Manifestation of Environmental Teachings of Islam and Hinduism: An Interfaith Effort in an Era of Environmental Crises

Abstract

In the present stage of environmental disequilibrium, religion provides worldview that connects natural world to God and never separates mankind from nature. It brings sacredness and value of nature in the mind of modern secular man and can provoke environmental change in his practices. In this regard, current research presents a prismatic view of man and nature rooted in Islam and Hinduism. Furthermore, the eco-religious understandings of contemporary thinkers of both faiths like Seyyed Hossein Nāsr, Fazlun Majeed Khālid, Mahātmā Gandhi, and Ranchor Prime are more focused. Because they are the pioneer of modern environmentalism of Islam and Hinduism. They have shifted the modern secular understanding of man-nature relationship to religious or sacred view of man and his surroundings. Therefore, this paper presents a comparative study of environmental teachings of Islam and Hinduism and discuss the eco-theological response of these contemporary scholars to sustain man-nature relationship in 21st century. Through discussion of their eco-religious thoughts, this article motivates human beings to avoid exploitation of natural resources and protect them for future generations.