Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Green Profile: Interview with Ali Gomaa
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 31 - 03 - 2011

Al-Masry Al-Youm met with Ali Gomaa, Grand Mufti of Egypt, as part of our Green Profile series, in which prominent figures discuss pressing environmental issues.
Al-Masry Al-Youm: How important is the environment within the Islamic doctrine? And in what way does Islam's doctrine highlight man's responsibility towards the environment?
Gomaa: In the Islamic worldview, acting as Allah's deputies on earth means that we bear the responsibility of both conserving the environment and developing it, since almighty Allah has subjugated the world to serve us, and make us content.
What subjugation means is that mankind has the right to enjoy the blessings of the earth and its resources. However, keeping in mind the Islamic worldview, we have no right to benefit from these blessings by exploiting that of others or future generations. We stand as masters over the environment, accountable by Allah the almighty and rewarded or punished accordingly. If we take good care of the environment, we will be rewarded with goodness, but if we abuse the environment and leave it to ruin, we will meet a frightful end.
As stated in the Quran, "Those who break their covenant with God after it has been confirmed, who sever the bonds that God has commanded to be joined, who spread corruption on the earth --those are the losers." (2:27)
Islamic law addresses the relationship between humans and the environment with the same binary view of rights and duties. Just as it has obligated us to conserve the environment and share it with others, it has also granted each of us the right to reside in a clean and beautiful area, where we can live in freedom and dignity.
Islamic law has comprehensively addressed the issue of environmental conservation with several legal rulings which tie the development of the world with the general framework of religion. Furthermore, Islamic law always seeks to promote the well-being of both the individual and the community while aiming to place the minimum burden on them.
Al-Masry Al-Youm: In 2007 there was a fatwa (Islamic ruling) issued on the burning of rice straw in that it is prohibited in accordance with the Sharia. What other fatwas have since been issued that also relate to man's responsibility for the environment?
Gomaa: In general, any act that can cause harm to the environment is prohibited in Islam, and the burning of rice straw is one of these acts that causes harm to the environment and accordingly to mankind. In this particular fatwa, I requested government authorities to provide environmentally friendly alternatives to farmers to get rid of rice straw.
Al-Masry Al-Youm: Late last year Jordan hosted a conference, which you partook in, entitled “Environment and Islam,” organized by the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought. Could you tell us what was the main outcome of this conference?
Gomaa: Actually, we discussed several issues throughout the conference, such as the role of the Quran, Hadith and Islamic values in giving solutions to environmental problems worldwide.
Our main aim was to clarify and analyze the significance of Islam in protecting the environment from man's abuse. In addition, the conference shed light on Islamic values which call for conserving the environment and its components for the sake of all humankind.
The conference was a good opportunity for more than a hundred Muslim scholars from 40 different countries to share and exchange opinions and ideas on environmental crises, which represent a worldwide problem.
In my speech, I focused on the importance of adding environmental issues as part of the educational curricula, to include environmental pollution, climate change and global warming, which represents more of a threat than war; that is why we should give more attention to environmental issues at hand.
It is also worth mentioning that we discussed 38 scholarly research projects and the discussions proved to be informative as well as engaging.
Al-Masry Al-Youm: In your opinion, what role remains to be played among religious scholars in order to give more weight to the environmental agenda?
Gomaa: The community of religious scholars can play a significant role in spreading Islamic ideas that call for saving the environment from corruption and protecting it. This can be done through Friday/Sunday religious sermons and by attending different environmental conferences and lectures.
Pollution and global warming pose an even greater threat than war, and the fight to preserve the environment could be the most positive way of bringing humanity together. Environment-related issues ought to be a significant component of religious teachings. It is the duty of all religious scholars to acquaint themselves with environmental crises we are facing.
Al-Masry Al-Youm: In your opinion, what do you take to be the most important changes that people need to adopt today in order to live in harmony with the environment again?
Gomaa: Actually, the relationship between humankind and the universe is originally one of harmony. Ever since humankind's descent to earth, their intellectual and social development has been intimately tied with the extent to which they have acclimated to their environment and how well they have utilized the tools of life. Humans have an obligation to respect and cultivate their environment, and under no circumstances may they abuse it.
Muslims in particular should approach almighty Allah's creatures with an attitude of equality and partnership in worshiping the same God. Believers exude love for what he has fashioned from the love they hold for him. They do not differentiate between smaller creatures or more impressive ones, because what matters to them is the all-powerful and all-wise creator.
Muslims even venerate and adore some inanimate objects because of their lofty station in almighty Allah's sight, such as the Quranic text, the Kaaba, and the grave of the Prophet Mohamed.
Al-Masry Al-Youm: Lastly, what is the current role of Egypt's Dar al-Ifta in promoting an environmental consciousness within an Islamic view?
Gomaa: Dar al-Iftaa, besides its role in issuing fatwas, took part in international forums and conferences that tackle environmental issues, and is still planning for more cooperation regarding this issue. Recently, the issue of the environment has forced itself to the top of the list of international concerns, and the question of utilizing religious teachings to solve environmentally- related problems has become an urgent one.
Dar al-Ifta has taken measures to reduce carbon emissions of its facility, and it is our hope to declare Dar al-Ifta a carbon-neutral institution by the end of 2011. We are in the process of getting this certification.
Al-Masry Al-Youm: Thank you very much for your time.


Clic here to read the story from its source.