Caring for the Environment from an Islamic Perspective, a Focus on the Bee Population
Environmental protection is paramount in this current moment with climate levels skyrocketing beyond our capacity. Animals are dying, trees are falling, plants are wilting, and health is declining. However, we as humans, have the responsibility and potential to help turn things around before it is too late. Especially as servants of Allah SWT, we have a special duty to care for the environment around us that he created. I will therefore touch on a few tips and perspectives about caring for the environment as Muslims with a specific focus on the importance of the bee community.
What does the Quran say about the environment?
The United Nations Environment Programme acknowledges that all religions treat nature as an act of divinity, created by God and should be treated as such. For example, in Christianity, there are hundreds of verses that express the need for environmental responsibility and good for the future, such as “When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” (John 6:12). Similarly in Buddhism the idea of Karma shows how our current ideas and choices shape our future, resonating with the notion of sustainable development. Our present-day efforts in helping to conserve the environment and care for it will shape how future generations experience it.
However, the Quran takes a particularly special viewpoint, in that it even goes on to mention that wasteful consumption (Isrāf) is the thirty-second greatest sin (UNEP). This can be seen through verses 7:31 in Surat Al-A’raf – “O Children of Adam! Dress properly whenever you are at worship. Eat and drink, but do not waste. Surely, He does not like the wasteful”. The idea of food waste has been brought up a lot and is a prevalent issue today. There are millions of people going hungry without food, yet so much food in our daily lives gets wasted. If we want to be more sustainable and help reduce food waste and hence the environment, I have a few tips that you can take on:
- Compost – Composting food waste is an important process that can help turn leftovers or scraps into nutrient-rich compost for soils. This in turn can help support the growth of more plants, trees and foods, helping to tackle food waste and promote environmental sustainability and food security instead. This surplus can also be sold off to farmers who are in need of compost, helping to secure economic livelihoods. But don’t forget not all food waste can be used for composting such as meat, bones, and oils.
- Read food labels properly – You can still eat food even if it passes the date labelled as ‘best before’. Food with a “best before” date can be legally sold and consumed after that date (Grimmer and Kilah, 2022). This misconception has led to lots of confusion and food waste for around 70% of the UK population and stores such as Sainsbury’s have even gone as far as replacing the label with ‘use by’.
Additionally taking daily small steps such as planning meals well, cooking in moderate consumption, freezing your vegetables and checking the fridge temperatures are all little steps that help to ensure you’re helping with food waste.
In recent years, many Islamic organisations have emerged to help promote the relationship between Islam and the environment, such as Sustainably Muslim CIC. In Islam, we are taught that we are stewards of the environment as it has been given and entrusted to us by Allah and we must take care of it as it was found. As it is mentioned in verses 40:64 in Surah Ghafir “It is Allah who made for you the earth a place of settlement and the sky a ceiling and formed you and perfected your forms and provided you with good things. That is Allah, your Lord; then blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
The importance of Bees:
I often find myself in awe, when I step back and think and look towards the creation and think how could something so small just come out of nowhere, this must be the creation of Allah SWT, such as the hard work of bees who take care of our environment and provide for us. They pollinate plants and crops for food and provide valuable staple items such as royal jelly, beeswax, and honey – which is mentioned multiple times in the Quran. As seen in Surah An-Nahl, verses 16:68-69 “And your Lord inspired the bees: “Make ˹your˺ homes in the mountains, the trees, and in what people construct, and feed from ˹the flower of˺ any fruit ˹you please˺ and follow the ways your Lord has made easy for you.” From their bellies comes forth liquid of varying colours, in which there is healing for people. Surely in this is a sign for those who reflect”. It is also amazing how Allah SWT has taught bees directly so that they know their function as soon as they’re born. Bees are guided by Allah and have healing properties; we must care for them and ensure their conservation. However, in the UK they are declining and on the brink of extinction. Pollinators contribute £690 million a year to the UK economy. Globally nearly 90% of wild plants and 75% of key crops rely on animal pollination! (WWF).
So what can we as Muslims do to help with this, to help protect the creation of Allah?
First and foremost, we can always try looking up our closest beekeeping organisation and contact them if they need any help with beekeeping, keeping the habitat safe and protected. An example of a charity that does as such in the UK is the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/) . As a science-led charity organisation, their aim revolves around efforts for monitoring and conserving bee populations and their habitats. There are options to join as a volunteer and fundraise for them, which as a Muslim would be something amazing to get involved in as you’re simultaneously helping with both the environment and adhering to the true principles of Islam as a caretaker of the divine creation. No good deed will go unnoticed, as seen in surah Al-Zalzalah, verses 99:7 “So, whoever does good even to the weight of a particle shall see it”, such as the “rivers of honey” promised to us in Jannah.
Secondly, we can also try buying more organic honey from local sellers. This will ensure that we are purchasing from businesses and beekeepers that are helping to preserve bees and keep them safe, protected, and intact. This is a more sustainable choice as organic honey is
produced without the need for pesticides, fertilisers and artificial ingredients making it a healthier and safer choice, whilst being environmentally friendly for both bees and us.
The value of bees is truly seen in the comparison that the Messenger of Allah SWT made “The example of the believer is just like the example of the bee”. We are taught to eat what is pure, just like bees who strive for fresh flowers. A believer is also expected to be beneficial to their surroundings, such as bees who produce honey, providing many benefits and value. Lastly, being gentle and careful, bees are light and do not end up breaking the flowers they sit on, likewise, we as humans should be gentle with the creation that we use and not destroy or ruin it.
References:
https://quran.com/en/al-araf/31
https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/
https://muwasala.org/2011/09/07/the-believer-is-like-a-bee/
https://www.unep.org/about-un-environment-programme/faith-earth-initiative/religions and-environmental-protection
https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/bees-feel-sting-climate-change
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/sep/19/why-best-before-food-labelling-is-not best-for-the-planet-or-your-budget