Fruitful Living
Islamic legal perspective on environmental protection (Final part)
ISLAMIC jurisprudence (Fiqh) is based on the maxim: “La darar wa la dirar” (Do not cause harm or reciprocate harm). (Hadith, Sunan Ibn Majah, 2340)
Harm to the environment is harm to humanity. The Maqasid al-Shariah (Objectives of Islamic Law) include the protection of: Life (Nafs), Wealth (Mal), Lineage (Nasl), Religion (Deen) and Intellect (‘Aql).
Environmental degradation undermines all of these objectives. Therefore, from an Islamic legal standpoint, damaging water bodies, polluting the air, and destroying biodiversity are major sins (kabaa’ir).
Conclusion
Environmental degradation in Ghana poses grave threats across multiple sectors—air, water, land, and biodiversity—with severe consequences for human survival and well-being.
In the water sector, illegal small-scale gold mining (galamsey) has led to toxic heavy metal pollution in rivers such as Pra and Ankobra, jeopardising both drinking water safety and aquatic life (Arthur et al.,2025).
These contaminants accumulate in the food chain, causing chronic illnesses and birth
defects in affected communities.
Urban sprawl and deforestation are rapidly diminishing Ghana’s forest cover, particularly in areas like Wa Municipality. This leads to loss of biodiversity, disrupted ecosystems, and climate vulnerability through increased surface temperatures and decreased rainfall (Anokye et al., 2025).
Agricultural lands are also being encroached upon, resulting in reduced crop yields, food insecurity, and the displacement of rural populations.
Air pollution from vehicle emissions, burning waste, and industrial activities—especially in major cities like Accra—has led to rising cases of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular illnesses, and reduced life expectancy, particularly among children and the elderly (Kazapoe et al., 2025).
Moreover, indiscriminate plastic disposal has overwhelmed waste management systems, leading to flooding during rainy seasons, which spreads waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid (Gonçalves et al., 2025).
Coastal regions such as Winneba and Cape Coast face severe coastal erosion and wetland destruction, threatening fishing livelihoods and increasing vulnerability to sea-level rise (Enock &Isaac, 2025).
Meanwhile, climate change exacerbates all these challenges— affecting rainfall patterns, increasing droughts, and undermining national development goals.
In sum, environmental degradation in Ghana is a multi-sectoral crisis that endangers public health, livelihoods, ecological stability, and national resilience, demanding urgent and coordinated policy action.
Islam provides a rich moral and legal framework for environmental stewardship. The Qur’an and Sunnah emphasise balance (mīzān), cleanliness (taharah), ansustainability (istidāmah).
As Allah’s vicegerents (khalifah) on earth, it is our duty to maintain the earth’s balance, preserve its beauty, and ensure that future generations inherit a livable planet.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author
Saying no to sin becomes easier when love leads the way
Though each of us faces temptations periodically, saying no to sin should not always be a long internal debate. Saying no becomes easier when we remember that saying yes hurts someone whose love we cannot live without.
Love is a powerful motivator. When you deeply love someone, you do not want to disappoint them or break their trust. In the same way, when we truly understand God’s love for us, obedience becomes a response of love, not merely a religious duty.
Jesus did not die for us because we were perfect. He died for us while we were still sinners. His sacrifice at Calvary was the ultimate demonstration of personal, sacrificial, and unconditional love. Every drop of blood, every wound, and every moment of suffering was endured so that we could be forgiven, restored, and given eternal life.
When we keep the cross before our eyes, sin begins to lose its attractiveness. How can we casually embrace what nailed our Saviour to the cross? How can we take lightly what cost Him everything? This realisation does not produce fear—it produces devotion.
Living with eternal accountability
Romans 14:7–12 reminds us that we do not live to ourselves and we do not die to ourselves. Each of us belongs to God, and each of us will give an account of our lives before Him. This truth is not meant to terrify us, but to sober us.
Our choices matter. Our words matter. Our actions matter. Not because we are trying to earn salvation, but because our lives are meant to reflect the One who saved us. Christianity is not a casual commitment; it is a lifelong surrender.
Living with eternal accountability helps us make wiser decisions. It teaches us to think beyond the moment and consider eternity. It helps us resist temporary pleasures that can cause lasting damage to our spiritual lives and our witness.
Conclusion
No one is too wicked, too broken, too unlovable, or too far gone for Jesus to love. His grace reaches deeper than our failures, and His mercy is greater than our mistakes. The way to life is always open, and the invitation of grace still stands.
Walking in the way of life does not mean we will never stumble, but it does mean we will never walk alone. Christ walks with us, strengthens us, forgives us, and leads us forward. And as we keep our eyes on the cross, may our hearts remain anchored in the love that saved us and continues to transform us.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee
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Responsibility extends beyond our homes to our environment and communities.
Allah says: “It is He who has made you successors upon the earth.” (Qur’an 6:165)
As khalīfah (stewards), we are entrusted to protect and preserve the earth. Unfortunately, activities like illegal mining (galamsey), poor sanitation, and deforestation have become threats to our land and water bodies.
Dr Julian Agyeman and Bob Evans (2004) in Just Sustainability argue that environmental justice is deeply tied to social equity we cannot claim moral uprightness while destroying the environment that sustains others.
Every responsible man must see the environment as an amānah (trust). Picking up litter, planting trees, conserving water, and speaking against galamsey are all acts of faith. As the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person, or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift.” (Bukhari, Hadith 2320)
True responsibility therefore includes ecological consciousness for to destroy the environmentis to destroy the future we claim to build.
5.1 Environmental stewardship under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana
The 1992 Constitution of Ghana establishes environmental stewardship not merely as a governmental obligation but as a moral and civic duty of all citizens. It integrates environmental protection into the nation’s vision for sustainable development, justice, and intergenerational equity. Three key articles Article 36 (9), Article 41(k), and Article 269 outline this framework of responsibility.
1. Article 36 (9): Directive principles of state policy
“The State shall take appropriate measures needed to protect and safeguard the national environment for posterity; and shall seek cooperation with other states and bodies for the purpose of protecting the wider international environment for mankind.”
This article establishes that environmental protection is both a national and global responsibility.
It commits Ghana to sustainable use of natural resources including land, forests, water, and minerals for the benefit of future generations.
In essence, it means that every Ghanaian must act with intergenerational consciousness, ensuring that today’s development does not destroy tomorrow’s heritage. This principle directly condemns harmful practices such as illegal mining (galamsey), deforestation, and pollution.
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
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