Abstract
If we look at the texts of contemporary Muslim authors commenting on the phenomena of environmental crisis and attempting to formulate appropriate ethical stance towards it, we can distinguish between two different notions of nature based on the interpretation of the sacred Qur'anic text. The first one is "objectual" and treats nature as an actually existent entity carrying specific qualities, being open to human discovery and encounter, and possessing both relational and intrinsic values which can be experienced as such in the world.
The second one is that of a symbol referring to broader ethico-religious truths and meanings regarding the universe and creation. Whereas the first notion stands closer to modern, scientific and pragmatic conceptualizations of nature and usually serves as a basis for linking of religion and science together in one holistic approach towards ecological questions, the second one attaches to nature more specific "sacred" quality which serves as a basis for more unique and categoric religious deontology.
How are these two notions inferred from Qur'anic text, how are they employed in actual ethical statements and how are they combined together? Is there a relation between the preference of one of these notions and actual ethical stances towards concrete ecological questions? And is it, after all, possible to argue that one of these notions is closer to the original meaning of Qur'anic revelation than the other? The answer to these questions will be sought via discoursive analysis of contemporary ethical texts, textual analysis of Qur'an and theories of religious ethics of M. Weber, Ch.
Taylor and T. Izutsu.