Religion plays a significant role in ensuring environmental sustainability and mankind, as God's steward on Earth, has the responsibility to protect it.
This was the message conveyed by interfaith groups dedicated to tackle issues relating to climate change through a religious perspective.
During the dialogue session themed 'Inter-Religious Harmony and Sustainability, representatives from all faiths shared a common ground on the environment.
One of the panelists, Datuk Dr Azizan Baharuddin of Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) said in Islam the term 'caliphate' or stewardship was a calling by God for all humans to look after this planet He created.
"We are all entrusted by God to look after the environment, the world which He created for us.
"Religion can give ethical values on environmental care, which is a responsibility of all despite the differences of faith.
"In Islam, we have a concept relating to the environment called 'green jihad' or an exerted effort to take care of the environment," said Azizan, who is also IKIM director-general, to a crowd of university students during the dialogue held at Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, here today.
Azizan's view was shared by University Malaysia lecturer Dr Esther Sarojini Daniel who said the word stewardship was also mentioned in the Bible as a call for Christians to look after the environment created by God.
Azizan's view was shared by Universiti Malaya lecturer Dr Esther Sarojini Daniel who said the word stewardship was also mentioned in the Bible as a call for Christians to look after the environment created by God.
Representing the Hindu faith, Malaysian Hindu Sangam Cooperative Society director Dr M Bala Thamalingam said there was the 'karma' effect which befell each man based on their good or bad deeds on the environment.
The final panelist, a Buddhist from the International Network of Engage Buddhist Vidyananda K.V Soon said there needs to be an awareness for society to recognise the power of religious institutions to highlight the importance on environmental sustainability.
"The problem is that we are not playing the role on protecting the environment during religious sermons, there is almost zero talk on environmental sustainability," he said.
The dialogue was held to explain the religious perspective each religion shared on sustainable development for future generation and build awareness among organisations and individuals to ensure environmental sustainability.
The event was jointly organised by IKIM and TAR UC and was attended by some 1,000 university students from TAR UC, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and University Kuala Lumpur (UniKL). -- Bernama
Bernama
Tue Apr 04 2017
Azizan (2nd left) says in Islam, there is a concept relating to the environment called 'green jihad' or an exerted effort to take care of the environment. -fotoBERNAMA
Awie anggap bayaran rendah untuk artis veteran satu penghinaan
Pengarah filem Rebel itu juga mengajak penggiat seni untuk mengenang kembali perjuangan para artis senior suatu ketika dahulu.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Joanna seorang penyayang, sentiasa dahulukan keluarga
Sedih dan muram namun reda, itu yang dapat dilihat pada wajah ahli keluarga mendiang Joanna Felicia Rohna sejurus mendapat perkhabaran duka tragedi pemergiannya pada pagi Selasa.
Meta tawarkan sistem operasi yang menguasakan Quest kepada pengeluar lain
Ini sekali gus menjadikan Horizon OS akan menerajui arena set realiti maya, lebih kurang seperti Android yang menguasakan telefon pintar.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Sepupu suami pelakon Eyra Hazali turut terkorban
Pelakon Eyra Hazali memaklumkan salah seorang mangsa nahas helikopter melibatkan anggota Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) yang berlaku di Lumut pagi tadi merupakan ahli keluarganya.
Penggunaan ‘wilayah’ bagi Sarawak bertepatan dengan MA63
Penggunaan wilayah bagi merujuk Sarawak menggantikan negeri adalah bertepatan kerana di bawah Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 (MA63) Sarawak diiktiraf sebagai wilayah dan bukannya negeri.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Salah seorang mangsa anak jati Bukit Kepong
Komander Muhamad Amir Mohamad, Pegawai Memerintah Skuadron 502 TLDM yang berpangkalan di Lumut merupakan anak jati Bukit Kepong.
Jongkong emas bernilai RM585 juta dijual
Sejumlah 2,300 kilogram (kg) jongkong emas bernilai RM585 juta telah dijual hasil perlombongan emas di Bukit Mantri, Tawau yang mula beroperasi pada 2018.
RM651 juta pampasan dibayar kepada pemilik tanah
Sebanyak RM651 juta jumlah pampasan telah dibayar kepada 1,591 pemilik tanah dan struktur yang terlibat dalam pembinaan projek Lebuhraya Pan Borneo di Sabah.
Jabatan Perhutanan Sabah kutip hasil RM155.32 juta pada 2023
Jabatan Perhutanan Sabah berjaya mengutip hasil sebanyak RM155.32 juta pada 2023, persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Sabah diberitahu pada Selasa.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: 'Tak sangka Farah dalam helikopter terhempas'
Pegawai Waran II TNL Noorfarahimi Mohd Saedy adalah antara mangsa terkorban dalam nahas pesawat di Pangkalan TLDM Lumut pada Selasa.
Mohammad Hashim, Azizan terima anugerah khas Hadhari Global Award
Kosugi dalam ucapannya berkata penerima adalah dipilih berdasarkan beberapa syarat antaranya memberikan perkhidmatan yang cemerlang dan sumbangan besar kepada peningkatan tamadun Islam.
Kurikulum STEM perlu dinilai semula bagi tarik minat
Kurikulum subjek Sains, Teknologi, Kejuruteraan dan Matematik (STEM) perlu dinilai semula untuk memastikan ia dapat menarik minat anak muda.
RUU Mahkamah Syariah: Pihak terlibat perlu duduk dan bincang - KP IKIM
Ia bagi memberikan kefahaman dan penjelasan yang lebih baik mengenai isu berkaitan agama yang diutarakan melalui rang undang-undang itu.