What does Islam say about protecting the environment?

The short answer

Islam treats the earth as a trust. Humans were placed on it as successors who will be tested on how they use it, and the Quran forbids spreading corruption on the earth after it has been set right. The Prophet ﷺ said that whenever a creature eats from what a Muslim plants, it is charity for him, and he warned against fouling water sources, roads and shaded places.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

Allah told the angels He would place on the earth "a successive authority" (khalifah) 1. He made people successors on the earth and raised some above others "that He may try you through what He has given you" 2. The Prophet ﷺ said the world is sweet and green, and Allah has made you successors in it "to see how you act" 3. The earth is not ours to waste; it is a test.

The Quran is direct: "cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation" 4. It also says that "corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned", so that they taste some of the consequences and perhaps return 5.

The Sunnah gives very practical teachings:

  • Plant. Whenever a Muslim plants a tree or sows a crop and a bird, a person or an animal eats from it, it is charity for him 6.
  • Keep shared places clean. The Prophet ﷺ warned against relieving oneself in watering places, on roads and in the shade where people rest 7.
  • Share natural resources. Muslims are partners in three things: grass, water and fire 8.

None of this is an add-on to Islam. The same religion that teaches prayer teaches that corruption on the earth is something Allah dislikes. Planting a tree, not wasting water, and not littering are small acts that can carry lasting reward.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:30

    Allah placed a successive authority (khalifah) on the earth.

    وَإِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلࣱ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ خَلِيفَةࣰۖ قَالُوٓاْ أَتَجۡعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفۡسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسۡفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَۖ قَالَ إِنِّيٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٣٠

    And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know

  2. 2
    Quran Al-An'aam · 6:165

    Allah made you successors on the earth to test you in what He gave you.

    وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَكُمۡ خَلَٰٓئِفَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعۡضَكُمۡ فَوۡقَ بَعۡضࣲ دَرَجَٰتࣲ لِّيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ فِي مَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمۡۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيعُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَغَفُورࣱ رَّحِيمُۢ ۝١٦٥

    And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees [of rank] that He may try you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful

  3. 3
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2742
    Sahih Muslim

    The world is sweet and green and Allah made you successors in it to see how you act.

    Abu Sa'id Khudri reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:The world is sweet and green (alluring) and verily Allah is going to install you as vicegerent in it in order to see how you act. So avoid the allurement of women: verily, the first trial for the people of Isra'il was caused by women. And in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Ibn Bashshar the words are:" So that He should see how you act

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْلَمَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا نَضْرَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا حُلْوَةٌ خَضِرَةٌ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ مُسْتَخْلِفُكُمْ فِيهَا فَيَنْظُرُ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ فَاتَّقُوا الدُّنْيَا وَاتَّقُوا النِّسَاءَ فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ فِتْنَةِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَتْ فِي النِّسَاءِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَفِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ بَشَّارٍ ‏"‏ لِيَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  4. 4
    Quran Al-A'raaf · 7:56

    Do not cause corruption on the earth after it has been set right.

    وَلَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ إِصۡلَٰحِهَا وَٱدۡعُوهُ خَوۡفࣰ ا وَطَمَعًاۚ إِنَّ رَحۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبࣱ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ۝٥٦

    And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good

  5. 5
    Quran Ar-Room · 30:41

    Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people's hands have earned.

    ظَهَرَ ٱلۡفَسَادُ فِي ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ أَيۡدِي ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعۡضَ ٱلَّذِي عَمِلُواْ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ ۝٤١

    Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness]

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 2320
    Sahih Bukhari

    A tree or crop from which a bird, person or animal eats is charity for the one who planted it.

    Narrated Anas bin Malik: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

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَغْرِسُ غَرْسًا، أَوْ يَزْرَعُ زَرْعًا، فَيَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ طَيْرٌ أَوْ إِنْسَانٌ أَوْ بَهِيمَةٌ، إِلاَّ كَانَ لَهُ بِهِ صَدَقَةٌ ‏"‏‏.‏ وَقَالَ لَنَا مُسْلِمٌ حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسٌ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 26
    Hasan graded by Al-Albani
    Graders differ
    • Al-Albani: Hasan
    • Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid: Hasan
    • Shuaib Al Arnaut: Hasan Lighairihi
    • Zubair Ali Zai: Daif

    Beware of relieving oneself in watering places, on roads and in shade.

    Narrated Mu'adh ibn Jabal: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Be on your guard against three things which provoke cursing: easing in the watering places and on the thoroughfares, and in the shade (of the tree)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ سُوَيْدٍ الرَّمْلِيُّ، وَعُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ أَبُو حَفْصٍ، وَحَدِيثُهُ، أَتَمُّ أَنَّ سَعِيدَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ، حَدَّثَهُمْ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا نَافِعُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، حَدَّثَنِي حَيْوَةُ بْنُ شُرَيْحٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْحِمْيَرِيَّ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ اتَّقُوا الْمَلاَعِنَ الثَّلاَثَ الْبَرَازَ فِي الْمَوَارِدِ وَقَارِعَةِ الطَّرِيقِ وَالظِّلِّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  8. 8
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 3477
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    Muslims are partners in three things, grass, water and fire.

    Narrated A man: A man from the immigrants of the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said: I participated in battle three times along with the Prophet (ﷺ). I heard him say: Muslims have common share in three (things). grass, water and fire

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْجَعْدِ اللُّؤْلُؤِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا حَرِيزُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ حَبَّانَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ الشَّرْعَبِيِّ، عَنْ رَجُلٍ، مِنْ قَرْنٍ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَرِيزُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خِدَاشٍ، - وَهَذَا لَفْظُ عَلِيٍّ - عَنْ رَجُلٍ، مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ غَزَوْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثَلاَثًا أَسْمَعُهُ يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ الْمُسْلِمُونَ شُرَكَاءُ فِي ثَلاَثٍ فِي الْكَلإِ وَالْمَاءِ وَالنَّارِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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