Imagine this scenario: Someone decides to go to the beach for their summer vacation and enjoys a chocolate bar. Instead of throwing the wrapper in the garbage bin a few steps away from him, he instead throws it in the ocean. A critter in this ocean eats this wrapper and dies soon afterwards.
Now you may be familiar with the verse:
“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will be judged on it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of bad will be judged on it”
Holy Quran 99:7-8
It’s crucial to always remember that we will be judged on every single action, intention and reaction. That animal will certainly testify against you on the day of judgement, as it is the Adala (fairness) of Allah to ordain it. Allah will say this person polluted on this very day, at this very time, and ended this creature’s life.
It is our obligation to think before we do. We must be conscious of how we affect the environment and in turn, how the environment affects us. We need to be aware of the fact that we are not the highest beings in the world. God has created that which we cannot replace. Through many trials, we have found that most basic organisms such as plants and animals cannot be perfectly genetically mutated like its original copy. To recognize the fact that Allah has the power over all things and that He has given us irreplaceable blessings, makes us more conscious and protective over these gifts.
It is our responsibility as Muslims to carry on the teachings of the Prophet (pbuh) and the orders of Allah to take care of the only home we have in this world. Here are a few hadiths and verses to remind us to keep this Earth a nice and healthy home for all its inhabitants:
- “Removing harmful things from the road is an act of charity (sadaqah).” Narrated by Abu Dharr Al-Ghafari.
- “Surely We have made whatever is on the Earth an embellishment for it, so that We may try them (as to) see which of them is best in works” (18:7 )
- “The world is sweet and green, and verily Allah has installed you as a representative or trustee (khalifa).” Prophet Muhammed
- “And He it is Who produces gardens (of vine), trellised and untrellised, and palms and seed-produce of which the fruits are of various sorts, and olives and pomegranates, like and unlike; eat of its fruit when it bears fruit, and pay the due of it on the day of its reaping, and do not act extravagantly; surely He does not love the extravagant. (6:141)
