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Verily what is on earth we shall make but as dust and dry soil (without growth or
herbage)
[Qur’an 18:7-8]
Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain
from the heavens; and brought forth therewith Fruits for your sustenance; then set not up
rivals unto Allah when ye know (the truth).
[Qur’an 2:22]
But the earth, the possession of land, can be a reward for those who show piety and obedience to
Allah:
And We made a people, considered weak (and of no account), inheritors of lands in both
east and west, - lands whereon We sent down Our blessings. The fair promise of thy Lord
was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because they had patience and constancy, and We
leveled to the ground the great works and fine buildings which Pharaoh and his people
erected (with such pride).
[Qur’an 7:137]
The earth in Islam is therefore a witness of our actions. This idea is confirmed in the following
verses. When the son of Adam saw that he could not cancel into the earth his brother that he had
killed, the earth was the witness of his exaction.
Then Allah sent a raven, who scratched the ground, to show him how to hide the shame
of his brother. "Woe is me!" said he; "Was I not even able to be as this raven, and to hide
the shame of my brother?" then he became full of regrets.
[Qur’an 5:31]
The earth reveals also the truth about the soul of some people who have deeply provoked the
wrath of Allah Ta’alah. When the earth rejects the bodies of some people, it means the person
did not deserve to be buried there; even the earth does not want of it.
There was a Christian who embraced Islam and read Surat-al-Baqara and Al-Imran, and
he used to write (the revelations) for the Prophet. Later on he returned to Christianity
again and he used to say: "Muhammad knows nothing but what I have written for him."
Then Allah caused him to die, and the people buried him, but in the morning they saw
that the earth had thrown his body out.
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They said, "This is the act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our
companion and took his body out of it because he had run away from them." They again
dug the grave deeply for him, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had
thrown his body out.
They said, "This is an act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our
companion and threw his body outside it, for he had run away from them." They dug the
grave for him as deep as they could, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had
thrown his body out. So they believed that what had befallen him was not done by human
beings and had to leave him thrown (on the ground).
[Hadith (Sahih Bukhari) (English Translation by M. Muhsin Khan) 004.056.814 -
Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (PBUH) and his Companions - Narrated Anas]
The Qur’an reveals that bad people would destroy plants and trees on Earth; it is a sign of a bad
heart and a soiled soul. On the contrary, Muslims were always forbidden to cut trees or kill
anything living on earth, except in dear emergency or out of necessity.
When he turns his back, His aim everywhere is to spread mischief through the earth and
destroy crops and cattle. But Allah loves not mischief.
[Qur’an 2:205]
Everything coming from the earth must be pure for the Muslims. Muslims do not pollute their
bodies with food that is forbidden like pig, and Muslims do not pollute their souls by eating of
foods that have been stolen or taken unjustly.
Not only the products of the earth must be shared with the poor and those who ask from it like the
birds or animals, but also the soil itself does not belong to the peasant. Actually, the one who can
revive the land possesses the land. Private property does not exist in Islam, so the earth belongs
to everyone who can take care of it!
O you people! Eat of what is on earth, Lawful and good; and do not follow the footsteps
of the evil one, for he is to you an avowed enemy.
[Qur’an 2:168]
O you who believe! Give of the good things which you have (honourably) earned, and of
the fruits of the earth
[Qur’an 2:267]
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