Islam’s’ view on global warming
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.
Answer
Global warming is the increase in the average measured temperature of the Earths’ atmosphere since the mid-twentieth century.
The detailed causes of this warming remain an active field of research but one of the reasons have been said to be humans releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. For example, there are more cars on the road and per household than ever before and this number is increasing. Islamicaly, this falls under the term of Israaf. The Quran expresses the sense of spending wastefully through two words: (1) Tabdhir, translated as squandering recklessly. (2) Israaf (extravagance). The prohibitation of tabdhir is clear from the following verse where Allah (SWA) says: “And do not squander recklessly. Surely squanderers are brothers to Shaitans and the Shaitan is very ungrateful to his Lord”. (Surah Bani Israeel v.26-v.27)
And the prohibition of Israaf is deduced from Surah Al-Araf v.33 (and do not be extravagant). Some commentators say that both words are synonymous. Any spending in sin or disobedience or a wrong occasion or place is called tabdhir and israaf. There are others who define it by saying that tabdhir is spending in sin or on some totally unsuitable occasion or place, while israaf is spending beyond the level of need on an occasion where it is permissible to spend. (Maariful Quran p.489 v.5)
Imam As-shabi (RA) narrates that Muawiya wrote to Al Mughira bin Shuba: Write to me something, which you have heard from the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam. So Mughira wrote: I heard the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam saying, “Allah has hated for you vain talks, wasting of wealth and asking too many questions.” (Sahih Bukhari p.958 v.2)
Only Allah Knows Best
Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
