Climate change as a sign of the Hour
7-12-2009 | IslamWeb
Question:
I am a Muslim, a proud Muslim.Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, gave signs before Doomsday or Judgement Day.I wonder if the climate change which is prevalently experiencing its effect in some countries, I wonder if climate change is one of the signs. If not, then why Islam was not able to predict it? What is Islam's perspective regarding climate change?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
It is good for a Muslim to be proud of his religion, and he should always be so because Islam is the true religion that includes all good things. Allaah Says (what means): {Say, “Indeed, my Lord has guided me to a straight path — a correct religion — the way of Abraham, inclining toward truth. And he was not among those who associated others with Allaah.”}[Quran 6:161] Islam is a religion that was revealed by Allaah, The All-Aware, The Wise who said about Himself (what means): {He is not (to be) questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.}[Quran 21:23] Therefore, it is not permissible for us to comment on this and ask why is it that Allaah did not mention the climate change or other matters among the signs of the Hour; Allaah Says (what means): {And Allaah decides; there is no adjuster of His decision. And He is swift in account.}[Quran 13:41]
In regard to the signs of the Hour, there are some religious texts that clarify that if some matters happen then this is evidence that the Hour is near. The climate change is not among the signs that are mentioned in religious texts in this regard, and it is not necessary that Islam mentions all the signs that will happen before the Day of Judgment.
However, we say that there are some religious texts about some climate changes in some regions of the world, we mean the Arabic peninsula. For instance, Abu Hurayrah 
narrated that the Prophet said: "The Hour will not come until money will be abundant to an extent that a man would go out with the Zakah of his money and he will not find anyone who would accept it from him, and the Hour will not come until the land of Arabia will be back meadows and rivers.” [Muslim]
As regards the position of Islam on the climate change, then it is known that man has a role in harming the environment and he is the cause of the occurrence of such changes, by cutting trees and other known causes that are mentioned by environmental specialists. Islam prohibits anything that harms or spoils the environment, and among the rules of religion is that “There should be no harm nor reciprocal harm.”; this is the wording of a Hadeeth reported by Imaam Ahmad 
in his Musnad.
This rule applies to anything that may cause harm to the environment, like the cutting of trees and so forth. The Prophet said: "Whoever cuts a lote-tree, Allaah would bring him headlong into Hellfire.” [Abu Daawood] When Abu Daawood was asked about the meaning of this Hadeeth he said: "This Hadeeth is summarized, its complete wording indicates that is if someone unjustly cuts a lote-tree in the desert from the shade of which travelers and animals benefit, his head will be brought headlong into Hellfire for having done so."
On the contrary, Islam encourages anything that is good for the environment, like sowing trees and so forth. The Prophet said: "If the Hour occurs and one of you holds a seed in his hand, then if he can sow it before the Hour occurs, he should do so.” [Ahmad] For more information, refer to Fatwa 84117.
It should be noted that the wisdom of the occurrence of such climate changes is to remind the people that their bad acts, like disbelief and acts of disobedience may be the cause of this corruption. Allaah Says (what means): {Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He [i.e. Allaah] may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].}[Quran 30:41] Allaah also Says (what means): {And whatever strikes you of disaster — it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.}[Quran 42:30] Fore more benefit, refer to Fataawa 89262 and 91027.
Allaah Knows best.