Towards
an Islamic Jurisprudence of the Environment*
Fiqh
al-Bi’ah fil-Islam
Prof. Mustafa Abu-Sway
Department
of Philosophy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem
27/08/2002
This
paper aims at formulating a coherent and systematic jurisprudence of
the environment based on the Islamic revealed knowledge and
heritage. The latter reflects the practical experience in the field
and, therefore, forms the ground for a positive relationship with
the environment. Within the Islamic world-view, this positive
relationship is perceived as an act of faith which comes in line
with the essential role of human beings on earth; to worship the One
and Only God (Allah). Therefore, our relationship with the
environment should be regulated in the field of jurisprudence.
In addition, the paper explores how the Islamic world-view takes
care of the different components of the environment, each
separately. Finally, there is a discussion of the aims [maqasid] of
the Shari`ah, where the aims are reconsidered.
