The Sacred Creation of Earth and Man in Islam: A Renewal of Harmonious Relationship in Current Scenario of Environmental Crisis
Keywords:
Environmental Crisis, Secular, Disequilibrium, Anthropocene, Tawḥīd, Sacred, Al-Khāliq, Khālq, Šhahada, Iĥsān, Fiţrah, Harmony, IslamAbstract
This article explores the sacred relationship between Earth and mankind as understood within the Islamic worldview against the backdrop of a growing environmental crisis. It seeks to revive a harmonious coexistence between humanity and their natural surroundings as described in the sacred scriptures of Islam. Drawing upon the verses of the Holy Qur’an and hadiths, the research highlights the divine origin of Earth and man, their natural order of creation, the characteristics of both phenomena, and their relationship in the hierarchy of the cosmos. It also underscores the profound respect for Earth as prescribed in Islam as the signs of Allah SWT and emphasizes the role of human beings as trustees of the Earth. This study aims to highlight Islamic philosophies to instill the sacredness and value of Earth in the mind of modern secular man and provoke a valuable change in his environmental concerns. By using a descriptive and analytical method, this paper presents a comprehensive view of the actual and potential resources rooted in Islam and analyzes the eco-theological understandings of contemporary Islamic scholars to describe a harmonious relationship between Earth and man in the current environmental crisis. In conclusion, the sacred creation of Earth and man in Islam offers a holistic understanding of the relationship between humans and their environment. This new eco-understanding promotes harmony among all components of Earth and their basic rights to live and flourish.