Teaching of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on Environmental Stewardship

Purity and cleanliness is central to Isalmic teachings. From inner or spiritual purity that refers to the purification of the heart from negative traits like envy, pride, and hypocrisy to outer purity that  Involves cleanliness of the body, clothing, and environment, Islamic teachings are emphasised right from the childhood. While ablution five times a day ensures outer purity and going to majids for prayers in clean clothes, the beleivers are also required to keep their envirnment clean by ensuring disposal of litter and efforts be made to ensure clean and healthy environemnt.

One of the means to ensure clean and healthy environemnt is to plant trees and flowery palnts so that carbon dioxide is absorbed by the trees to keep everyone from environmental pollution. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has also emphasised on keeping the environment clean by planting trees for every tree becomes a source of charity for the planter for it is helping others to live in clean environment, 

To keep the enviroment clean, we share a hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as narrated by Narrated Anas bin Malik, mentioned in Sahi Bokhari as hadith 2320:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "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."

This hadith underscores the idea that acts of cultivation, such as planting trees or sowing seeds, are not only beneficial for the individual but also serve as ongoing charity (Sadaqah Jariyah). The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized that even if a bird, person, or animal benefits from the produce, the one who planted it receives continuous reward.

This teaching aligns with the Qur'anic perspective on the blessings of agriculture. In Surah Al-Waqi'ah (56:63-65), Allah questions: "Then tell Me about the seed that you sow in the ground, is it you that make it to grow, or are We the grower? Were it Our Will, We could crumble it to dry pieces..."

This verse reflects on Allah's role in the growth of crops, highlighting the importance of gratitude and recognizing divine blessings.

Furthermore, the Qur'an encourages the cultivation of the earth as a means of sustenance and a way to earn Allah's pleasure. In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:261), Allah likens the example of those who spend in His cause to a grain of corn that sprouts seven ears, each bearing a hundred grains.

In essence, both the hadith and the Qur'an promote the act of planting and cultivation as virtuous deeds that yield continuous rewards, benefiting both the individual and the broader community. In fact this Hadith points twoards the individual as well as collective responsibility of Muslims to help keep the environment clean so that everyone lives in a pollution free environemnt. This would aslo ensure good health of everyone, free from diseases which are generally due to polluted air and unhealthy environemnt.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

For Hadiths on the subject, please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Sadaqah صدقة  / Voluntary Charity

Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  for more Hadiths on the General Subjects.

For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo: Pixabay | Source of Hadith | Help taken from ChatGPT for expanding meaning of the Hadith

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing. one may also consult local Muslim Imamam of the masjid for more calrification.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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The Virtue of Planting and Cultivating (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Nature has always been greener with trees, jungles and grassy fields. With the passage of time and pave way for roads and railways and growing needs of expanding cities, the area under cultivation are being reduced, creating concerns among the environmentalists for deforestation is adding suffocation due to lack of oxygen emitted by trees and absorption of carbon, which injurious to health. Trees also filter harmful pollutants and trap dust, smoke, and particles to provide fresh and healthy breathable air. Trees also provide habitats for numerous species of birds, insects, and animals, besides regulating local and global ecosystems by stabilizing temperatures and rainfall patterns.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ cognizant of the value of trees and foliage, advised his companions to grow trees which in fact become a form of charity for the planters. 

This Hadith is quoted in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: (Book 22: The Book of Musaqah / كتاب المساقاة / Chapter 2:  The Virtue of Planting and Cultivating / باب فَضْلِ الْغَرْسِ وَالزَّرْعِ / as Hadith 1552a, given herein under:

Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Never does a Muslim plants a tree except that he has the reward of charity for him, for what is eaten out of that is charity; what is stolen out of that, what the beasts eat out of that, what the birds eat out of that is charity for him. (In short) none incurs a loss to him but it becomes a charity on his part.

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَغْرِسُ غَرْسًا إِلاَّ كَانَ مَا أُكِلَ مِنْهُ لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ وَمَا سُرِقَ مِنْهُ لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ وَمَا أَكَلَ السَّبُعُ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ وَمَا أَكَلَتِ الطَّيْرُ فَهُوَ لَهُ صَدَقَةً وَلاَ يَرْزَؤُهُ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ كَانَ لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ 

* This Hadith is also quoted in Sahi Bokhari as Hadith number 2320

This hadith emphasizes the reward for acts of environmental stewardship and benefiting others, even indirectly. Planting a tree or cultivating crops is seen as an act of charity because it provides ongoing benefits to Allah’s creation—humans, animals, and nature.

Reference to the Quran

This teaching aligns with several Quranic themes, emphasizing kindness, charity, and the care of Allah's creation.

• Charity as an Act of Righteousness: The Quran repeatedly emphasizes that acts of charity are highly rewarded:

"Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity... it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward." (Surah Al-Hadid, 57:18)

By planting trees and benefiting others, a Muslim engages in Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity), which continues to bring rewards as long as it provides benefits.

• Care for the Earth and Stewardship: The Quran teaches that humans are stewards (Khalifah) of the Earth and have a responsibility to care for it:

"He brought you forth from the earth and settled you in it. So ask forgiveness of Him and turn to Him in repentance. Indeed, my Lord is near and responsive." (Surah Hud, 11:61)

Planting trees and cultivating the earth aligns with this stewardship, ensuring the sustainability of natural resources for future generations.

• Reward for Benefiting Others: The Quran highlights the importance of benefiting others, even in small ways:

"Whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it." (Surah Az-Zalzalah, 99:7)

When a tree or plant provides food, shade, or shelter, it is a source of ongoing blessings and reward for the one who planted it.

• Kindness to All of Allah’s Creation: The Quran acknowledges the rights of all living beings, including animals and birds, as part of Allah’s creation:

"And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you..." (Surah Al-An’am, 6:38)

Providing sustenance to creatures, whether intentionally or unintentionally, is an act of compassion and is rewarded in Islam.

Key Lessons from the Hadith and Quran

• Acts of Charity Are Diverse: Charity is not limited to financial contributions but includes any act that benefits others, such as planting trees or sowing seeds.

• Ongoing Rewards (Sadaqah Jariyah): Planting trees offers continuous rewards as long as they provide benefit, making it an enduring form of charity.

• Environmental Responsibility: Islam encourages the care of the environment, recognizing it as part of Allah’s trust to humanity.

• Kindness to All Creatures: The hadith and Quran both emphasize the importance of benefiting all of Allah’s creation—humans, animals, and even nature.

• Intentional and Unintentional Charity: The hadith shows that even unintended acts, such as birds or animals eating from plants, bring rewards.

This hadith beautifully encapsulates the Islamic values of charity, compassion, and environmental stewardship. It reflects the Quranic principles of benefiting others, caring for the Earth, and recognizing all living beings as part of Allah’s creation. 

Muslims are encouraged to see even small acts, like planting a tree, as significant contributions to the well-being of humanity and the environment, leading to immense rewards in this life and the Hereafter.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  for more Hadiths on the General Subjects.

For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Source of Hadith: Sahi Bokhari | Sahi Muslim | Help taken from ChatGPT for expanding meaning of the Hadith

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More