The environmental damage caused by wars and weapons continues, with remnants of explosives and landmines still killing and injuring civilians, causing destruction, displacement, and psychological and social impacts that are difficult to overcome and may last for many years, even after the wars end. Additionally, cities become uninhabitable, and reconstruction efforts face the danger of unexploded mines, slowing down urgent assistance. Not to mention the pollution from chemical, biological, and radioactive or nuclear materials that can lead to genetic disorders and ecosystem disruptions, such as water source contamination, affecting health and agriculture.
War-related pollution begins even before the outbreak of conflicts, starting with the building of military forces and supporting them with military vehicles, aircraft, ships, buildings, and infrastructure, which require enormous amounts of fuel. The Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS) stated that the carbon dioxide emissions produced by the largest armies exceed the emissions of many countries combined. It is estimated that militaries are responsible for 5.5% of the total global warming gases, yet the reports provided by armies to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are poor. (1)
History proves that the strategies used to win wars have caused severe destruction and damage by depleting and destroying natural resources, such as during World War I, which was among the most environmentally destructive wars. The trench warfare caused radical changes in forests, grasslands, and the destruction of plants and animals. Similarly, World War II is still remembered for the destruction it left from the use of chemicals and aerial warfare, resulting in the reduction of plant and animal populations and the extinction of some species. (2)
Whether during war or after it ends, war remnants remain a continuous danger. Hence, the International Committee of the Red Cross assesses the effects of pollution from weapons and the risks of chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear hazards on civilian populations. It adopts a methodology of risk awareness and safe behavior, an evidence-based approach that provides critical insights into understanding the nature of pollution and its impact on civilians, and then designs and implements measures to help people build resilience to weapon pollution, such as awareness and educational campaigns and establishing alternative projects in safe areas to generate income. (3)
Wars in Islam
Wars and their destruction never end, as self-centered humans are driven by their desires, stepping on their victims and crushing whateverever stands in their way to reach their goal. However, in Islam, wars are not fought to impose opinions or religion, for Allah says: "There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong." (Al-Baqarah: 256). Islamic wars are not colonial or economic wars aimed at seizing wealth and resources. Instead, Islam considers wars as a corruption that should only be undertaken to prevent a greater evil. Furthermore, fighting is not mentioned in the Quran as a rule but rather in the form of permission, suggesting that while war may be a natural part of human society, it is neither inherently good nor just. Allah says: "Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. And indeed, Allah is competent to give them victory – [They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right – only because they say, 'Our Lord is Allah.' And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned." (Al-Hajj: 39-40). (4)
In the case of war, Islam has established laws and regulations governing all aspects of conflict, such as the obligation to protect civilians and their property, as wars are limited to the fighting armies and do not include non-combatants, such as monks, children, women, the elderly, and even those forced into battle. Islam also prohibits cutting down trees or killing animals keeping its principles present even during times of war. Sulayman bin Buraidah narrated on the authority of his father: "Fight in the Name of Allah and in the cause of Allah. Fight those how disbelieve in Allah. Fight but do not be treacherous, do not steal from the spoils of war, do not mutilate and do not kill children” (Narrated by Muslim), moreover, Abu Bakir may Allah be pleased with him said to the soldiers before going into war, “Do not climb high places to throw [people], do not burn palm trees, do not flood them with water, do not cut down fruit-bearing trees, and do not burn crops...”.
Our noble Prophet ﷺ also taught us to show mercy even to our enemies. He recommended kindness to prisoners, as he said: "Treat the prisoners well" (Narrated by Al-Tabarani). Lord Headley, reflecting on the Prophet's treatment of the prisoners from the Battle of Badr, commented: "Does this not indicate that Muhammad was not characterized by cruelty or bloodthirstiness, as his opponents claim, but rather was always striving to avoid bloodshed as much as possible!" (5)
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The Sources:
1. https://ceobs.org/how-does-war-damage-the-environment/
2. https://www.fawco.org/global-issues/environment/environment-articles/4767-impact-of-war-on-our-natural-environment
3. https://www.icrc.org/ar/what-we-do/weapon-contamination#:~:text=%D9%8A%D9%8F%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A8%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%88%D8%AB%20%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A9%20%D8%AA%D8%A3%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8B%D8%A7%20%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8B%D8%A7,%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%89%20%D8%B9%D9%82%D9%88%D8%AF%20%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF%20%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A1%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B9.&text=%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%A7%20%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%AB%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B9%20%D9%81%D9%8A%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%82,%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%BA%D9%85%20%D9%85%D9%86%20%D8%B5%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A9%20%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%87%D8%A7
4. “Athar” Book by Mohamed Bachir El Ibrahimi.
5. Islam Web, Biography of Prophet Muhammad.
