Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Friday Sermon
8 November 2024 / 6 Jamadil Awal 1446H
The Quran's Message on Environmental Preservation
Dear blessed congregation,
Let us strengthen our taqwa (mindfulness) towards Allah s.w.t. with true devotion by carrying out His commands and avoiding His prohibitions. May we all attain success in this world and the hereafter. Ameen.
My dear brothers,
Following up on last week’s sermon on tadabbur or contemplation of the Quran, today’s sermon invites everyone to reflect on verses from the Quran which relate to our responsibility as stewards of the sustainability of the universe.
Dear blessed congregation,
Do you realise that, as humans, we have a choice to either preserve or damage the environment and the earth created by Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla? This is built upon our reflection on verse 30 of Surah Al-Baqarah:
Which means: “And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, 'Indeed, I will make upon the earth a khalifah or successor.' They said, 'Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?' Allah said, 'Indeed, I know that which you do not know.'”
The angels anticipated that humans will have the potential to cause destruction on this earth. But Allah s.w.t. placed His trust in our ability as His stewards to care for the earth and the universe. Indeed, we are all khalifah or custodians on earth. Therefore, we should view the duty of caring for the environment as an obligation of creed. Where can we find evidence which supports this statement? Reflect, tadabbur on the following verse. Allah s.w.t. says:
Which means: “That is Allah, your Lord; there is no God except Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He is Disposer of all things.” (Surah Al-An’am, verse 102)
This verse clearly signals the correct creed, which is to worship Allah, the Creator of everything, including the universe. Worship, in this sense, extends beyond the prayer mat or simple deeds such as making charity. In this verse, our worship and servitude also involve acknowledging Allah’s creation of all things. In essence, preserving Allah's creation is one way to express our true understanding of our religious beliefs.
This responsibility as a khalifah or steward is a sign of Allah’s trust in us, that we are given the capability to manage the earth with wisdom. However, this trust is also a test of how much we respect and protect the beauty and balance of His creations.
Allah not only grants humans authority over the earth but also entrusts us not to cause harm or destruction to the environment. We were created not just to take from our surroundings for our own benefit; we actually bear the great trust of maintaining and prospering this earth. This includes protecting water sources, soil, plants, animals – all of which are creations of Allah s.w.t.
My dear brothers,
This world to us is not merely a physical creation; it is also an open book for us to ponder and witness, bringing us to know Allah through His greatness and boundless wisdom.
When we behold the beauty and perfection of creation, we are indeed witnessing signs of the greatness of Allah s.w.t., and we should say, “Subhanallah!” Conversely, when we conspire and contribute to the destruction of the environment, we are, in effect, vandalising the signs of Allah’s greatness. This reflects our greed and ungratefulness towards Allah’s abundant blessings through His creation. Therefore, Islam requires us to view all of Allah’s creations with respect, responsibility, and in full admiration toward His greatness.
Additionally, the Quran repeatedly reminds mankind to avoid corruption or harm (fasad) on earth. In Surah Al-A'raf, verse 56, Allah says:
Which means: “And do not cause corruption upon the earth after it has been set in order.”
My dear brothers,
Our awareness of our role as khalifah or guardians of the earth must be reflected in our daily lives. Care for the environment is a responsibility for each individual. Islam has laid out essential principles such as moderation and balance in all matters. These principles teach us that every action we take toward the environment will be evaluated by Allah s.w.t.
To fulfil this trust effectively, consider the following steps:
First: Remember that we are only guardians, not owners, of Allah's creation. Everything on earth is Allah’s creation that must be respected, valued, and preserved. Yes, we have the right to take what we need, but we also bear the responsibility of ensuring the rights of other creatures are protected. This includes keeping our surroundings in good condition and ensuring the earth remains sustainable for future generations.
Second: Stay informed and spread awareness about current environmental issues. This includes issues like climate change, pollution, and depletion of natural resource. Knowledge is essential in order for us to act more sensibly. Think about how our actions impact the environment. Consider how our lifestyle has contributed to changes in temperature and climate, affecting us all today. Imagine if global warming continues, it may even impact our acts of worship. We may one day find it more difficult to perform Hajj or Umrah due to extreme heat and health hazards. Animals for our korban rituals might also be less available due to climate change around the world.
Lastly, let us heed the advice and reminder from Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. In a hadith, he says:
“Verily, this world is beautiful and green, and Allah has appointed you as stewards over it. He evaluates how you behave.” (Narrated by Muslim)
May we become a community that not only maintains our relationship with Allah but also cares for His creations. May Allah s.w.t. grant us the strength and wisdom to fulfil this trust to the best of our ability.
أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ العَظِيْمَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْم
Second Sermon
الحَمْدُ للهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا كَمَا أَمَرَ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَن لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ سَيِّدَنَا مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ. أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَيَا عِبَادَ الله، اِتَّقُوا اللهَ تَعَالَى فِيمَا أَمَرَ، وَانتَهُوا عَمَّا نَهَاكُم عَنْهُ وَزَجَرَ.
أَلَا صَلُّوا وَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ الْمُصْطَفَى، فَقَدْ أَمَرَنَا اللهُ بِذَلِكَ حَيْثُ قَال فِي كِتَابِهِ العَزِيزِ: إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَـا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ.
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالمُؤْمِنَاتِ، وَالمُسْلِمِينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتِ، الأَحْيَاءِ مِنهُم وَالأَمْوَاتِ. اللَّهُمَّ ادْفَعْ عَنَّا البَلَاءَ وَالوَبَاءَ وَالزَّلَازِلَ وَالمِحَنَ، مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ، عَن بَلَدِنَا خَاصَّةً، وَسَائِرِ البُلْدَانِ عَامَّةً، يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ انْصُرْ إِخْوَانَنَا اْلمُسْتَضْعَفِيْنَ فِي غَزَّة وَفِي فِلِسْطِينَ وَفِيْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ عَامَّةً، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ بَدِّلْ خَوْفَهُمْ أَمْنًا، وَحُزْنَهُمْ فَرَحًا، وَهَمَّهُمْ فَرَجًا، يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ. اَللَّهُمَّ اكْتُبِ السِّلْمَ وَالسَّلاَمَ وَالأَمْنَ وَالأَمَانَ لِلْعَالَمِ كُلِّهِ وَلِلنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ. رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ.
عِبَادَ اللهِ، إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي القُرْبَى، وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الفَحْشَاءِ وَالمُنكَرِ وَالبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ، فَاذكُرُوا اللهَ العَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ، وَاشْكُرُوهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ يَزِدْكُمْ، وَاسْأَلُوهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ يُعْطِكُم، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ، وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ
