Stress on need to preserve ecology

ENVIRONMENTAL pollution is a crime against humanity, according to a resolution reached on the last day of Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University's (Unissa) Fiqh al-Bi'ah (environment) seminar yesterday.

The two-day conference titled "Preserving Environment: Islamic Order" which kicked off on Saturday was organised by the Syariah and Law Faculty of Unissa.

The adoption of the resolution, agreed upon by 150 local and foreign participants, is currently being sought.

The environment is a blessing from Allah (SWT), and it is the responsibility of humans to conserve and protect it, the resolution further stressed.

The conference aimed to remind the society that environmental conservation is not merely a worldly duty or responsibility, but should be carried out until the Hereafter.

In the resolution, scholars and Syariah law experts were urged to sit down together with environmental experts in planning Fiqh al-Bi'ah (jurisprudence of the environment) as part of the country's educational system.

Relevant authorities were urged to consider the spirit of Syariah Islamiyyah in revamping the environmental conservation law.

Fiqh (jurisprudence) also has unique criteria that can be applied into environment preservation and conservation effort, said the resolution.

The resolution also stressed the importance of history, philosophy, religion and science with relation to nature and environment.

During the resolution of the seminar, suggestions were also made for Unissa to establish its own Al-Quran academy as the university's academic landmark.

The resolution urged relevant authorities to be smart in caring for the environment and in disseminating adequate information on the importance of environmental preservation and conservation for both the current and future generation.

Also featured throughout the two-day seminar were academicians from Brunei as well as foreign speakers.

A total of 16 papers were presented yesterday which revolved around the themes: environmental awareness, economy and history as well as preservation and conservation based on Al-Quran.

The Brunei Times