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As the world grapples with myriad environmental problems, a number of show the role of religion is key.

Religion influences people's worldviews, including how we think about nature and our roles within it. This is true of Islam, one of the world's religions.

Islamic teachings on protecting nature can help inform how we respond to the ecological and climate crises. In particular, Australia can look to our neighbor, Indonesia, where the is growing.

So let's take a closer look at how Islamic teachings promote care for nature, establishing common ground for environmental action across faiths and cultures.

What is Green Islam?

In Islam, humans are described as khal墨fah, or caretakers of Earth. Islamic teaching also states that Islam is rahmatan lil'膩lam墨n鈥攁 mercy to all creation.

This means Muslims are responsible for the well-being of everything on Earth鈥攈umans, animals, plants, land and water. Taking care of the environment is considered an act of worship.

The color green has always held special meaning in Islam. It is said to have been the , symbolizing hope, paradise and new life.

The Qur'an鈥擨slam's sacred scripture and the main source of Islamic teaching鈥攆requently discusses nature. It describes the sky, trees, rivers and animals, and the beauty of the natural world. It also reminds people to live in m墨z膩n, or balance, with the environment, in :

"He has raised up the sky. He has set the balance, so that you may not exceed in the balance: weigh with justice and do not fall short in the balance."

The hadith, another source of Islamic teaching, also promotes environmental care. The hadith is a collection of words, actions, and approvals attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, the last prophet of Islam. refers to care for nature as an act of giving:

"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 from him."

The emergence of Green Islam

While the Qur'an and hadith have long talked about nature, the Green Islam movement emerged much more recently.

Muslim scholar was among the first to articulate the idea. In the late 1960s, environmental problems were not only physical but also spiritual and moral. He believed people, regardless of their faith, should reconnect with spiritual values that teach care and balance.

In the following decades, as environmental problems worsened, more Muslim voices began environmental responsibility based on Islamic principles. This was by a of exploring the relationship between Islam and environmental care.

Over the past 25 years or so, Green Islam has moved from theory to real-life action. Today, the ideas are practiced in many Muslim nations and communities around the world.

A spotlight on Indonesia

Indonesia faces a number of pressing environmental problems, including deforestation, and . It is also greenhouse gas emitters.

Indonesia is also the world's largest Muslim-majority country, and is at the forefront of the Green Islam movement. There, Green Islam is helping to mobilize leaders and communities to support environmental protection.

Environmentalism is across Indonesia. This is supported by the nation's Green Islamic Boarding School program known as .

Indonesia's Islamic boarding schools, or pesantren, are large and well-established, and their teachers and students are well respected. This makes the school network an both within the schools and in the broader community.

In 2022, Indonesia's national mosque, Istiqlal, became the world's to be environmentally certified by the International Finance Corporation.

The mosque building includes reflective paint for the roof and external walls, energy-saving lighting, smart energy meters and solar panels. It also features low-flow taps and water recycling. Professor Nasaruddin Umar, Grand Imam of Istiqlal, said the mosque had become a "center of enlightenment for environmental protection," adding:

"Muslims feel a strong imperative for mosques to go green to enhance the quality of their worship and honor the leadership of the [Prophet Muhammad] Rasulullah SAW who insisted on the need to protect the environment."

The Indonesian government has also urged religious leaders to include environmental themes in sermons. For example, in April this year the Ministry of Religious Affairs to talk about environmental protection during Friday prayers, to coincide with Earth Day.

Australia and Indonesia are working together on environmental protection. Programs include , and .

To ensure more effective and respectful cooperation with Indonesia, Australia should recognize and respect how Green Islam can help care for our shared planet.

Looking to a green future

Prominent examples of Green Islam can be found around the world.

Morocco, for example, has a . In Egypt, the Islamic authority Dar al-Ifta has (religious edict) prohibiting activities that harm nature.

And many countries support environmental initiatives through , an instrument to fund eco-friendly projects that align with Islamic principles.

In a time of mounting ecological challenges, all sources of wisdom are vital. Islamic teachings, along with that of other faiths, offer guidance for living in harmony with nature. Together, they can inspire meaningful and practical action for the planet.

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .