Quran & Science

The Prophet (Pbuh) said: “If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity.”


The environment is perceived as the place where the signs (e.g. rivers, plants, and birds), pointing to God exist:


“Verily in the heavens and the earth, are Signs for those who believe. And in the creation of yourselves and the fact that animals are scattered (throughout the earth), are Signs for those of assured Faith. And the alteration of Night and Day, and the fact that God sends down Sustenance from the sky, and revives therewith the earth after its death, and in the change of the winds,-are Signs for those that are wise.” (Qur’an, 45:3-5)


As a result, any destruction occurring to the environment is tantamount to destroying these signs.


The Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) told his followers that they would be rewarded by God for taking care of the Earth. He said: “If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)


Paramount Classics and Participant Productions film directed by Davis Guggenheim, “An Inconvenient Truth,” featuring Al Gore, the former Vice President of United States and produced by Laurie David, Lawrence Bender and Scott Z. Burns won Oscar for Best Documentary.


With wit, smarts and hope, “An Inconvenient Truth” ultimately brings home Gore’s persuasive argument that we can no longer afford to view global warming as a political issue - rather, it is the biggest moral challenges facing our global civilization.


The documentary’s official website (www.climatecrisis.net) recommends ten simple things that one can do. Replace regular light bulb with fluorescent light bulb, carpool or take mass transit more often, recycle household waste, keep tires inflated, use less hot water, avoid product with a lot of packaging, adjust thermostat during winter and summer accordingly, plant a tree, simply turn off television, DVD player, stereo and computer when you are not using them and finally spread the word and be part of the solution.


On June 29, 2007 the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) presented its 16th annual Media Awards to the creators of this Oscar-winning documentary during a gala dinner in Los Angeles, California including - the groundbreaking hit Canadian sitcom “Little Mosque on the Prairie”, and the Oscar-nominated foreign film “Indigenes” / “Days of Glory”.


Accepting his award, Lawrence Bender thanked MPAC for alerting him to the existence of a vibrant Muslim community that is both socially and politically active. The American Muslim audience laughed when Bender told them, “Somebody asked me what does global warming have to do with Muslims?” His answer was short, “they live on the earth.”


In a recent interview with CNN, Al Gore urged everyone in every country to put pressure on their leaders and every party to make global warming a top priority and solve the climate crisis.


Kevin Wall, the executive producer of the “Live Earth” concerts, saw the documentary and he and his wife were moved by it and they contacted Gore and they got to know each other well and pulled off the “Live Earth” concerts on all seven continents to create awareness on global warming that took place on July 7, 2007. Gore indicated that it was absolutely amazing and had great fun working with Wall as his partner.


The Hamburg edition (Germany) of the Live Earth climate change concert featured a lineup of international stars and ended nine hours later with a performance by surprise guest Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens. The estimated crowd was believed to be 30,000. It is worth mentioning here that Yusuf played before his biggest audience in 28 years.


Yusuf said, “I have been away from music for a long time but it is great to be back, back on earth, back on stage and with a cause like this, it’s really an honor. There are many people around in the world today who are building and many people who also (are) destroying. Unfortunately for many children who just arrived in this world, as they look around, their world is in ruins.” He dedicated his song “Ruins” for that.


His other songs included “Where do the Children Play” and “Wild World”. He left the stage thanking the audience with his greetings “Peace be with you” and “Salaam” after he sang the last number for that night, Steve Wonder’s “Saturn,” a brilliant song. The crowd gave him a standing ovation. Yusuf had to return to the stage and he thanked the audience again for being so wonderful even with the pouring rain, and finally closed the event with his signature number “Peace Train.”


In conclusion, “An Inconvenient Truth” is a MUST-SEE documentary for the people of all faiths and especially for the high school students, who can really make a difference for taking care of the Earth that we share.

If a person fails after having made the correct effort, there is no need to resort to alcohol, drugs and suicide.


Many students succumb to such drastic measures. Some students work and study extremely hard but fail. Due to failure, they sink into such depression that they feel they have to take or inject themselves with drugs, tranquilizers, etc. for sleep. Why ? Because they failed.


If a person did not make Tadbeer, did not make a serious and concerted effort and thereafter fails, then he must blame himself. However, generally, we do make a reasonable effort but sometimes still meet with failure. For example : A person is fit and healthy when he started something but later becomes sick and is unable to complete what he undertook.


Tafweez is handing our matters over to Allah Ta’ala, trusting Him, placing our matters before Him and believing that in whatever Allah Ta’ala has decided, there is goodness. Outwardly, it may appear as if there is some problem that we are faced with, but great wisdom lies in the decisions of Allah.


Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A.) narrates a story in his Mathnavi; an incident which occurred during the time of Rasulullah(pbuh) :


Once, after having performed wudhu, Rasulullah(pbuh) was about to wear his leather sock when an eagle came along, snatched it and flew away. Nabi (pbuh) was most distressed as he was preparing for Salaah.   In a short while, the eagle returned and turned the sock upside down, towards the ground, causing a snake that was inside, to fall out. The eagle then presented the sock to Rasulullah (pbuh) and addressed him : “O Rasulullah (pbuh)! The reason for me having taken the sock was that there was a snake hidden inside it. Otherwise I would never harm you, for Allah Ta’ala has ordered me to protect you. It was on account of the snake that I flew off with the sock.”


Thus, outwardly there was some distress but it was a means of goodness. Whatever calamity befalls you, consider it warding off a greater calamity.

A person had in mind that when a certain property or building comes onto the market, or comes under his control then, because of the ideal location, etc., business will thrive and he will be successful. The person bids but someone else is successful and the property is gone.


If this person has Tafweez (is handing our matters over to Allah Ta’ala, trusting Him) then he will think : I did what was in my capacity to do but it was not in my Taqdeer. It was written in the Taqdeer of the other person, thus he got it. I must search for something else. Allah Ta’ala does not provide rizq (sustenance) through one business house in the world. It is not that I would have succeeded and received my sustenance and livelihood through only that.


The effort, which needs to be made, must then be made. What transpires thereafter is Taqdeer.


Rasulullah(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has said :


“Strive to acquire what is beneficial for you; seek the aid of Allah; do not lose courage and if a setback overtakes you, do not say : ‘If I had done this then it would have happened like this (i.e. not what had happened).’ Instead say : ‘Allah has ordained this. Whatever He has willed, has happened.’