By Martha Scott, cross posted from Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake newsletter. Original email here.
Ramadan is the time that we should re-examine how we interact with the natural world and what our “footprint” is on the environment. Ramadan is the month that the Qur’an was first sent down, therefore Muslims remember the month each year by fasting, remembering Allah and recommitting to following the dictates of Allah as delineated in the Qur’an and Hadith (sayings of the prophet). Since the Qur’an and Hadith speak often of the need to protect the environment, Ramadan is the perfect time to implement the many habits that help to protect the environment. Some of my favorite verses of the Qur’an and Hadith with regard to the environment are as follows;
“Do no mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts); for the Mercy of God is always near to those who do good.” (Qur’an 7: 56)
“The world is green and beautiful, and Allah (God) has appointed you his stewards over it.” (Hadith)
As the Qur’an reminds us, Allah made the Earth well-ordered and we are to take care of it. Our current lifestyle has a huge impact on the Earth. From electricity that may come from generators that use fracked gas, to fuel for our cars that may come from the Canadian tar sands, we are having a huge impact on the environment. Ramadan is the time to contemplate how we can reduce our use of natural resources that are non-renewable and so destructive of the environment.
Our contemplation also reflects on how the items we use expend resources. For example it takes 6 or 7 times the amount of water in a bottle of water to make that plastic bottle which will be used once and discarded. Is this really taking care of the Earth as Allah intended?
“And eat and drink and be not extravagant, surely He does not love the extravagant; And do not squander wastefully. Surely the squanderers are friends of satans and Satan is every ungrateful to his Lord.”(Qur’an 7:31)
“Eat and drink from the provision of Allah, and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.” (Qur’an 2:60)
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast during the day and have a meal after sundown. This meal often becomes quite elaborate. The person preparing the meal rightfully wants to please those who will partake of it, and knowing that they have been fasting since before sunup will wish to provide an excellent meal. This is commendable, but we must always be mindful to not become extravagant. As we must always remember the admonition:
“…So…let them taste part of the consequences of what they have done that perhaps they will return to righteousness.” (Qur’an 30:41)
Our improper behavior has consequences and we will suffer for our bad choices. Therefore we must always strive to live our lives wisely and ask for forgiveness for the mistakes that we do make.
One other item to note: the word that is translated as corruption also means pollution. So if one looks at how many times corruption is used in the Qur’an and changes it to pollution, one will again realize just how much the Qur’an is concerned about the natural environment.