The Islamic Perspective On the Environmental Crisis​: Seyyed Hossein Nasr in Conversation with Muzaffar Iqbal

In this conversation, Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Muzaffar Iqbal discuss various aspects of the environmental crisis. Beginning with identification of various dimensions of the crisis, they discuss its internal and external dimensions. Internal dimension refers to the crisis in the human heart. They also explore the relationship between modern technology and the environmental crisis, stages of this crisis since the Industrial Revolution, and the current state of the world. The conversation then moves to the Muslim world and its dilemmas in relation to environmental crisis produced by modern technology. Muslims have a responsibility toward God, which is not limited to Divine Law, the shariʿah, but it extends to include human responsibility toward all creation. Muslims have a rich history of love and respect for the natural world; they need to resuscitate that tradition. This heritage can help to produce new solutions to the crisis. Muslim scholars, especially those who specialize in sciences dealing with the Qurʾan and the Prophetic Sunnah, need to pay greater attention to the environmental crisis. This will help in raising awareness about solutions Islam offers to tackle this global crisis.

Keywords: Environmental crisis; science, technology and the environment; Islamic perspectives on environment; Scientific Revolution; Western civilization; Muslim world​

Journal of Islam & Science, Vol. 5 (Summer 2007) No. 1

Seyyed Hossein Nasr

Seyyed Hossein Nasr is the University Professor of Islamic studies at The George Washington University, Washington DC and President of the Foundation for Traditional Studies.

Muzaffar Iqbal

Muzaffar Iqbal is the President of the Center for Islamic Sciences and the General Editor of the Integrated Encyclopedia of the Qurʾān.