Islamic Perspectives on Natural Resources Management and Sustainability

Abstract

International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service MG Kailis Group

The complexity of natural resources management has challenged the most willing governments and their most dedicated scientists. The many intangible dimensions of the environment have defeated the most creative valuation methods. Recently, more and more professionals and researchers have turned to religious teachings about nature and society, in order to tackle those intangibilities. In this context, so far, only a few efforts have been dedicated to the use of Islamic sources of law (shari ah) and tradition (sunnah) to inform natural resource management efforts. This paper sets out to review these efforts and to contribute an analysis of these Islamic sources. It concludes that, in Islam, the use of natural resources for consumption and profit lies at the juncture between individual worship (!ibadat), and group transactions (mu amalat). A balance between the two defines the relationship between human society (ummah) and the natural environment and is a defining factor of Muslim human ecology.