"Al-Mizan: Covenant for the Earth" panel was held with the participation of experts in the field
The panel "Uncovering the Structure and Message of Al-Mizan: Covenant for the Earth" organized by Clark University was held online. The panel, in which the process of the creation of "Al-Mizan: Covenant for the Earth ", which is a global discussion on responsibility and protection towards the planet, and the strong environmental message contained in the work were discussed, was attended by Üsküdar University Department of Philosophy Faculty Member Prof. İbrahim Özdemir. The event, which discussed the specifics of Al-Mizan and its deep meanings in terms of sustainability and social justice, brought together respected experts and interested listeners.
The panel was attended by Founder and Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Faith for the World Initiative Dr. Iyad Abu Moghli, Wildlife Leader and Environmental Educator Aishah Abdallah, Director of the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES/EcoIslam) Kamran Shezad, Üsküdar University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Philosophy. Prof. İbrahim Özdemir, Founder of the Islamic Ecology and Environmental Sciences Foundation Fazlun Khalid, Ecological Planner and IUCN World Commissions on Protected Areas and Environmental Law Member Othman Llewellyn, Hamad Bin Khalifa University Faculty of Islamic Studies Islam and Global Affairs Program Program Coordinator Dr. M. Evren Tok participated.
The panel was moderated by Anita Fábos, Professor of Sustainability and Social Justice and Co-Chair of the Center for Integration and Belonging at Clark University.
The panel highlighted the need for joint action and the critical role of religious and spiritual communities in addressing the environmental challenges of our time. The importance of Al-Mizan in bridging environmental activism and religious practices was emphasized.
Prof. İbrahim Özdemir: "Humans are responsible for the creation created with balance"
Prof. İbrahim Özdemir drew attention to the concept of man being the caliph of the earth. Speaking about the philosophical logic behind this role, Özdemir stated that "The concept of the Caliph is one of the key concepts of this document. Historically, this concept is understood more in a political sense. Caliph means the leader of the Muslims who ruled the Muslim country justly, that is, the leader of the Muslims who replaced the successors of the Prophet. In the light of the Qur'an, we have put forward a new definition that means that every Muslim, every human being is a Caliph with a holistic interpretation. According to this, humans are responsible for creation that is created with mizan, balance, purpose and meaning."
"All the beauties in the universe are reflections of the beauty of God"
Talking about how man's being the caliph of the earth guides the environmental ethics approach within the scope of the Al-Mizan Covenant, Prof. İbrahim Özdemir expressed that "The first verse of the Qur'an invites the Prophet (peace be upon him) and through him all mankind to read nature and the book of the universe. The Qur'an presents a new vision of nature created with balance, temperament, measure, purpose and beauty. All the beauties in the universe are reflections of the beauty of God. Nature, like a mirror, reflects the beauty of God. First, we need to understand this balance and purpose in creation, and then we need to take care of it because God created it and kept it alive. Therefore, it is the duty of every Muslim and every human being to care about creation, to respect and protect it, and to feel a moral responsibility."
"The fulfillment of moral responsibility is a moral imperative"
Pointing out that each individual is responsible for their environment, Prof. Özdemir said that "It is not just leaders who are responsible for caring for creation, we are all responsible. We also hold leaders accountable for electing them. We communicate with them. However, first of all, as a human being, as an individual, I am responsible for my environment. In other words, we are responsible for the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil we use, everything. Everything is connected to everything else. Therefore, it is a moral obligation for every Muslim to feel himself as a caliph, that is, to fulfill his moral responsibility towards each created being. This is a surrogate. We are not masters of nature We cannot use nature as we wish. We must be humble. Humility is another key concept of Al-Mizan to be humble in the face of God's creation..."
"A disgraceful document presented by Üsküdar University..."
At the end of his speech, Prof. İbrahim Özdemir talked about President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Head of Corporate Communications Department Tahsin Aksu, Media PR Unit Manager Şaban Özdemir. He thanked everyone who contributed, including Instructor Bülent Tellan, Ali Açıkgenç and Fatma Özten and said that "Al-Mizan: Covenant for the Earth" is a disgraceful document presented by Üsküdar University to the Turkish Higher Education Community and the public. I hope it will receive the attention it deserves."
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)