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Be good 'khalifa' to overcome the climate crisis
These impacts of the climate crisis have been happening because ummah (society) has been overly masculine in dealing with the earth.
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Two people wade through floodwaters in Tonduno village, South Konawe regency, Southeast Sulawesi, in October 2021. (Antara/Jojon)
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ndonesian Muslims have huge potential to play a bigger and leading role on environmental protection and climate solutions. Especially in the spirit of supporting the commitment of the government conveyed during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland; including forest protection and the retirement of coal-fired power plants.
As a country known for its tolerance and the world’s biggest Muslim population, which values its role as khalifa (custodians of the Earth), we have not lived up to our potential in supporting what the Quran asks us to do: taking care of the planet as khalifa.
As 234 scientists from 66 countries grouped under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) described the climate crisis as code red for humanity, there is no time for delay or room for excuses. This is a now-or-never situation for Indonesian Muslims to take the responsibility and lead as true khalifa.
We witnessed the devastating storm in Luwu, South Sulawesi, last month, followed by flash floods in Batu, East Java, just last week, while La Nina is brewing. On the other hand, the extended dry season in East Nusa Tenggara for years has forced women to leave this country to become domestic workers overseas, only to return home in coffins. Climate crises have been impacting us at every level of humanity.
These impacts of the climate crisis have been happening because ummah (society) has been overly masculine in dealing with the earth. If we look back to Asmaul Husna, most of those 99 names are on the feminine side, and only two on the masculine side, for example the merciful. If we, as ummah, practice the feminine nature of God, like the merciful and the protective, we will not see ummah create damage, but do our best to be the stewards of the planet.
The key for good climate stewardship as khalifa is to support the Muslim community in leading, creating and leveraging its very own climate initiatives and movements as part of being good khalifa. It is the interesting and urgent role of khalifa to protect the environment, including the climate, to ensure the livability of the earth.
Based on a 2021 national survey conducted by social-impact agency Purpose across the country, 92 percent of Indonesians believe that they must be good custodians of all God’s creation on earth. This means that Indonesian Muslims believe that they commit good deeds, according to Islamic values, when taking care of the environment.
