Islam and the Earth

The Qur’an says that God is the light of the heavens and the earth. If you believe you see all of creation as being illuminated by a Divine light, than part of the trust that we, as the most noble of creation, have been given is the care and protection of the Earth. This type of thinking is not new to Muslims. We have shaped the world to reflect our belief in Heaven. Gardens are created to mirror the vision of Heaven with water and split into 4 quarters. Mecca, the center of our religious life, is the gateway to Heaven on earth. Below are a few books that deal with these issues.

“Islam and Ecology (World Religions and Ecology Series)” (Fazlun Khalid)


“Mecca and Eden: Ritual, Relics, and Territory in Islam” (Brannon Wheeler)


“Gardens of Paradise: The History and Design of the Great Islamic Gardens” (John Brookes)