Khalifahs of the Environment (Cambridge International IGCSE Religious Studies)

Humanity as khalifahs (stewards) of the Earth

• Khalifah means guardian, steward or caretaker
• Islam teaches that all humans are khalifahs of the earth
• The Qur’an teaches that Allah created the world and entrusted humans with its care

blockquote “It is He who has made you successors (khalifahs) upon the Earth” (Qur’an 6:165)

• The Hadith also teaches this

blockquote “The Earth is green and beautiful, and Allah has appointed you his stewards over it” (Hadith Bukhari)

• Muslims believe the world does not belong to them but that it belongs to Allah

  • The Earth is seen as a gift from Allah, full of signs of His creation, and should not be abused or exploited

• Being a khalifah means:

  • Caring for the Earth on Allah’s behalf
  • Using its resources wisely and justly
  • Passing it on intact and unharmed to future generations

• Muslims are expected to:

  • Live in harmony with nature
  • Avoid waste and pollution
  • Protect animals and natural habitats

• Stewardship is a responsibility, not a right

• Environmental destruction is seen as a form of injustice and a sin, as it disobeys Allah’s commands

• Muslims believe Allah will judge everyone on how they have lived their lives — including their treatment of the environment — in the akhirah (afterlife)

Muslim responsibility for God’s creation

• Islam teaches that all humanity has a responsibility for the stewardship of the planet that God created

• Muslims believe that they are commanded in the Qur’an to be khalifahs or stewards as part of their religious duty

  • Environmental care is seen as an act of worship

• The Qur’an and Hadith both stress the importance of protecting the environment and avoiding actions that harm the planet:

blockquote “Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people’s hands have done” (Qur’an 30:41)

• The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) showed care for animals, land and natural resources
• He taught that even resources that may seem abundant must not be wasted, for example, water:

blockquote “Do not waste water, even if you perform your ablution on the banks of an abundantly-flowing river” (Hadith)

• Muslims are expected to:

  • Use resources sustainably

    • Avoiding greed, waste and overconsumption

  • Care for animals and plants

    • Harming living creatures without just cause is considered haram (forbidden)

  • Live responsibly

    • Actions should not damage the balance of nature that Allah created

• Muslims believe they will be judged by Allah for how they treat His creation

  • If any Muslim has mistreated the planet, they will be called to account in the akhirah

• Many Muslims become involved in conservation, recycling or environmental projects to show their care for the world

  • For example, a UK-based scheme called Muslims for Humanity plants trees throughout the country to improve the local environment
  • They would say that their actions put into practice the Hadith teaching, which states that all actions that care for the natural world are seen as a charitable gift for Allah

blockquote “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” (Hadith — Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Worked Example Give two ways Muslims demonstrate their role as khalifahs of the Earth

[2 marks]

Final answer: Answer:

One way Muslims demonstrate that they are khalifahs is by avoiding waste [1 mark]

Another way is by protecting animals and nature [1 mark]

Exam Hint The most recent exam syllabus for this course (2025 onwards) omits the section on ethical treatment of animals. Older course notes or revision materials may still include information about this; however, you do not need to learn it for the exam you will be sitting. Focus your answers on stewardship of the environment.