<Home> <Environmental Protection in Islam> <Preface to the Second Edition>
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Preface to the Second Edition
Praise be to God; Creator ofall, The Cherisher and Sustainer of the World, Prayer and Peace upon Muhammad, God's Prophet and Apostle.
Today, Mankind finds himselfat a point in history that is pivotal in terms of the very nature ofhis relationship to the natural world. His footprint is to be found everywhere throughout the Planet, in the air, in the deep seas, the forests and the polarice.
Human activities over the last century have so affected natural processes
that the very atmosphere upon which life depends has been altered. These
impacts are of such a magnitude that Nature itself, as an independent
self regulating force has been compromised and will require human intervention;
intervention which itself could further alter natural processes.
Thus, in embarking upon such an unprecedented intervention in natural
processes, it becomes increasingly important to carefully examine the
basis of the relationship between our species and the natural world. It
is particularly important to examine alternatives to the philosophic regime
which has shepherded human society into the present state, and to seek
an environmental sustainability in that relationship which can continue
in perpetuity.
As Muslims, constituting 20% of the World's population, we must examine these issues carefully because future events in Islamic nations have the potential to create an environmental impact of major magnitude. Most Islamic nations are developing and must expand economically in order to meet basic needs. Should this expansion pass through the same evolutionary cycle as prior industrial development, the environmental impacts cou Id be d isastrous. Consequently, Islam ic nations must seek modal ities which will enable them to "leapfrog" ahead to environmentally less damaging forms of economic expansion.
The Islamic World's phenomenal economic expansion has created a need for
increasingly sophisticated environmental pol icy as development continually
poses new questions for exam ination. Islam offers great advantage for
environmental conservation, protection and sustainable development in
that it is a source for law that is consistent with cultural values of
Islamic Society and can be imported with ease into environmental policy
that is both effective and implementable.
In seeking culturally appropriate modalities, the principles of Islam
are providing gu idance for environmental managers; since Islam represents
more than a belief system, it is a way oflife and a well defined set ofvalues
providing specific guidance for virtually every aspect of life. Islam
offers a font of inspiration which can be translated into policies for
development, for regulation and law, for influencing public attitudes,
and for achieving a sustainable relationship between mankind and the natural
world provided by his Creator.
As
the agency with responsibility for environmental management in Saudi Arabia,
MEPA is involved in the establishment of national environmental policy.
Since the agency operates within the cradle of Islam, it is imperative
that such policy reflects the values and tenents of our beliefs. It was
with this intention that we first began, in association with the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature, the original research that led to
the first edition of Islamic Principles For Conservation of the Natural
Environment.
The first edition was extremely successful in addressing this need. Over
85,000 copies were distributed, reaching and "influencing" people
throughout the world. It has continually served as important source material
for connecting Islam with environmental conservation at educational and
practicing levels.
Thus,
in the second edition of Islamic Principles For Conservation of the Natural
Environment research was expanded in order to address situations which
were not present before. It is presented here in the hopes that it may
offer further guidance and inspiration to both Muslims and non-Muslims
alike as they seek solutions to the challenges of environmental conservation.
As with the prior edition, many individuals have contributed to this effort
in offering suggestion, inspiration and guidance. In addition to the excellent
theological research of the authors, Othman Llewellyn provided major contributions
in terms ofboth content and editorial care. Wolfgang Burhenne, Legal Advisor
of IUCN, as with the first edition, has been constant in his support and
encouragement. A number of additional contributions are mentioned in the
acknowledgements section that follows.
It is my belief that the authors of this edition have provided a valuable
framework, connecting Islam with that most complex of sciences and providing
environmental managers with an important context for reflecting upon the
complexity of their obligation and meeting their responsibilities to future
generations.
May Allah guide us to the right aim.
Abdulbar
Al-Gain
President,
MEP A
Saudi
Arabia
1993
AD / 1413 H
Acknowledgements
to the Second Edition
We wish to extend our deepest appreciattion and thanks to all of our colleagues
who took part in the production of theis expanded edition of our Basic
Paper on Islamic Priniciples for the Conservation of the Natural Environment.
In particular, we should like to mention Dr. Abdulbar Al-Gain, President
of MEPA, Mr. Abdul Wahab M. Dakkak, Director General of Natural Resources,
MEPA, Dr. Ali M. Dakkak, King Abdulaziz University, and Dr. Wolfgang Burhenne,
who once again has contributed his well-known specialized expertise.
We thank Mr. Othman Llewellyn for his care in expanding and revising this
edition, and expressour appreciation of the kindness of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia's National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development
and its Secretary General, Dr. Abdulaziz H. Abuzinada in authorizing Mr.
Llewellyn to collaborate on this work.
We wish to also express our gratitude to those who contributed to the
improvement of this publication in particular Dr. Anas M. Al Zarqa (King
Abudlaziz University, Jeddah), Mr. Ali Al Sammany (National Commission
for Wildlife Conservation and Development), Mr. Abdullah Ba-Dhorise and
Mr. Naif Shalhoub (MEPA).
Finally, we thank Dr. Mawil Izzi-Deen Samarrai for undertaking on our
behalf the task of reviewing and supervising all the changes and additions
that were made. May God grant all of us success in our striving toward
the truth it is for Him that we make our endeavour.
The Author
1993 AD/ 1413 H
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Environmental Protection in Islam
An
Islamic study prepared by:
Dr. Bagader, Abubakr Ahmed, born in Makkah, Saudi Arabia (Professor of
sociology, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, King AbdulazizUniversity, Jeddah).
Dr.
EI-Sabbagh, Abdullatif Tawfik El-Chirazi, born in Hamah, Syria (Associate
Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Arts and
Humanities, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah).
Dr. Al-Glayand, Mohamad As-Sayyid, born in Manshiyyat al-Umara', Egypt Professor ofIslamics, Dar AI-Uluum, University ofCairo, Egypt).
Dr. Samarrai, Mawil YousufIzzi-Deen, born in Ba'qubah, Iraq (Professor of Islamics, Cardiff, U.K.).
The original Arabic version was translated into English by:
Abdul Rahman, Karam Mohsen (Senior Language Instructor, Department ofMass Communication, Faculty of Arts, KIng Abdulazlz University, Jeddah).
Second
Edition prepared by the original authors in collaboration with:
Othman Abd-ar-Rahman Llewellyn, born in Colorado Springs, USA
(Envlronmental Planner, National Commission for Wildlife Conservation
and Development,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).
Preface to the First Edition |