Stewardship of the Natural World
What does Islam teach about caring for the environment?
Explore the Qur'anic ideas of balance and trusteeship, the warning against excess and corruption on earth, and the Prophet's teaching on planting trees and showing mercy to animals.
Why it matters
Questions about climate, pollution and biodiversity can feel overwhelming. Islamic teaching does not offer a technical policy, but it does offer a moral framework: the earth is a trust, nature is balanced, and every living thing deserves care.
The teaching
The balance
Surah Ar-Rahman describes God raising the heaven and setting 'the balance' (mizan), and instructs people: 'That you not transgress within the balance. And establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance' (55:7–9).
The immediate meaning concerns fair measurement and justice. Many contemporary scholars also draw on the image of a balanced creation to argue that disrupting natural balance is a form of transgression. This is a reflective application of the verse, not its only meaning.
Trustees, not owners
The Qur'an describes human beings as successors on earth who are tested through what they are given (6:165). The Prophet said that the world is 'sweet and green' and that God makes people vicegerents in it 'in order to see how you act' (Sahih Muslim 2742).
If human beings hold the earth in trust, its resources are to be used responsibly, with future generations and other creatures in mind.
Moderation and corruption
'Eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess' (7:31). The same warning appears in a verse about crops and harvests (6:141).
Qur'an 30:41 observes that 'corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea' because of what people's hands have earned, so that they may return to what is right. Commentators historically applied this to moral corruption and its consequences; many today also see its relevance to environmental harm.
Planting and mercy to animals
The Prophet taught that when someone plants a tree or sows seeds and a bird, person or animal eats from it, it counts as charity for them (Sahih al-Bukhari 2320). Planting is an ongoing good that outlives the effort.
He also told of a man who was forgiven by God for giving water to a thirsty dog. When asked whether there is reward for serving animals, he said there is reward for serving any living being (Sahih al-Bukhari 2363).
From the Qur'an
Each passage shows the Arabic text, an attributed English translation, and our explanatory note, kept visually separate.
Arabic text
وَٱلسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ ٱلۡمِيزَانَ7 أَلَّا تَطۡغَوۡاْ فِي ٱلۡمِيزَانِ8 وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلۡوَزۡنَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ وَلَا تُخۡسِرُواْ ٱلۡمِيزَانَ9
Translation · Saheeh International
7And the heaven He raised and imposed the balance
8That you not transgress within the balance
9And establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance
Explanatory note (our words, not part of the Qur'an)
God set the balance; people must not transgress it and must establish fair measure.
Differences of interpretation and context
Classical commentators focused mainly on justice and fair measure. Applying the 'balance' to ecological balance is a contemporary reflection shared by many scholars, not the only interpretation.
Arabic text
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَكُمۡ خَلَـٰٓئِفَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعۡضَكُمۡ فَوۡقَ بَعۡضٖ دَرَجَٰتٖ لِّيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ فِي مَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمۡۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيعُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَغَفُورٞ رَّحِيمُۢ165
Translation · Saheeh International
165And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees [of rank] that He may try you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful
Explanatory note (our words, not part of the Qur'an)
Human beings are successors on earth, tested through what they are given.
Arabic text
۞يَٰبَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُواْ زِينَتَكُمۡ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسۡجِدٖ وَكُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ وَلَا تُسۡرِفُوٓاْۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ31
Translation · Saheeh International
31O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess
Explanatory note (our words, not part of the Qur'an)
Enjoy what is good, but avoid excess and waste.
Arabic text
ظَهَرَ ٱلۡفَسَادُ فِي ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ أَيۡدِي ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعۡضَ ٱلَّذِي عَمِلُواْ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ41
Translation · Saheeh International
41Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness]
Explanatory note (our words, not part of the Qur'an)
Corruption on land and sea results from human actions; the hope is that people return to what is right.
From the hadith
Hadith are reports of the Prophet Muhammad's words and actions. Each one below shows its collection, reference number and grading, with the authority that graded it.
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him."
Why it matters here
Planting a tree is an ongoing charity.
Source, grading and translation details
- Collection
- Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 2320 (Book 41, Hadith 1)
- Numbering
- Muhammad Fu'ad 'Abd al-Baqi numbering, as used on sunnah.com
- Grade
- Sahih: Included in Sahih al-Bukhari, a collection accepted as authentic (sahih) by Sunni hadith scholarship
- Translation
- Muhammad Muhsin Khan (English translation as published on sunnah.com)
- Checked
- sunnah.com English dataset (offline copy in the `hadith` npm package v1.3.0): wording, number, in-book reference and grade, on 2026-10-09
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "While a man was walking he felt thirsty and went down a well and drank water from it. On coming out of it, he saw a dog panting and eating mud because of excessive thirst. The man said, 'This (dog) is suffering from the same problem as that of mine. So he (went down the well), filled his shoe with water, caught hold of it with his teeth and climbed up and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for his (good) deed and forgave him." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ! Is there a reward for us in serving (the) animals?" He replied, "Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate."
Why it matters here
Mercy to animals is rewarded; there is reward in serving every living being.
Source, grading and translation details
- Collection
- Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 2363 (Book 42, Hadith 11)
- Numbering
- Muhammad Fu'ad 'Abd al-Baqi numbering, as used on sunnah.com
- Grade
- Sahih: Included in Sahih al-Bukhari, a collection accepted as authentic (sahih) by Sunni hadith scholarship
- Translation
- Muhammad Muhsin Khan (English translation as published on sunnah.com)
- Checked
- sunnah.com English dataset (offline copy in the `hadith` npm package v1.3.0): wording, number, in-book reference and grade, on 2026-10-09
- Editorial note
- "Any animate" renders an Arabic expression meaning every living creature (literally, 'every moist liver').
Abu Sa'id Khudri reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:
The world is sweet and green (alluring) and verily Allah is going to install you as vicegerent in it in order to see how you act.
Why it matters here
The world is entrusted to people to see how they act.
Source, grading and translation details
- Collection
- Sahih Muslim, no. 2742 (Book 49, Hadith 12)
- Numbering
- Muhammad Fu'ad 'Abd al-Baqi numbering, as used on sunnah.com
- Grade
- Sahih: Included in Sahih Muslim, a collection accepted as authentic (sahih) by Sunni hadith scholarship
- Translation
- Abdul Hamid Siddiqui (English translation as published on sunnah.com)
- Checked
- sunnah.com English dataset (offline copy in the `hadith` npm package v1.3.0): wording, number, in-book reference and grade, on 2026-10-09
- Editorial note
- "Vicegerent" translates a form of the word khalifah: one entrusted with responsibility.
Context and key terms
Arabic terms in this lesson (4)
Khalifah
خليفة
Successor; steward; trustee
In Qur'an 2:30, a role given to human beings on earth. Many scholars understand it as entrusted responsibility, which underpins Islamic ideas of stewardship.
Amanah
أمانة
Trust; trustworthiness
Something entrusted to a person, and the quality of being trustworthy with it. It covers property, secrets, responsibilities, roles at work, and the earth itself.
Rahmah
رحمة
Mercy; compassion
Compassion that seeks the good of others. Two names of God at the opening of the Qur'an, ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim, come from the same root.
'Adl
عدل
Justice; fairness
Giving each person and thing its due, and treating people equitably regardless of status, relationship or feelings.
A note on scientific claims
Some popular materials claim that particular verses predicted specific scientific discoveries. This site does not make such claims. The Qur'an describes itself as guidance; its verses on nature invite reflection and responsibility.
Everyday example
Illustrative story (fictional)
The community garden
A community centre's car park was grey and baking hot every summer. A group of teenagers proposed planting trees and a small vegetable garden, citing the hadith about planting.
Older members worried about the cost and upkeep. The group found a local council grant, set up a watering rota, and shared the vegetables with a food bank. Three years on, birds nest in the trees and the garden is a favourite meeting place for neighbours of all backgrounds.
Stewardship is often local and practical. Small projects can bring together environmental care, charity and community.
Activity
Scenario challenge
The overflowing bin
After a community celebration you are helping to clear up. The bins are overflowing with disposable plates and half-eaten food. Someone says: 'It's only once a year — it doesn't matter.'
What would you suggest?
Knowledge check
Answer each question to see an explanation. You can retry as many times as you like; nothing is graded.
Reflection
Try it in practice
A week of mindful consumption
- 1Choose one area: food, water, energy or single-use plastic.
- 2Track it for three days without changing anything.
- 3Then make one concrete change and keep it for the rest of the week.
This is also available as an optional daily practice: Reduce waste.
Sources and further reading
Primary sources cited
- Qur'an 55:7–9 (Surah Ar-Rahman). Arabic: King Fahd Complex Uthmani text; translation: Saheeh International.
- Qur'an 6:165 (Surah Al-An'am). Arabic: King Fahd Complex Uthmani text; translation: Saheeh International.
- Qur'an 7:31 (Surah Al-A'raf). Arabic: King Fahd Complex Uthmani text; translation: Saheeh International.
- Qur'an 30:41 (Surah Ar-Rum). Arabic: King Fahd Complex Uthmani text; translation: Saheeh International.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2320, graded Sahih (Sahih collection). Sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2363, graded Sahih (Sahih collection). Sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
- Sahih Muslim 2742, graded Sahih (Sahih collection). Sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
Further reading
- Surah Ar-Rahman (55) (opens in a new tab) · Quran.com
A surah that repeatedly reflects on the blessings of creation.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2320 (opens in a new tab) · Sunnah.com
The hadith on planting.
This lesson is educational and is not a fatwa (religious ruling). For personal religious questions, please consult a qualified scholar you trust. How we source and review lessons.
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