Our beloved Prophet (saw) was never wasteful, teaching us that using more resources than we need comes at the expense of others.
The Prophet (saw) passed by Sa’d while he was performing ablution. He said, “What is this excess?” Sa’d said, “Is there excess with water in ablution?” The Prophet (saw) replied, “Yes, even if you were on the banks of a flowing river.”
(Ibn Majah)
Nowadays creation is mistreated, many animals grow in factories rather than farms, and crops are sprayed with pesticides.
The Prophet (saw) ate beneficial food that nourished him. We’re taught to be careful of what we consume, in order to preserve its’ spiritual blessing.
Imam Nawawi even had his own garden, only eating food he himself worked to cultivate.
Our beloved Prophet (saw) taught us that honouring all of creation is part of honouring our Creator.
‘The seven heavens and the earth and everyone in them glorify Him. There is not a single thing that does not celebrate His praise’ (17:44)
Anas, the Prophet’s servant, said: “We were together with the Messenger (saw) when he took up a handful of small stones and they began to praise God in his blessed palm.”
The Prophet (saw) had great appreciation for his belongings & where they came from. He would name his tools, clothings, weapons, animals and even his turban. He called his drinking bowl ‘Ar-rayyaan’, meaning the one satisfied with drink.
There’s barakah in connecting with our belongings, and reusing good quality items rather than buying easily disposable ones.
The Quran repeatedly highlights that people of deep understanding contemplate creation. We live in a world where we look more at our screens than up to the sky to reflect over His signs. Nowadays many look to nature only as a resource to exploit, but we must reflect over His creation & its true purpose.
The Prophet (saw) saw a weeping camel and said to the owner “Don’t you fear Allah about this beast which He has given in your possession. It has complained to me that you keep it hungry and load it heavily which fatigues it.” (Abu Dawud)
We now see instances of imbalance in animals being pumped with hormones for meat.
Islam teaches us the importance of harmony and giving everything its right. We learn to take from the resources He blessed our ecosystem with, but not to abuse that Divine mercy by being inhumane.
The Prophet (saw) put the care of his Ummah first, so much so that on the Day of Judgement only he will be calling out ‘Ummati’.
As believers in his message, we need to be people who care for others, not just ourselves.
As khalifas, we have a responsibility in saving the Earth and bringing goodness to future generations of humanity, animals and the environment, not just to present ones.
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