LAND POLLUTION AND ISLAMIC TEACHINGS

Abstract

The land is Allah’s most precious blessing for mankind. He adorned it with his countless blessings and appointed man as His vicegerent. Unfortunately, it is the man who polluted it for his own interest and now man himself is suffering from its dangerous consequences. Respiratory infections, lung cancer, cholera, hepatitis, typhoid and cardiovascular problem are but only a few of the long list diseases man has been suffering for a long time. Overcrowding in cities, increase in household and industrial waste, poisonous agricultural activities, excessive use of plastic and escalation of deforestation are the concrete reasons behind the exacerbating land pollution. That is why, land pollution has been the major concern for the whole world. Islam is a complete code of life. It is not just a set of instructions, but it is a complete guide with respect to every matter of life. Islam hates pollution and suggests strict punishment for those who are involved in such malpractices. There are many injunctions of Islam regarding land pollution and its preventions. It encourages man to plant trees, make land, water and air clean, and prohibits him to go against the nature of its environment. This is the only religion which shares its half faith in cleanliness. Therefore, man’s duty can never be the desolation and destruction of the earth. The responsibility of Allah’s vicegerent is of course to settle the earth and not to dispose of it in a way that is contrary to the purpose of creation.