In his recently published book, The Environment, grand ayatollah imam Muhammad Shirazi, addresses the issue of the environment and the increasing pollution it is facing in various fields. The pollution has reached such a level that it potentially threatens the future of mankind, and therefore has turned into a global problem. The scale and dimensions of the pollution is to the extent that it is affecting even those who had no role in its creation!

The author considers the environment as a collection of conditions, internal and external, which surround mankind as well as animals and plants. This collection includes all factors whether harmful or useful such as chemical or natural, desert, sea or air.

Imam Shirazi views the environment as one complete system, which encompasses many sciences that man has discovered such as social, political, and economic sciences. Hence we note that even the sky is not free from the dangers of pollution, as can be seen from the damage to the ozone layer, which protects the earth from the Sun's ultra-violet rays amongst others.

Therefore if the problem of the environment is an international one, international efforts must be mobilized to address this issue.

Imam Shirazi calls, in particular, for the return of the natural balance in the environment. The environment in which all animals and plants live in natural balance, governed by the various natural environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, availability of food and other essential factors. If the environmental conditions are disturbed unnaturally or permanently, the existing balance would be perturbed and that will not be beneficial to mankind. The principle of balance governs the universe with utmost accuracy, which in turn is based on the design and creation of the Almighty. Therefore it is imperative to ensure and mange the natural environmental system, and provide the necessary protection for it. In this way we can pass on the natural environmental system to the next generation. The closer we get to the teaching of the glorious Qur'an, the closer we get to a healthy environment which in turn means the return of our health and prosperity.

In his discussion about the ozone layer, imam Shirazi cites Qur'anic verses which state that it is a ‘roof' for the protection of the earth. Many of the topics of this book are discussed in detail citing modern supporting references. Given the conditions our environment is in, which is due to man's action, whether ignorantly or otherwise, imam Shirazi emphasizes the need to return to the teaching of Islam which state We have made for everything precise definition. Allah also states Do not do mischief on earth.

The remedy to these problems are the return to the guidelines and policies which Allah the Almighty has laid down for mankind's body, mind and soul as well as his family and society. Furthermore, it is of utmost importance that mankind eradicates all the stockpiles of nuclear weapons, which are the greatest pollutants of all, and danger to mankind as can be seen from events at Hiroshima and Nagasaki .

For these reasons imam Shirazi calls upon the international community to give the issue of the environment the highest priority in various dimensions and that all nuclear weapons are destroyed, the factories producing them should be modified to be factories of construction and not of destruction.

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