Islam and the Environment

Suggested Duration: 60 minutes

Learning Objectives

To know that we all have a responsibility for protecting the environment
To understand that we need to preserve the earth's resources for future generations
To show gratitude for God's blessings by using natural resources wisely

Key Words

Environment, litter, protect, natural disasters, recycling

Islamic Values

Islam teaches us that it is our duty to protect our environment as these resources are gifts and an amanah from God.

Citizenship Values

Citizenship teaches us to protect the environment locally, nationally and globally, now and in the future.

Activities

Ask some quick questions to recap the last lesson. Share the lesson objectives.

A Starter Activity

Ask pupils what the word 'environment' means. Take quick feedback and list pupils' answers.

Emphasise that the environment is the surroundings in which we live. It can be local, regional, national and even international. It may include air, trees, parks, buildings, roads, houses, electricity, gas and water.

Ask pupils what 'global warming' means and why global warming is such an important issue for the whole world.

Suggested answers: The effects of global warming are worldwide.

Some areas are being affected by cyclones, hurricanes and floods, while others are suffering from drought.

People are leaving some of these areas and moving to safer areas to avoid natural disasters.

The glaciers and ice polar caps are melting at a frightening rate.

Humans are consuming the world's resources at such a fast rate that they cannot be replaced.

We can take part in reducing global warming by using public transport instead of our cars. We can: switch off lights when they are not needed; use our heating systems more effectively; turn taps off to save water; and walk to school.

B Development

Activity 1: Dream Environment

Hand out Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1802 and ask pupils to describe their dream environment, either by drawing or by describing it in words. What would they like to see in it and what actions would they take to protect it?

Take feedback and discuss some of the pupils' suggestions with the whole class. Emphasise that in order to have a dream environment we must protect what we have.

Activity 2: Islamic Guidance

Ask a pupil to recite the following verses. Explain the meaning.

وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلاً

'And indeed We have honoured the children of Adam. We carry them on the land and the sea, and have made provision of good things for them, and have preferred them above many of those whom We created with a marked preference.' (Surat al-Isra' 17:70)

Question: What do we learn from this verse?

Suggested answer: Here God tells us that he has preferred human beings above all of His creations. We have qualities which other creatures do not have. He created all good things for us. Explain that it is our duty to protect and use them wisely.

All the blessings God has created for us, such as air, water and plants, are for our benefit and we should use them wisely. If we cut a tree for our use we must plant another for our coming generations.

وَاللَّهُ أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءِ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ

'And God has sent down the rain from the sky and given life to the earth after it was lifeless. Indeed in that there is a sign for people who listen.' (Surat al-Nahal 16:65)

Question: What is 'lifeless' earth?

Suggested answer: 'Lifeless' earth means that there are no plants, no water, no crops, no grass and no life on it.

Question: How would you revive a lifeless earth?

Suggested answer: By planting trees, taking care of planet earth, using fewer resources, and by not being wasteful.

وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ

'...And do not waste (God's bounties), indeed He does not love the wasteful...' (Surat al-An'am 6:141)

Question: How can we minimise waste?

C Plenary

Share the following scenario with pupils:

A local takeaway has just opened a branch on your street. One of the opening offers is 'Free chips with every purchase'. You only want to order a pizza, knowing full well that you will throw the chips into the bin.

Ask the class whether they would refuse the free chips or take them with a view to eating them later.

Take feedback and stress that this is a practical example of how we should be careful in our day-to-day decisions, as they might have an impact on the environment.

Emphasise that:

As Muslims we are responsible for protecting what God has created for our benefit.
As citizens it is our duty to care for the environment in which we live.
We should think how our actions might have a bad impact on the environment.

Ask pupils to complete Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1805.

Suggested Follow-up Work

Give instructions for follow-up work:

Maintain a one-week diary and record any actions you took to protect the environment. Use Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1806.

Make an effort to use bins to dispose of your litter. If no bins can be found, please try to take the litter home.

Resources

Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1801: Lesson Objectives
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1802: Dream Environment
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1803: Islamic Guidance
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1804: Responsibility to Protect Environment
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1805: Feedback
Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1806: Follow-up Worksheet

Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1801

Lesson Objectives

To know that we all have a responsibility for protecting the environment
To understand that we need to preserve the earth's resources for future generations
To show gratitude for God's blessings by using natural resources wisely

Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1802

Dream Environment

Either draw or describe in words your dream environment. What would you like to see in it and what actions would you take to protect it?

Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1803

Islamic Guidance

وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلاً

'And indeed! We have honoured the children of Adam. We carry them on the land and the sea, and have made provision of good things for them, and have preferred them above many of those whom We created with a marked preference.' (Surat al-Isra' 17:70)

وَاللَّهُ أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ

And God has sent down the rain from the sky and given life to the earth after it was lifeless. Indeed in that there is a sign for people who listen.' (Surat al-Nahl 16:65)

وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ

...And do not waste (God's bounties), Indeed He does not love the wasteful...' (Surat al-An'am 6:141)

'Muslims will always earn the reward of charity for planting a tree or a field and then birds, humans and animals eat from it.' (Bukhari, Muslim)

'He who wastes is not one of us. ' (Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah)

Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1804

Responsibility to Protect the Environment

List the responsibilities of each of the following in protecting the environment.

| Individual's Responsibility | Community's Collective Responsibility | Government's Responsibility | | :------------------------- | :-------------------------------------- | :------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1805

Feedback

Lesson Title: Islam and the Environment

Name:

Madrasah/Organisation:

Today I have learnt about:

As a result of this lesson I have learnt that a good Muslim should:

I am going to follow up this topic in my home/school/community by:

Pupils' Activity Sheet 3.1806

Follow-up Worksheet

Lesson Title: Islam and the Environment

Name:

Madrasah/Organisation:

Task: Maintain a one-week diary and record any actions you took to protect the environment.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday