Covering Green Islam in Indonesia
Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world known for its biodiversity richness, is suffering an unprecedented environmental crisis. Natural resources exploitation, which stems from Western-based capitalism greed, has wiped out nearly all tropical lowland forest in Sumatra and Kalimantan, sucking up clean water in coastal Java, and polluting waters in Sulawesi and Maluku. Floods, prolonged land fires and haze, and water crisis are among the consequences. Climate change has also exacerbated the situation, as extreme weather happen more frequently in the country, creating prolonged drought and tropical cyclones.
Some scholars in Islamic and conservation science have argued that applying Islamic principles in environmental protection could help mitigate the problem.
The importance of protecting the earth from environmental degradation is well-versed in Islam. It is explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an that humans were created as khalifah (guardians) of the planet. Tilting nature’s equilibrium is considered as a major sin. Historically, Islam-based social movement in Indonesia has been proven effective to change societal attitude at the grass root level.
But how is this idea being implemented on the ground? Today, we could only find a few stories about this. Islam is often portrayed in the media as the source of fundamentalism and radicalism. In Indonesia alone, news articles about Islam is often tied with political affairs, rather than the environment. This is such an irony because some green Islam activism are happening on the ground, especially those in rural areas, where environmental degradation are taking place. A study in West Sumatra has shown that Islamic rules on consuming predatory animals has helped the conservation of Sumatran tiger. The Indonesian government too, through the Peat Restoration Agency (BRG), has chosen Islamic approach to promote peatland restoration and environmental protection.
I believe that proliferating this kind of stories could spread the positive message of environmental protection among Indonesian Muslims. But it is important to note that we will not only preach. At the top level, green Islam should be presented as fact-based stories that are intellectually appealing and yet emotionally engaging. But at the grass root level, it should be presented in down-to-earth words that are welcoming.
However, I realize that words alone are not enough. Legal instrument is needed to control the society. Unlike other religions (please correct me if I’m wrong), Islam has its own legal system (jurisprudence) that should work to govern its “ummah”. An example comes from Aceh and the Minangkabau.
According to a study by David Gaveau, only 12.06 million hectares of forests remained in 2019, scattered in mostly small patches along Sumatra (see the island’s green patches in this map). The bigger, and the most significant remnant, is located at the tip of the island: The Leuseur Ecosystem of Aceh, the only province in Indonesia that applies the Islamic Sharia Law.
It is interesting to see that land governance in Aceh is governed by Qanun, Aceh’s official sharia regulations. Since Indonesia granted special status to the province, a moratorium on forest encroachment was introduced and it has not been revoked yet.
Do Islamic regulations in Aceh offer stronger protection than secular ones applied in the rest of Indonesia?
The answers might be complicated. There are studies that show how the fatwas (Islamic legal ruling) on wildlife and forest protections are helping conservation efforts in Indonesia. These studies are not entirely supportive of the assumption. While Islamic values are obviously pro nature protection, the study conducted by Jeanne McKay of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) in Kent University, UK, shows that the knowledge of these values alone did not motivate villagers to conserve Sumatran tiger, but rather the ethnic customary laws.
Mores studies may come from the study of Islam and the environment. And we’ll learn the best practice and solutions for applying green Islam along the way. But one thing for sure: secular and capitalism greed has exploited mother nature. We should go back to our faith to save her.