Green Scripture - Food/Plants — Green Muslims

Food/Plants

As viewed in other aspects, Allah has appointed us as stewards over the earth that was set in balance with God’s mercy. Qur’an numerous times mentions how Allah causes everything to grow and be sustained, and without God’s help humans won’t be able to sustain themselves. Taking care of the plants diligently and use only what is needed for our sustenance is what Allah commands, and by no means we should ever violate God’s commands by wasting what was gifted by our Creator and exploiting resources in all its forms. Due to the connection between ethical practices taught in the Qur’an and the eternal effects in the life after death, it represents a greater incentive for Muslims to care for the earth and its resources. There are several ways to obtain such ideal practices that the Qur’an and Hadith collections discuss in terms of environmental ethics such as planting trees, caring for animals, mitigating waste, sharing with people in need and hungry and many more. However, the selections here provide an inherent sense of awe and wonder by which we ought to live as God calls us several times to seek out manifestation of God’s commands in nature if we properly observe and remain God-conscientious. Let us be among the ones who take heed in God’s words and rethink our daily lives and activities by which we will be examined tomorrow.

*If you click on “Read More” you will be provided alternative translations of the same selections. Bolded throughout for additional emphasis.

2. Al-Baqarah (The Cow): 60

Remember when Moses prayed for water for his people and We said to him, ‘Strike the rock with your staff.’ Twelve springs gushed out, and each group knew its drinking place. ‘Eat and drink the sustenance God has provided and do not cause corruption in the land.’

Sevim KalyoncuApril 27, 2019

2. Al-Baqarah (The Cow): 168

People, eat what is good and lawful from the earth, and do not follow Satan’s footsteps, for he is your sworn enemy.

Sevim KalyoncuApril 25, 2019

2. Al-Baqarah (The Cow): 204-205

There is [a kind of] man whose views on the life of this world may please you [Prophet], he even calls on God to witness what is in his heart, yet he is the bitterest of opponents. When he leaves, he sets out to spread corruption in the land, destroying crops and live-stock- God does not like corruption.

Sevim KalyoncuApril 24, 2019

6. Al-An'am (The Cattle): 141

It is He who produces both trellised and untrellised gardens, date palms, crops of diverse flavours, the olive, the pomegranate, alike yet different. So when they bear fruit, eat some of it, paying what is due on the day of harvest, but do not be wasteful: God does not like wasteful people.

Sevim KalyoncuApril 19, 2019

7. Al-A'raf (The Heights): 31

Children of Adam, dress well whenever you are at worship, and eat and drink [as We have permitted] but do not be extravagant: God does not like extravagant people.

Sevim KalyoncuApril 16, 2019

7. Al-A'raf (The Heights): 56-57

do not corrupt the earth after it has been set right- call on Him fearing and hoping. The mercy of God is close to those who do good. It is God who sends the winds, bearing good news of His coming grace, and when they have gathered up the heavy clouds, We drive them to a dead land where We cause rain to fall, bringing out all kinds of crops, just as We shall bring out the dead. Will you not reflect?

Sevim KalyoncuApril 15, 2019

13. Al-Ra'd (The Thunder): 2-4

It is God who raised up the heavens with no visible supports and then established Himself on the throne; He has subjected the sun and the moon each to pursue its course for an appointed time; He regulates all things, and makes the revelations clear so that you may be certain of meeting your Lord; it is He who spread out the earth, placed firm mountains and rivers on it, and made two of every kind of fruit; He draws the veil of night over the day. There truly are signs in this for people who reflect. There are, in the land, neighbouring plots, gardens of vineyards, cornfields, palm trees in clusters or otherwise, all watered with the same water, yet We make some of them taste better than others: there truly are signs in this for people who reason.

Sevim KalyoncuApril 13, 2019

14. Ibrahim (Abraham): 32-34

It is God who created the heavens and earth, who has sent down water from the sky and with it brought forth produce to nourish you; He has made ships useful to you, sailing the sea by His command, and the rivers too; He has made the sun and the moon useful to you, steady on their paths; He has made the night and day useful to you and given you some of everything you asked Him for. If you tried to count God’s favours you could never calculate them: man is truly unjust and ungrateful.

Sevim KalyoncuApril 12, 2019

16. An-Nahl (The Bee): 5-8

And livestock––He created them too. You derive warmth and other benefits from them: you get food from them; you find beauty in them when you bring them home to rest and when you drive them out to pasture. They carry your loads to lands you yourselves could not reach without great hardship––truly your Lord is kind and merciful–– horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and use for show, and other things you know nothing about.

Sevim KalyoncuApril 11, 2019

16. An-Nahl (The Bee): 10-18

It is He who sends down water for you from the sky, from which comes a drink for you, and the shrubs that you feed to your animals. With it He grows for you grain, olives, palms, vines, and all kinds of other crops. There truly is a sign in this for those who reflect. By His command He has made the night and day, the sun, moon, and stars all of benefit to you. There truly are signs in this for those who use their reason. He has made of benefit to you the many-coloured things He has multiplied on the earth. There truly are signs in this for those who take it to heart. It is He who made the sea of benefit to you: you eat fresh fish from it and bring out jewellery to wear; you see the ships cutting through its waves so that you may go in search of His bounty and give thanks. He has made mountains stand firm on the earth, to prevent it shaking under you, and rivers and paths so that you may find your way, and landmarks and stars to guide people. Can He who creates be compared to one who cannot create? Why do you not take heed? If you tried to count God’s blessings, you could never take them all in: He is truly most forgiving and most merciful.

Sevim KalyoncuApril 10, 2019

16. An-Nahl (The Bee): 65-69

It is God who sends water down from the sky and with it revives the earth when it is dead. There truly is a sign in this for people who listen. In livestock, too, you have a lesson- We give you a drink from the contents of their bellies, between waste matter and blood, pure milk, sweet to the drinker. From the fruits of date palms and grapes you take sweet juice and wholesome provisions. There truly is a sign in this for people who use their reason. And your Lord inspired the bee, saying, ‘Build yourselves houses in the mountains and trees and what people construct. Then feed on all kinds of fruit and follow the ways made easy for you by your Lord.’ From their bellies comes a drink of different colours in which there is healing for people. There truly is a sign in this for those who think.

Sevim KalyoncuApril 8, 2019

20. Taha (Ta-Ha): 53-55

It was He who spread out the earth for you and traced routes in it. He sent down water from the sky. With that water We bring forth every kind of plant, so eat, and graze your cattle. There are truly signs in all this for people of understanding. From the earth We created you, into it We shall return you, and from it We shall raise you a second time.

Sevim KalyoncuApril 4, 2019

22. Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage): 5

People, [remember,] if you doubt the Resurrection, that We created you from dust, then a drop of fluid, then a clinging form, then a lump of flesh, both shaped and unshaped: We mean to make Our power clear to you. Whatever We choose We cause to remain in the womb for an appointed time, then We bring you forth as infants and then you grow and reach maturity. Some die young and some are left to live on to such an age that they forget all they once knew. You sometimes see the earth lifeless, yet when We send down water it stirs and swells and produces every kind of joyous growth

Sevim KalyoncuApril 1, 2019

22. Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage): 18

Do you not realize [Prophet] that everything in the heavens and earth submits to God: the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, and the animals? So do many human beings, though for many others punishment is well deserved. Anyone disgraced by God will have no one to honour him: God does whatever He will.

Sevim KalyoncuMarch 30, 2019

27. An-Naml (The Ant): 60-64

Who created the heavens and earth? Who sends down water from the sky for you– with which We cause gardens of delight to grow: you have no power to make the trees grow in them– is it another god beside God? No! But they are people who take others to be equal with God. Who is it that made the earth a stable place to live? Who made rivers flow through it? Who set immovable mountains on it and created a barrier between the fresh and salt water? Is it another god beside God? No! But most of them do not know. Who is it that answers the distressed when they call upon Him? Who removes their suffering? Who makes you successors in the earth? Is it another god beside God? Little notice you take! Who is it that guides you through the darkness on land and sea? Who sends the winds as heralds of good news before His mercy? Is it another god beside God? God is far above the partners they put beside him! Who is it that creates life and reproduces it? Who is it that gives you provision from the heavens and earth? Is it another god beside God?’ Say, ‘Show me your evidence then, if what you say is true.’

Sevim KalyoncuMarch 22, 2019

36. Ya-Sin (Ya Sin): 33-35

There is a sign for them in the lifeless earth: We give it life and We produce grain from it for them to eat; We have put gardens of date palms and grapes in the earth, and We have made springs of water gush out of it so that they could eat its fruit. It was not their own hands that made all this. How can they not give thanks?

Sevim KalyoncuMarch 17, 2019

50. Qaf (The Letter "Qaf"): 6-11

Do they not see the sky above them––how We have built and adorned it, with no rifts in it; how We spread out the earth and put solid mountains on it, and caused every kind of joyous plant to grow in it, as a lesson and reminder for every servant who turns to God; and how We send blessed water down from the sky and grow with it gardens, the harvest grain, and tall palm trees laden with clusters of dates, as a provision for everyone; how with water We give [new] life to a land that is dead? This is how the dead will emerge [from their graves].

Sevim KalyoncuMarch 12, 2019

55. Ar-Rahman (The Beneficent): 5-13

The sun and the moon follow their calculated courses. The plants and the trees submit to His designs. He has raised up the sky. He has set the balance. So that you may not exceed in the balance: Weigh with justice and do not fall short in the balance. He set down the Earth for His creatures, with its fruits, its palm trees with sheathed clusters, its husked grain, its fragrant plants. Which, then, of your Lord’s blessings do you both deny?

Sevim KalyoncuMarch 10, 2019

80. 'Abasa (He Frowned): 24-32

Let man consider the food he eats! We pour down abundant water and cause the soil to split open. We make grain grow, and vines, fresh vegetation, olive trees, date palms, luscious gardens, fruits, and fodder: all for you and your livestock to enjoy.

Sevim KalyoncuMarch 5, 2019