Does the Islamic tradition offer any fundamental concepts related to protection of the environment?
In the past, there were regulations in Muslim regions that one could describe as instruments for nature and wildlife conservation. Attempts are now being made to try to revive regulations governing the so-called harim and hima zones, which were protective zones around springs and watercourses where no settlements were permitted, for example, to keep the water from becoming polluted. Muslims have so far not been terribly conspicuous in the debate on environmental protection. Why is that? Most Muslims are unaware of the relationship between religion and environmental conservation, though they are conscious of it in a more general way. The Munich-based foundation Stiftung Interkultur is currently carrying out a small survey in which it has already become evident that Muslims who take religion seriously express the view that religion demands “respect for nature,” which then prompts them to act accordingly in their everyday lives, by helping to protect green areas or persuading others to be
