God talks about the beauty of his creations both on land, sea, and the skies, and he talks of the similarities and bridge between humans and animals through communities. The Qur’an reminds us about how the rights of all creations need to be respected.
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmathullahi Barakat – Peace be Upon you with God’s mercy and Blessing!
For Muslims this traditional greeting when meeting a fellow Muslim or entering a home is acknowledging the owners of the place. We also do that when we enter a mosque and thus it is quite natural for us to acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of this land we call home, Australia.
“And it is He who sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby the growth of all things. We produce from it greenery from which We produce grains arranged in layers. And from the palm trees – of its emerging fruit are clusters hanging low. And [We produce] gardens of grapevines and olives and pomegranates, similar yet varied. Look at [each of] its fruit when it yields and [at] it’s ripening. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe.” Quran, 6:99
“And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the Register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.” Quran, 6:38
God talks about the beauty of his creations both on land, sea, and the skies, and he talks of the similarities and bridge between humans and animals through communities. The Qur’an reminds us about how the rights of all creations need to be respected.
“Remember when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am going to place a successive human authority on earth.’” Quran 2:30
Humans were created to be stewards over all of earth and it is a sacred trust given to humans by Allah to safeguard the environment and all creations on earth.
Islam talks of respect to all mankind in this verse:
“O mankind, indeed, We have created you from male and female and made you into diverse nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you.” Quran 49:13
Finally, I would like to quote from last sermon of our beloved Prophet Muhammad on Mount Arafah:
“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.”
