Islamic Environmental Stewardship: Nature and Science in the Light of Islamic Philosophy

Introduction and Preliminary Notes

This essay presents a short overview of the Islamic philosophical approach to nature, the Islamic perspective on modern science and the relations between sacred tradition, nature, and science in light of the ongoing environmental crisis. It also proposes a solution to the environmental crisis, based on an integrated understanding of these subject matters. This is conducted through a lens that is Islamic by method but universal in principle and conclusion.1

The prime source of all Islamic thought and practice, from theological doctrine to sacred law, is the Holy Qur’an. Similarly, in this essay, the influence of Qur’anic teachings is much greater than what may just appear in citations; their influence is central to this work. With that said, if there is anything presented in this essay that is disharmonious with the Qur’anic message, it is the fault of the essay’s author.

Another prime source used for the purpose of this essay is the work and teaching of the Islamic philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr. An esteemed author of over 50 books and 500 articles, Nasr has written extensively on a wide array of subjects including Sufism, perennial philosophy,2 comparative religion, the sacred sciences and the natural environment.3 In fact, much of this essay can be regarded as a summary of his integrated writings on modern humanity’s approach to science, spirituality and nature. Nasr has spoken at many lecture-series and seminars, and in 1980 he was the first Muslim to deliver the prestigious Gifford Lectures- a renowned annual lecture series in Scotland that features the most prominent thinkers in the integrated field of religion, science and philosophy.

In 1966, Nasr delivered the Rockefeller Lectures at the University of Chicago; there he traced the root issues of the environmental crisis to the spiritual crisis of modern humanity. These lectures became the basis of his book, Man and Nature: The Spiritual Crisis of Modern Man, which was used as a prime text for direction and reference in this essay. The writings of others affiliated with Nasr, namely his late teacher Frithjof Schuon and his student William C. Chittick, have as well had significant influence on this essay’s content and direction.