ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Modern Technology, Preventive Ethics, and the Human Condition: PREVENTIVE ETHICS, AN ISLAMIC APPROACH Contrary to Descartes, Islam set the relationship between human beings and nature in a cooperative way; human beings in Islam are neither the masters of nature nor the possessors of it. Descartes thinks that man is “maître et possesseur de la nature” (the master and owner of nature), thus man can rule over nature and manipulate it for his own use.

In Islam a human being is the trusted vigornasec of God on nature, meaning they do not own it, and must use it according to the law of God in the best possible way. On the other hand nature itself is being facilitated (Taskhir) by God to be used by mankind: “Do ye not see that God has subjected to your (use) all things in the heavens and on earth, and has made his bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, (both) seen and unseen?

Yet there are among men those who dispute about God, without knowledge and without guidance, and without a Book to enlighten them!” (Qur’an, 31:20) The Qur’an clearly states that the misuse of nature and natural sources by human beings will lead to unbalance in life and to corruption and suffering.

Human beings can bring corruption on earth and to the environment, and create a problem for future generations and for nature itself: “Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned, that (God) may give them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back (from Evil).” (Qur’an, 30:41) In Islam God is the creator of the entire universe including mankind.

Human being is only a vicegerent of God on earth (khalifa) and is a trustee of God on Nature (not the master) in order to improve life on it: “Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." (Qur’an, 2:30) Now if we go back to Jonas’s question about “why should we have moral obligations towards future generations?” Every human being in Islam is unique and is created uniquely and enjoys a status higher than “value” which is called “dignity”, each person deserves respect as such due to this status of dignity.

The human beings of the past generations are not of less value than the present generation; and the future generations are equally important.