Islam and the Environment in African Context

Abstract

This chapter discusses how Muslims in Africa engage with environmental issues. A good understanding of the intersection between Islam and environment is critical to theorizing the role of Islam in the current environmental crisis. Africa provides a good opportunity for the study due to the severity of environmental problems and the powerful role religions play in all spheres of life. The chapter gives an overview of the current knowledge on the links between Islam and the environment in Africa. Drawing on evidence from northern Nigeria, it analyzes how Muslims interpret Islamic environmental beliefs. It further explores perceptions of current environmental problems, how Islamic values inform conscious efforts to act in environmentally responsible ways, and the various conditions that influence the practice of Islamic environmentalism.