important it is for Muslims to actively take care of the Earth. My motivations to be thoughtful and sustainable stemmed from empathy towards the world, but as I read more about Islam, I find deeper peace in taking steps towards living in a more sustainable way.

In the Qur’an, Allah has very clearly made Muslims stewards of the Earth, it is our duty to take care of it, not just as gratitude to Allah for providing it, but for all living things to thrive and the generations that come after us to enjoy. There are various verses in the Qur’an that allude to and explicitly share the importance of taking care of the earth and it’s resources.

According to Hadiths, our prophet Muhammed (SAW) strongly reinforced how all humans are custodians of nature and must live in harmony. The Prophet gave a lot of importance to sustainable land cultivation, animal welfare, protection of wildlife and preservation of natural resources. In fact he created (what we would call nature reserves and preserves) areas of sanctuary and land preservation, Haram – restricted use of land, and Hira – areas left alone altogether.

“Eat and drink: But waste not by excess,” (Qur’an, Surat Al A’raf 7:21)

“And do not seek to cause corruption in the earth.” (Qur’an Surat Al Qasas 28:77)

“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.” (Saheeh Muslim)

“If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

Using natural resources, the gifts of Allah, is due to His sacred trust in humans as guardians. We only manage and benefit but do not and cannot own the Earth. So we must use resources responsibly; maintaining and preserving nature and wildlife with consideration and moderation.

There is a lot of over consumption that’s ongoing in the Muslim community, when it comes to food, clothes and basic material things. A lot of Muslims spend a lot of money funding organisations and lifestyles that are far removed from sustainable practises. Whether it’s a polyester abaya, fast fashion, the latest MAC makeup, or designer clothing, are you really behaving in an Islamic way? Materialism and consumerism are huge causes for environmental and humanitarian damage, that you might be funding and growing. There are lots of things you can do to be more sustainable as a Muslim.

Tips on how to be more sustainable as a Muslim:

1. Spend less money on new items. Especially when this is from brands that exploit human lives, aren’t environmentally friendly or sustainable, and unnecessary.
2. Question where materials have come from and what the supply chain is like. If organisations or companies don’t respond then it’s a pretty clear answer.
3. Be thankful for what you already have and appreciate it. Taking care of your possessions so you can fix them, reuse them or repurpose them is the best option.
4. Avoid waste where you can. Whether that’s throwing something in a bin or buying an item with lots of plastic packaging. Choose renewable whenever you can.
5. Donate to nature next time. A tree planted or an animal rescued is a huge act of sadaqah, so keep wildlife or nature charities in mind.

To be a Muslim, means to live in a sustainable way wherever and however is possible. God, Allah (SWT) gave us this Earth and provided resources for us to use without extravagance. As Muslims we should encourage each other to consume less. So for any of my fellow Muslims reading this, the next time you set out to buy something or make a decision, be thoughtful.

We have everything we need, if we understand moderation: reuse, repurpose, recycle and reflect on Allah’s bountiful blessings.

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