Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – A number of Muslim countries are currently facing alarming environmental challenges. This situation should not be occurring, considering that Islam provides a theological foundation through ecological jurisprudence (fiqh al-bi’ah) as a strong basis for fostering an environmentally friendly and sustainable society.
“Unfortunately, in many Muslim countries, including Indonesia, climate change and green energy have not yet been prioritized as policy options to address environmental challenges,” said Ahmad Tholabi Kharlie, Professor at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta.
He made this statement during a public lecture for the graduate program at UIN Sjech M Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, on Wednesday (May 14, 2025), as reported in an official release by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Tholabi stated that maintaining a sustainable environment is a real challenge faced by many countries around the world, including those in the Muslim world. “A reality we can no longer deny is that the global population continues to grow, and with it, the need to sustain life becomes increasingly urgent,” he said.
The Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at UIN Jakarta pointed out that several Muslim-majority countries are confronting serious environmental issues. For instance, Turkey is experiencing declining rainfall, posing a threat to water availability.
In Bangladesh, it is predicted that by 2050, climate change will drive significant migration. Similarly, in the Middle East, within the next few decades, some areas may become uninhabitable due to extreme heatwaves. “Meanwhile, Indonesia, known as the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, is also the fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally,” Tholabi explained.
He emphasized that the ecological crises threatening Muslim countries, including Indonesia, have not yet spurred these nations to seriously adopt climate change initiatives and green energy policies.
“This is unfortunate, as Islam, with its undeniable theological arguments, teaches its followers to protect the earth and the universe, and prohibits destruction and ruin,” Tholabi lamented.
According to him, the threats posed by climate change, natural disasters, and environmental degradation highlight how far current environmental management practices have strayed from core Islamic values.
He noted that while Islamic law (Shari’ah) is intended to serve as a “path” for humanity, it has not yet succeeded in creating a better Earth. “Not because of the Shari’ah itself, but because its noble values have not been fully translated into life ethics and legal systems,” Tholabi asserted.
He stressed that Islam’s ecological jurisprudence—or green fiqh—serves as a vital instrument to respond to environmental challenges. He called on Muslims in particular, and humanity at large, to restore the Earth in ways that are ethical, divinely guided, and beneficial to human life.
“The concept of Islam as a mercy to all creation (rahmatan lil ‘alamin) serves as a theological foundation for developing green fiqh for the public good and the sustainability of future generations,” Tholabi concluded.
The public lecture was held in a hybrid format, attended by lecturers and hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students of UIN Sjech M Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi. The event marked the commencement of the university’s new Doctoral Program in Islamic Law. *
