Marine and Environment Conservation: A Survey of Islamic Principles Towards Accountability and Proper Governance

Abstract

The concept of stewardship of the environment is not alien to Islam for many verses in the Holy Quran speak of the Earth and all natural resources being a gift from Allah to mankind and that man is a khalifah (trustee) of all these divine gifts. The Quran also mentions that man will be tested in these gifts thus, underlining the concept of accountability to Allah in the administration of land and the environment generally. This paper seeks to identify and elaborate on Islamic concepts relating to accountability of man in environmental management and showing their relevance to contemporary governance and administration. It will be demonstrated that there is rich Islamic jurisprudence relating to environmental management that can be relied upon to create a harmonious balance between development and conservation in environmental management in the contemporary world today.