I want you to stop

Assalaamu alaikum [Peace be to you],

Earth Day was established to raise awareness about the environment. Islam however, did more than that; it provided clear directives for action, as early as the seventh century. The Qur'an is filled with ayats (verses) and the Sunnah (sayings and doings of the prophet Mohammed -peace be upon him-) is filled with actions, on how to take care of our planet Earth.

The Prophet Mohammed -peace be upon him- said, “the Earth is a Mosque.” You can pray anywhere. The entire planet is meant to be a place for worship of its Creator. You can kneel down in awe and gratitude of Allah[God] on grass, on sand, on a mountain, in a cornfield. The Mosque is a clean place of worship, Therefore, the earth has to be kept as clean as the mosque.

In the Quran, Islam's revealed text, men and women are viewed as God's vicegerents on Earth.
Allah[God] said in the holy Qur'an:
... وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً
Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth..."
^{[translation from verse 2:30]}
God created nature in a balance and mankind's responsibility is to maintain this fragile equilibrium through wise governance and sound personal conduct.

According to Islamic beliefs, the Earth is a sanctuary in which mankind was made to dwell in comfort. The vast oceans, forests and mountains that make up this bountiful planet have been subdued by God for our enjoyment and productive use.

The Prophet Mohammed -peace be upon him- told his followers they would be rewarded by God for taking care of the Earth. He said: "If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity."

In Islam, even the Earth has inalienable rights endowed by its Creator.

Sound ecological principles are not limited to Islam, and should be acted upon by practitioners of other faiths. Together we can tackle the environmental problems that besiege our planet.

On this year's Earth Day, people of all faiths should take time to examine their own faith tradition's advice for taking care of the Earth that we share.

Let's make Every Day Earth Day.

Salam [Peace]