Analysis of Status of Right to a Healthy Environment in Islamic Texts

With passing of time the basic human rights have received a new position seen under a new light. Rights that have arisen from public rights and the advent of a new generation of novel human needs have contributed to this process. One of the most important requirements of the new generation is claimed to be able to enjoy and use a healthy environment. This right first came to existence in the Stockholm Declaration and was further emphasized in proceeding documents to the extent that nowadays there is almost unanimous agreement on it. However, the main aim of this research is the study of this particular right in Islam. There are Quranic verses plus narratives and religious rules regarding the right to a healthy environment directly and indirectly. Allah has emphasized time and time again in the Holy Quran that the bounties of this world were created for the humans and their exploitation. Therefore, the human’s importance and status for benefitting from the environment and the public enjoyment of the environment have both been extensively focused onin Quranic verses. Moreover, as per the lives of our most revered Imams, there have been two groups of narratives. The first are traditions and narratives that emphasize the right to a healthy environment in a more direct manner. The second group addresses this matter more indirectly. In addition, in the religious rules including “no harm”, “wasting”, “causation” and “respect to possessions” the right to a healthy environment has been supported and defended and the liability of the aggressor has also been recognized.