Ecotheology in Classical Quranic Exegesis: A Study by Ibnu Athiyah and Zamakhshari
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29240/alquds.v10i2.16063Keywords:
Ecotheology, Qur’anic exegesis, Ibnu Athiyya and Zamakhshari, Climate CrisisAbstract
The climate crisis is escalating rapidly, exacerbated by global temperature anomalies that have risen by of 1.5∘C since the pre-industrial era, exceeding scientific projections. This problem is linked to humans’ lack of spiritual values, leading to a disconnection between humanity, nature, and God. This disconnection has fostered an anthropocentric paradigm that drives excessive environmental exploitation. This study aims to stimulate human ecological awareness by examining the Qur’an’s perspectives. Utilizing the Maudhu’i (thematic) interpretation method through library research, the paper analyzes selected verses by focusing on the insights of commentators Ibnu Athiyah and Zamakhshari. Findings reveal that both commentators offer different concepts of ecotheology; Ibnu Athiyyah developed cosmic-theocentric ecotheology, while Zamakhshari established rational-anthropocentric ecotheology resulting from their different theological schools. Additionally, humans as caliphs on earth, as revealed by the Qur’an through these interpretations, awaken their true role in utilizing and preserving natural resources as commanded by God.
Downloads
References
Athiyya, Ibnu. “Al-Muharrar al-Wajiz Fi Tafsir al-Qur’an al-Aziz”, Qatar: Wizaroh al-awqaf wa al-Shu’un al-Islamiyyah, 2007.
Abdelzaher, Dina M., Amr Kotb, and Akrum Helfaya. “Eco-Islam: Beyond the Principles of Why and What, and Into the Principles of How.” Journal of Business Ethics 155, no. 3 (2019): 623–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3518-2.
Al-Ashfihani, Al-Raghib "Mu’jam Mufradat Alfaz al-Quran", Riyadh: Maktabah Nazar Mustafa Al-Baz, 1997
Al-Zamakhshari, Abu al-Qasim Mahmud Ibn Umar. "Al-Kashaf ‘an Haqa’Iq al-Tanzil Wa ‘Uyun al-Aqawil Fi Wujuh al-Ta’Wil", Riyadh: Maktabah al-‘Abikan, 1997.
Febriani, Nur Arfiyah, Alfi Sachdeva Aziz Waktar, and Badru Tamam. “THE QUR’ANIC PERSPECTIVE ON ECOLOGY IN TABARI AND TABATABA’I INTERPRETATION.” Mumtaz Jurnal Studi Al-Qur’an Dan Keislaman, 01, vol. 14 (2020): 27–54. https://www.academia.edu/download/100663665/83.pdf.
Folke, Carl, Åsa Jansson, Johan Rockström, et al. “Reconnecting to the Biosphere.” AMBIO 40, no. 7 (2011): 719. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-011-0184-y.
Gabric, Albert J. “The Climate Change Crisis: A Review of Its Causes and Possible Responses.” Atmosphere 14, no. 7 (2023): 1081. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14071081.
Ives, Christopher D., and Jeremy Kidwell. “Religion and Social Values for Sustainability.” Sustainability Science 14, no. 5 (2019): 1355–62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00657-0.
Nasr, Husain. Religion & the Order of Nature: The 1994 Cadbury Lectures at the University of Birmingham. Oxford University Press, 1996.
Nasr, Sayyed Husain. Man and Nature. Unwin Paperbacks, 1990.
Ridwanuddin, Parid. “EKOTEOLOGI DALAM PEMIKIRAN BADIUZZAMAN SAID NURSI.” LENTERA: Jurnal Ilmu Dakwah dan Komunikasi 1, no. 01 (2017). https://doi.org/10.21093/lentera.v1i01.832.
Stern, Paul C., Linda Kalof, Thomas Dietz, and Gregory A. Guagnano. “Values, Beliefs, and Proenvironmental Action: Attitude Formation Toward Emergent Attitude Objects1.” Journal of Applied Social Psychology 25, no. 18 (1995): 1611–36. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.1995.tb02636.x.
Stern, Paul C., Linda Kalof, Thomas Dietz, and Gregory A. Guagnano. “Values, Beliefs, and Proenvironmental Action: Attitude Formation Toward Emergent Attitude Objects1.” Journal of Applied Social Psychology 25, no. 18 (1995): 1611–36. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.1995.tb02636.x.
Stoddard, Isak, Kevin Anderson, Stuart Capstick, et al. “Three Decades of Climate Mitigation: Why Haven’t We Bent the Global Emissions Curve?” Annual Review of Environment and Resources 46, no. 1 (2021): 653–89. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-012220-011104.
Tamami, Helmiati, Nazir, and Abdelmounaim. “Muhammad Abid Al-Jabiri’s Intellectual Contribution to Moderating Tradition and Modernity in Moroccan Islamic Education Reform.” Al’Adalah 27, no. 2 (2024): 201–2016. https://doi.org/10.35719/aladalah.v27i2.536.
Zulfikar, Eko. ICQS Proceeding Conference The International Conference on Quranic Studies Ilmu Al-Quran Dan Tafsir, Fakultas Ushuluddin, IAIN Kudus. n.d.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2026 hanif hidayatullah

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with AL QUDS : Jurnal Studi Alquran dan Hadis agree to the following terms:- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).





