Green Islam: Part 2, Reduce and Gain

The Green Islam Series is brought to you by University of Maryland, College Park alum Rabee Zuberi. He has a  Master’s in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on solar technology. This series will merge basic tenants of Islam with simple scientific principles to show how ordinary people can take steps to protect their environment.

This series will continue with the most important step of the conservation series: Reduction. In your personal life, reduction is most pertinent in two areas: consumption and wastage. Do you remember when your mother told you not to waste food (or anything else for that matter)? Well she was right!

To begin, we must first understand the Law of Conservation. It states that energy can never be created nor destroyed. In layman’s terms, this means the product or energy you consumed was created somewhere and will result in a different form after consumption. This concept allows us to expand our first person perspective to a more global one. Think about the amount of resources required to design, manufacture, and ship products that you use daily. And when you are done using those products, the resources that are required to ship, recycle, or bury them in a landfill. This life cycle of a product also forms the cycle of human consumption. We will discuss the recycling issue in the later parts of this series.

While the scientific community and the government are exploring new methods to recycle a growing variety of wasted resources, we as consumers can do our part. By reducing our consumption we can effectively reduce the use of those resources in the first place and ultimately reduce the waste.

Now this article is not arguing to end consumption of everything; rather, the point is to urge the reader to be mindful of their consumption. By being prudent consumers we can control the waste of important natural resources. The Quran urges us to keep our lives in balance:

He has created man: He has taught him speech and intelligence. The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed. And the herbs and the trees- both (alike) bow in adoration. And the Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance of (Justice). In order that you may not transgress (due) balance. So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance. It is He who has spread out the earth for (His) creatures. (55:3-10).

A balanced life style will lead to reduced excessive consumption and result in a decrease in unnecessary waste.

Reducing material things in our lives can lead to an increase in spirituality as well. It is human nature to be attracted to new and useful things. Unfortunately that attraction can sometimes become an obsession. Getting rid of excessive products can lead to an appreciation of the simpler things in life. The focus should always be on God, self, family, and community while the products should increase our focus and help achieve our goals related to the important things in life. The Quran calls for an appreciation for Allah’s gifts and the material aspects of this life for the believers. The “believers” are the people who maintain their focus on the important things that are mentioned above.

Say: Who hath forbidden the beautiful (gifts) of Allah, which He hath produced for his servants, and the things clean and pure (which He hath provided) for sustenance? Say: They are in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) purely for them on the Day of Judgment… (7:32).

Finally, reducing consumption leads to financial gains. This is the simplest argument; the fewer products you buy, the more money you will save.

Do not make your hand as if it is tied to your neck nor extend it to its utmost reach so that you become blameworthy and in severe poverty. (17: 29).

Again, a life of moderation is encouraged and there is no reason to buy the newest and flashiest products without a need for them. On the other hand, there is no reason to not buy a product if it can improve your life. What we all must remember is that ultimately the product should improve your life and not become a burden, and by thinking about the Law of Conservation and the concepts of balance and moderation from the Quran, this can become an easily attainable way of life.

O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters. (31:5)

[The image above is attributed to Daniel Hoherd (WarzauWynn).]