SEEING THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH ISLAMIC EYES - APPLICATION OF SHARIAH TO NATURAL-RESOURCES PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

A comprehensive paradigm of environmental ethics should encompass two things: (1) a particular way of life, and (2) a path to achieve that ideal. An effective paradigm must also be internally consistent, yet externally workable in the real world. On the whole, the modern environmental movement has failed to provide these essential components and qualities in its associated philosophies, most of which suffer from being too abstract or too utopian. This paper suggests that Islam, as a religion and as a body of knowledge, is capable of providing its followers with a comprehensive and practical system of environmental ethics. The basic principles and guidelines of the faith represent the conceptual ideal, while Islamic institutions and laws provide the operational components of an ethical system. Answers are provided to two key questions: 1. What are the Shariah (Islamic Law) values pertaining to natural resources planning and management? 2. Is it practically possible to derive from the Islamic jurisprudence and injunctions a set of planning and management criteria to guide the development process?