The
implementation of environmental management depends on the existence
of appropriate legislation, and legislation becomes more effective
and usellll when it emanates from a nation's creed and when it represents
its cultural and intellectual heritage. This strong relationship between
the effectiveness of legislation and the strength of its cultural
roots appears to me to be all the more necessary when dealing with
environmental issues, especially in Islamic societies. For Islam prespresents
a way of life that encompasses an overall view of the universe, life,
man and the inter-relationships existing between them and also combines
conviction, belief, legislation and enforement of this legislation.
It is also appropriate to refer to the
existence of other reasons for the preparation of this paper.
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1. The ever-increasing need to devise and formulate legislation
for the protection of the environment, especially in view of
the rapidly increasing technological and industrial progress
in all fields and aspects of development.
2. The insufficiency of the present legislation
now applied in contemporary societies and its inadequacy to
achieve the required protection of the natural environment.
3. The urgent need, particularly in Islamic
countries, to formulate a clear method and plan that would help
all responsible authorities and individuals alike in these countries
to define, determine and lay down the necessary procedures and
measures for the conservation and protection of the environment
as well as for putting these procedures into effect.
The present work aims at presenting a preliminary
paper in this field and it is hoped that this will motivate
more comprehensive and specialized research in the future. It
objectively defines the Islamic concept of the environment,
the relationship ofman with the environment, and the interaction
ofboth with regard to man's sustainable utilization and development
of natural resources.
Many colleagues have participated in both
enhancing and achieving this work. Previously, I have mentioned
Dr. Wolfgang Burhenne and I now mention Dr:. Hamad AI Erainan,
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, King Abdulaziz University,
Jeddah, for his kind support; also I would mention Mr. Omar
Bakhashab who prepared a preliminary report on the subject in
1981; Dr. Abdul Elah Banaja, Dean of the Faculty of Science,
King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah; Dr. Mustafa A. AI Deghaither,
Director General of Environmental Protection Division (MEPA);
Dr. Nizar Ibrahim Tawfiq, the Director General of the National
Meteorological and Environmental Protection Centre (MEPA); and
Dr. Zaki Mustafa, Secretary General of the Saudi-Sudanese Commission
for the Development of the Red Sea Resources.
In regard to the Authors, it is my belief
that in achieving this work they have placed a basic milestone
on the path of connecting Islam with one of the most complicated
and useful branches of the applied sciences.
May Allah guide us to the right aim.
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Acknowledgements
to the First Edition
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We should like to extend our thanks and appreciation to His
Excellency Dr. Hamad AI Erainan, Dean of the Faculty of Arts
and Humanities, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, for taking
the initiative in proposing to the Meteorology and Environmental
Protection Administration (MEPA) that the Department of Islamic
Studies at King Abdulaziz University would undertake the present
study.
We should also like to thank all who contributed
to this work and shared in discussing it, especially Dr. Abdulbar
al-Gain, Vice-President of the Meteorology and Environmental
Protection Administration and Vice President of the International
Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources; Dr.
Abdul Elah Banaja, Dean of the Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz
University; Dr. Mustafa A. AI Deghaither, Director General of
Environmental Protection Division (MEPA); Dr. Nizar Ibrahim
Tawfiq, the Director General of the National Meteorological
and Environmental Protection Centre (MEPA); and Dr. Zaki Mustafa,
Secretary General of the Saudi- Sudanese Commission for the
Development of the Red Sea Resources.
Also, we should like to refer to the specialized
expertise of Dr. Wolfgang Burhenne, Chairman, IUCN Commission
on Environmental Policy, Law and Administration, which helped
us carry out our task and achieve our purpose.
Finally, we should also refer to the great
benefit and help we received from the preliminary work carried
out by Mr. Omar Bakhashab and other researchers in this field.
Allah is our ultimate satisfaction.
The
Authors
1983 AD / 1403 H
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