Islam and Agriculture

 

"Agriculture has become essential to life"

"Cultivators are the most valuable citizens, they are tied to their country" .

Islam and agriculture are very closely related. Agriculture is the world's source of life energy. Farming is a very noble job, of course if it is carried out with Islamic farming etiquette.

GOD WHO BRINGS PLANTS TO LIFE

Maybe sometimes we forget, because we are the ones who look after the plants every day, then the thought arises that we are the ones who bring them to life. No. It's easy for us to avoid those thoughts and traits.

Allah is the one who gives life to plants. From a seed, leaves grow, then branches, then flowers and fruit. The fruit from the pistil then enlarges and becomes ripe. That's all God did. So many letters in the Koran remind us of this. Allah is the one who regulates the clouds, sends down rain, then fertilizes the crops, gives water to the livestock, and so on.

"God makes plants grow and fruit seeds grow. He brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living." (Al-An'am: 95). "Plants grow well with Allah's permission." (Al-a'raaf: 58).

"And do they not pay attention to the earth, how many kinds of good plants have We grown on it? Indeed, in that there really is a sign of Allah's power. And most of them do not believe." (Asy-syu`araa`:7-8).

"And We spread out the earth and planted on it mountains and We made growth on it from every thing that was weighed. And We made for you sources of livelihood and people for whom you could not provide sustenance. And there is no thing but with Us is its treasure, and We did not send it down except with a certain measure" (Al-hijr: 19-22).

There are two essential elements in farming: soil and water. God provides land for growth and water to grow it. In the Koran, Allah mentions the problem of seeking sustenance and several points that must be adhered to for the success of farming. Firstly, Allah mentioned that this earth was provided by Allah to grow plants and produce. For this reason, He made this earth easy and easy to spread, as a blessing that must be remembered and grateful for. "This earth was placed by Allah for mankind, in it full of fruits and dates that have petals, seeds that have skins and smell good. So which of your Lord's blessings do you deny?" (Ar-Rahman: 10-13).

Allah As-Salaam (The One Who Gives Prosperity) also sends down rain water. Allah mentions water, by sending it down through rain and flowing in rivers, then with that water the earth which was previously dead was brought to life.

"He is the one who sends down water from the sky, so with that water we bring out vegetation from every thing, so we bring out from it green trees from which we bring out seeds in layers." (al-An'am: 99). ".... We poured down water in abundance, then We split the earth thoroughly, and then We caused to grow therein grain, grapes, and vegetables." ('Abasa: 24-28)

"To Him belongs all that is in the heavens, all that is on the earth, all that is between them, and all that is beneath the soil. Allah sends down rain, which then causes various kinds of vegetation to grow. .... Eat and pasture your livestock." (Ta-Ha: 6, 53-54).

"Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the sky, then directs it into springs within the earth? Then He causes crops of various colors to grow by means of it; then they wither, and you see them turn yellow; then He turns them into scattered debris..." (Az-Zumar: 21).

"Allah sends down water for you from the sky, and with it, We cause to grow gardens of beautiful scenery—gardens whose trees you would never be able to grow yourselves..." (An-Naml: 60-61). "And you see the earth dry and barren, but when We send down water upon it, it stirs to life, becomes fertile, and produces various kinds of beautiful vegetation." (Al-Hajj: 5)

Likewise, Allah the Almighty (Al-Aziz) ordains where water will fall by moving the clouds. Mention is also made of the winds that Allah releases bearing glad tidings; among their functions are driving the clouds and pollinating plants. "And We sent out the wind to give marriage, then We sent down rain water from the sky, then We sprinkled you with that water even though it was not you who had the treasure of that water" (Al-Hijr: 19-22).

"Allah dispelled the clouds containing water onto the barren earth. Then We grew with the rain water plants from which (they could) feed their livestock and themselves" (As-sajdah: 27). "So explain to me about the water you drink. Are you the one who sent it down from the clouds or We sent it down" (Al Waaqi`ah: 63-70).

Crops and livestock are grown for humans. That is the mandate for them from Allah SWT. So, "And among the livestock, there are those that are used for transportation and there are those that are for slaughter. Eat from the sustenance that Allah has given you, and do not follow the steps of the devil." (Al-an`aam: 141-143).

In line with the nature of Allah, whoever "animates" (must be between two commas), carries out this mandate, then they are called "Ihyaul Mawat" namely those who green and revive the earth. Islam recommends making dead land prosperous, unoccupied and unproductive land, both for agriculture and other activities. This is called "ihyaul mawat". Who is it? For example, transmigrants come to abandoned and unkempt lands, then open them up, remove trees and branches, clear out weeds, then hoe to loosen the soil, and plant them. The ihyaul mawat bloomed, pioneers who brought the dead back to life. Of course, this is a job that is highly approved by Allah SWT.

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