The Mandate to Preserve the Earth
Humanity, as stewards of the earth (khalīfah fī al-arḍ), undoubtedly carries the responsibility to nurture and safeguard the earth. This duty is evident when Allah mentions the process of creating humans from the earth in Surah Hud, verse 61:
“To Thamud [We sent] their brother Salih. He said, ‘O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. He has produced you from the earth and settled you in it. So, ask forgiveness of Him and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is near and responsive.'” (Surah Hud: 61)
Apart from the creation of humans from the earth, Allah also commands humans to enhance what they were created from. The commentator Ṭanṭawī Jauharī (1862-1940), in his commentary al-Jawāhir fī Tafsīr al-Qur’ān al-Karīm, interprets the above verse as an explanation of humanity’s existence to preserve nature or the environment (wasta’marakum fīhā). In line with this, Ibn Kathir also emphasizes in his book that humans must initiate goodness and act as custodians of the environment.
In addition to verse 61 of Surah Hud, numerous verses in the Quran emphasize the importance of caring for the earth (the environment). For instance, in Surah Al-A’raf, verse 56: “And cause not corruption upon the earth.” Through these two verses, it is evident that humans have the duty to care for the environment rather than cause harm.
Santri and Efforts to Preserve the Earth
As someone who has been a santri from a young age, I often speculate on how Santri will eventually become the foremost entity in Indonesia, without a shadow of doubt. I imagine that only Santri can address and find solutions to all the issues plaguing our nation, be it conflicts in the name of religion, politics, social concerns, health, or especially the environment. Whatever the problem, Santri are the solution.