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Environmental stewardship is an act of worship: The Islamic response to climate change, environmental degradation (Part 3)
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Within the Ghanaian context, environmental degradation has reached alarming proportions.
The destruction of forests, pollution of major rivers, indiscriminate dumping of refuse, bushfires, coastal erosion, and rapid urban expansion continue to undermine public health, agricultural productivity, and economic resilience (Environmental Protection Agency Ghana, 2024).
Particularly concerning is the widespread contamination of water bodies through illegal mining activities, which has rendered several rivers unsafe for domestic use and increased the cost of water treatment. These realities illustrate the tangible consequences of fasād described in the Qur’an more than fourteen centuries ago.
Islam does not merely prohibit environmental destruction; it encourages believers to become agents of restoration (iṣlāḥ). The Qur’an consistently contrasts corruption with reform, calling believers to promote justice, preserve creation, and contribute positively to society.
Environmental restoration through reforestation, river conservation, responsible waste management, and sustainable agriculture therefore constitutes an important dimension of iṣlāḥ.
Every effort to restore degraded ecosystems is not only a contribution to national development but also an act of obedience to Allah.
Understanding environmental degradation as fasād fundamentally reshapes the Muslim response to today’s ecological crises.
Pollution is no longer viewed merely as poor sanitation, nor deforestation as simply an economic issue. They become moral failures that violate humanity’s covenant as Khalifah and threaten the balance established by Allah.
This ethical perspective provides a compelling foundation for addressing one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental challenges—illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey-which represents one of the clearest manifestations of environmental corruption in contemporary society.
Illegal mining (Galamsey): An Islamic and national crisis
Among the many environmental challenges confronting Ghana today, none has generated greater national concern than illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Although mining has contributed significantly to Ghana’s economic development for decades, illegal mining has evolved into a major environmental, social, and governance crisis.
The indiscriminate use of heavy machinery, excavation of farmlands, destruction of forest reserves, and pollution of rivers with mercury and other toxic substances have left lasting scars on the nation’s natural resources.
Beyond its environmental consequences, galamsey raises profound moral and ethical questions that demand reflection from an Islamic perspective.
Ghana continues to experience substantial forest loss due to illegal mining, illegal logging, agricultural expansion and human settlement.
The degradation of forest reserves weakens biodiversity conservation, reduces carbon sequestration, and increases vulnerability to climate-related disasters such as flooding and drought (Forestry Commission Ghana, 2024).
The environmental cost of illegal mining is staggering. Rivers that once supplied clean drinking water and supported fishing communities have become heavily polluted. Productive agricultural lands have been rendered infertile, forests have been cleared indiscriminately, and biodiversity has suffered extensive loss.
These developments threaten food security, increase the cost of water treatment, reduce agricultural productivity, and compromise the health and livelihoods of millions of Ghanaians (United Nations Development Programme [UNDP], 2023; Environmental Protection Agency Ghana, 2024).
Climate resilience is also weakened by illegal mining. Forests serve as important carbon sinks, regulate rainfall patterns, protect watersheds, and reduce soil erosion. Their destruction accelerates land degradation and increases communities’ vulnerability to flooding and drought.
Consequently, the environmental damage caused by galamsey extends far beyond mining sites, affecting entire ecosystems and future generations.
From an Islamic standpoint, such destruction constitutes a clear violation of humanity’s responsibility as Khalifah. Allah entrusted human beings with the care of the earth, not its reckless exploitation.
While Islam recognises the legitimacy of earning a lawful livelihood through commerce, agriculture, industry, and the responsible extraction of natural resources, these activities must be conducted within the limits of justice, public welfare, and environmental responsibility.
Economic benefit can never justify the destruction of Allah’s creation or the endangerment of human life.
The Qur’an repeatedly condemns those whose pursuit of worldly gain results in widespread destruction. Allah says, “And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals.
And Allah does not like corruption” (Qur’an 2:205, Sahih International). Although revealed in a broader ethical context, this verse powerfully illustrates the destructive consequences of human greed.
The deliberate destruction of fertile land, vegetation, water bodies, and wildlife for short-term financial gain closely reflects the type of corruption condemned by the Qur’an.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) established another enduring principle when he declared, “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 2341; Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik, Hadith 1461).
This legal maxim (lā ḍarar wa lā dirār) has become one of the foundational principles of Islamic jurisprudence. It requires Muslims to avoid actions that cause unjustifiable harm to individuals or society.
Illegal mining clearly violates this principle because its consequences extend far beyond those directly involved. Entire communities lose access to clean water, farmers lose their livelihoods, children face long-term health risks, and future generations inherit degraded ecosystems.
The crisis of galamsey also illustrates the relevance of the higher objectives of Islamic law (Maqāṣid al-Sharī’ah). The preservation of life (Hifz al-Nafs) is threatened when polluted rivers expose communities to toxic chemicals and waterborne diseases.
The preservation of wealth (Hifz al-Māl) is undermined through the destruction of farms, fisheries, and other sustainable sources of income. The preservation of intellect (Hifz al-‘Aql) is endangered by exposure to hazardous substances such as mercury, which can impair neurological development and cognitive function.
The preservation of lineage (Hifz al-Nasl) is compromised as environmental degradation jeopardises the health, livelihoods, and welfare of future generations. Even the preservation of religion (Hifz al-Dīn) is affected because Islam calls believers to uphold justice, fulfil trusts, and refrain from causing corruption on earth. Thus, galamsey undermines every major objective that Islamic law seeks to protect.
The issue is not solely an environmental problem but also a governance challenge. Weak enforcement of environmental regulations, corruption, inadequate land-use planning, and economic hardship have all contributed to the persistence of illegal mining.
Ghana has enacted laws to regulate mining activities and protect the environment, including the Minerals and Mining
Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended, and the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124).
Furthermore, Article 41(k) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana places a civic duty on every citizen “to protect and safeguard the environment. Effective implementation of these legal frameworks requires political commitment, institutional integrity, and active public participation.
GHANA’S Parliament is a peaceful one. The arguments on the floor of the House can be fierce, but the House doesn’t catch fire. Ghana’s democracy has passed the acid-test of constitutional pluralism, and her legislature is a model of democratic beauty others are learning from.
Sometimes it is edifying following proceedings in Parliament and you are likely to catch the voice of Honourable Alban Bagbin in full flight. He doesn’t talk much. His English vocabulary does the talking.
Last week, I heard another MP talking on bad dressing, and I must congratulate him on his brilliant exhibition of vocabulary, delivered in Westminster tradition.
Such explosive delivery titillates the floor of the House and brings joy to members and Mr Speaker.
In the parliament of some countries, there is no need for such niceties. The floor of the House is regarded as a battle ground. Others, including lady members, see it as a boxing ring, where the spoken word is often jettisoned and supplanted with punches and upper-cuts.
PART-TIME
So the average parliamentarian trains part-time as a boxer, in case boxing skills will be needed in the House to iron out knotty points.
The ladies’ pedicure and manicure are carefully designed to fulfil a dual purpose. One is to showcase trendiness and the other is to scratch the faces of opponents in the House whether they are ladies or gentlemen.
Sometimes, the Speaker has to keep shouting and banging for well over 15 minutes as a recalcitrant MP dashes across and grabs the tie of another MP, thus precipitating a free-for-all brawl. Some MPs return home with a half nose, a missing left ear and a double forehead.
None of the offending parties is sanctioned because brawling in parliament is seen as a democratic process, since some MPs are so stubborn that only a sidekick to the ribs can mellow them. Meanwhile, a free-for-all is good exercise for the MPs, some of whom have grown too fat due to over-feeding.
Fortunately, the parliament of Sikaman has a civil democratic culture and debates get fierce but punches are not unleashed. For comic relief however, MPs do some break dancing once in a while.
When ROPAB was passed into law, some MPs caused a stir by bursting into song and dance. Mr. Speaker was be wildered, but obviously pleased that his announcement of the passage of the bill had brought joy to the House.
Others were not happy, though. The bill and the debates had caused them enough distress. As for the passage, it was like cutting their throats. They groaned in their hearts. No punches, no karate. That is democracy in its maturing stage. It is tempered with reason and civility. One day, it will be their turn to laugh and dance.
Now, the MP who spoke on bad dressing did a good job by all standards and added value to his delivery by going highfalutin. He wanted a law to be enacted against bad dressing, because it was not good for society.
What constitutes bad dressing? That is a very difficult question. Judging what is good or bad as far as dressing is concerned will obviously depend on the setting or context.
For example, going virtually naked on a holiday beach is considered good dressing. But when a man and his wife storm a church room in their birth-time suits (naked) the pastor and his deacons will surely take cover. It means a sartorial revolution has precipitated and only the Holy Spirit can hold tempers at bay.
STYLISH
In the streets of Sikaman, a lady with a very short skirt is admired by some as trendy and stylish. Others would think she is indecent and a bad influence. But the question that arises ultimately is this: Don’t people have the right to wear what they want to wear, so long as the unseemly parts of their bodies are not laid bare?
Certainly, nobody will go totally naked in the streets, unless the person is either in-sane or is a Black Stars supporter painted in the national colours. Even then, he’d be in what is called ‘pioto,’ with his ‘instrument’ well-positioned. That is called proper dressing.
So in the streets, this kind of dressing will be considered good or bad depending on the setting and the extent of exposure of the private parts (breasts, thighs, lower back, buttocks, etc).
Personally, I feel the churches should be very scrupulous about the dressing of those who go in to worship. The ushers should be tasked with ushering away badly-dressed worshippers. Incidentally, they are the worshippers who like the front pews, and the pastor is so distracted he can’t preach any meaningful sermon.
However, a law on dressing is something I won’t advocate, for the simple reason that, first, there is no clear definition of what is bad dressing and second, society must be left to evolve its own dress culture so that fashion and creativity in fashion design will not be stifle Any law to regulate dressing will kill such creativity.
This article was first published on Saturday July, 2006
Most people think stress is just in your head. When you feel overwhelmed, overworked, or emotionally drained, you might think you just need a good night’s sleep or a quick mental break.
However, science and biology show us something entirely different. Chronic, long-term stress is not just an emotion—it is a full-body physical condition. When you live in a constant state of survival mode, pushing past your limits without real rest, your body pays a very heavy physical price.
Here is a clear, step-by-step look at how ongoing stress physically breaks down the human body, explained simply.
Step 1: The endless flood of stress chemicals
What happens normally: When you face a sudden emergency, your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. They give you a quick burst of energy, speed up your heart, and help you react fast. This is a great survival tool for short bursts.
How stress breaks you down: If you never truly relax, your body never turns off that alarm. Your bloodstream stays flooded with cortisol and adrenaline day after day. Over time, having these chemicals constantly sloshing around acts like a slow poison. It damages your blood vessels, raises your blood pressure, messes with your metabolism, and even wears down your DNA, making you age faster.
Step 2: The silent internal fire (Chronic Inflammation)
What happens normally: When your brain senses danger or stress, it assumes you might get hurt, so it tells your immune system to cause inflammation (swelling and heat) to fight off germs and heal injuries.
How stress breaks you down: When stress lasts for months or years, your immune system gets confused and leaves that “fire” burning permanently. Instead of healing an injury, this silent internal inflammation starts attacking your healthy cells, joints, and organs. Over time, it paves the way for serious health issues, heart trouble, and total body fatigue.
Step 3: Turning your muscles into armor (Fascial Hardening)
What happens normally: Your body is wrapped in a web of strong connective tissue called fascia that holds your muscles, bones, and organs together. When you face pressure or trauma, that tissue automatically tightens up to protect you like a suit of armor.
How stress breaks you down: If you stay tense for years, that tissue never softens back up. It freezes in place, creating tight, painful physical knots (often called emotional lesions). Blood and oxygen can’t flow easily through those locked-up areas, leaving you stiff, aching, and physically unable to truly let go of tension.
Step 4: Burning out your body’s engine (Nervous System Overdrive)
What happens normally: Your nervous system has two main gears:
The Gas Pedal (fight-or-flight mode for dealing with emergencies).
The Brake Pedal (rest-and-digest mode for healing and repairing your body).
How stress breaks you down: Chronic stress forces your foot down hard on the gas pedal 24/7. Your heart beats faster than it should, your digestion shuts down, and your body is denied the deep rest it needs to repair itself. Eventually, your heart and nervous system run completely out of fuel from sheer exhaustion.
Reclaiming your health and sovereignty
Chronic stress wears you down slowly by keeping your body chemically toxic, inflamed, and locked-up in physical armour, and running on empty.
By understanding that stress is a physical breakdown rather than just a bad mood, you can stop glorifying endless endurance. It allows you to recognise when your body is screaming for a reset, helping you shift away from burnout and back toward true physical calm, balance, and sovereignty.
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