Dr. Parvaiz was the Vice Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad, India, from 2015 to 2020, and before that was the Principal of Zakir Husain College, Delhi University. He is a science communicator with six books and many articles and book chapters to his credit. Since 1994, he has also been the founding editor of Urdu Science, a popular science and environment monthly, and heads the Islamic Foundation for Science and Environment (India), a non-profit charitable organization.



Aslam-Parvaiz.jpg

Aslam Parvaiz

<h4
  id="h-dr-aslam-parvaiz-is-a-teacher-with-a-passion-coming-from-the-islamic-tradition-he-integrates-the-wisdom-of-the-quran-with-a-scientific-attitude-toward-nature-the-environment-and-our-responsibility-as-human-beings-in-november-2020-dr-parvaiz-was-interviewed-by-elizabeth-denley-and-kambiz-ravan-from-the-heartfulness-institute"
>
  <span style="color: #b42024">DR. ASLAM PARVAIZ</span>
  is a teacher with a passion. Coming from the Islamic tradition, he integrates
  the wisdom of the Quran with a scientific attitude toward Nature, the
  environment, and our responsibility as human beings. In November 2020, DR.
  PARVAIZ was interviewed by
  <span style="color: #136792">ELIZABETH DENLEY </span
  ><span class="has-black-color">and </span
  ><span style="color: #1f6634">KAMBIZ RAVAN</span>
  from the Heartfulness Institute.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<p>
  <span style="color: #136792"
    >ED: Welcome, Dr. Parvaiz. Since we first met a few years back, I have been
    touched by your passion for integrating modern scientific approaches about
    Nature and our current climate crisis with the wisdom traditions of the
    Quran and Islam. Why is this so important for you?</span
  >
</p>

<p>
  <a href="AP:"
    ><span style="color: #b42024">AP</span>:</a
  >
  It’s not science per se, but the need to have a scientific attitude. My
  passion is for Muslims all over the world to understand the logic behind the
  practices in the Quran. Whatever is happening around the globe today in the
  name of Islam is not what is offered in the Quran, which is a book for the
  entire humanity.
</p>

<p>
  What you find there will depend on your capacity, your willingness, and your
  desire to know and internalize the teachings. While I challenge the way people
  currently practice Islam, my approach is not at all controversial, as it is
  based on the Quran.
</p>

<p>
  <span style="color: #136792"
    >ED: Can you please tell us about the importance of Nature, ecology, and the
    environment in Islam?</span
  >
</p>

<p>
  <span style="color: #b42024">AP</span>: I would start
  with the first verse of the Quran, which says that God created the Earth for
  <em>all living beings</em>. Second, the Quran says that if you wish to count
  the bounties of God, you will not be able to do so. Nature has gifted us all
  with countless bounties in the form of resources. Third, the Quran says that
  whatever resources are there, they are to be distributed amongst us all. All
  creatures in the Universe reflect the creativity of God. Fourth, the Quran
  defines the position of humankind as the custodians, the <em>khalifa</em>,
  with the role of protecting the environment and protecting the Earth’s
  resources.
</p>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
  <span style="color: #865d27"
    >All creatures in the Universe<br />reflect the creativity of God.</span
  >
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
  <figure>
    <img
      width="600"
      height="371"
      alt=""
      class="has-img-center lazyloaded"
      src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Ancient_Wisdom_nature_2_2e9fc1798e.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-19T14:50:36.600Z"
    />
  </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<p>
  Whatever resources are there in Nature move from one place to another by the
  Law of Diffusion, which tells us that things move from a region of high
  concentration to a region of low concentration. For example, when you add
  water to a bowl of dry soil through a dropper, the water will spread
  throughout the bowl. Only once the soil becomes saturated with the water will
  it start accumulating on top of the soil. The movement of air, which controls
  the temperature and the climate, uses the same process of diffusion. When air
  pressure decreases, air rushes in. The same is true of the action of gases in
  our body, in our lungs. Hemoglobin in our blood has the capacity to bond with
  carbon dioxide and with oxygen, depending upon the concentration. If more
  oxygen is there, hemoglobin picks up oxygen, whereas if more carbon dioxide is
  there, it picks up carbon dioxide. So, our capacity to breathe in oxygen and
  breathe out carbon dioxide is because of diffusion. This Law of Diffusion is
  operating everywhere in Nature.
</p>

<p>
  Similarly, the Law of Diffusion tells us how to share resources: Where there
  is a need, the resources must go. There is no need for hoarding or reserving
  things for near and dear ones for generations to come, whether it is money,
  property, food, or anything else. The planet is for all. Distribution of
  resources should be as per the need of the moment.
</p>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
  <figure>
    <img
      width="600"
      height="400"
      alt=""
     class="has-img-center lazyloaded"
     src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Ancient_Wisdom_nature_3_dea73f0a29.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-19T14:53:30.361Zlazyloaded"
    />
  </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
  <span style="color: #865d27"
    >The planet is for all. </span
  ><br /><span style="color: #865d27"
    >Distribution of resources should be </span
  ><br /><span style="color: #865d27"
    >as per the need of the moment.</span
  >
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<p>
  The Quran also says to establish balance. Don’t disturb the balance of Nature.
  Don’t spread impurity, like corruption and pollution. Air pollution is an
  imbalance of gases in the atmosphere. In Islamic countries we don’t have a
  strong awareness of environmental consciousness and protection, yet it is part
  of Islam.
</p>

<p>
  The Quran talks of <em>Ibadat</em>, which means submission to the divine laws
  or principles. Often the word is understood as “worship” or “prayer,” which
  has then been reduced to praying five times a day, fasting for thirty days a
  year, traveling once a year to Mecca for <em>Hajj</em>, and giving 2.5% of
  wealth to charity as <em>Zakat</em>. I call this cherry picking. We have
  picked those few practices from the Quran and made them mandatory, forgetting
  all the other practices that are there, including those about the environment
  and Nature, about service, and so many other things that are designed to make
  a person a wonderful human being.
</p>

<p>
  The human-centric approach is missing. While it is wonderful to do prayer five
  times a day, is your prayer helping the poor lady who is your neighbor, who
  has nothing to feed her kids? There are so many people who are hungry, and the
  Quran tells us that giving food to a person in need is our duty.
</p>

<p>
  <span style="color: #1f6634"
    >KR: Why is the color green associated with Islam?</span
  >
</p>

<p>
  <span style="color: #b42024">AP</span>: For us, green
  is the symbol of peace, productivity, and tranquility. When we talk about
  peace, there are two important words: one is “<em>Islam</em>” and the other is
  “<em>Iman</em>.” <em>Iman </em>is usually translated as “faith,” but it also
  has the same root as the word for peace, “<em>Aman</em>.” The root word
  “<em>slm</em>” has eight meanings, one of which is “peace,” and another is
  “productivity and growth.” So, if someone says they are a Muslim, the true
  meaning is that they are a harbinger of peace. They are at peace with
  themselves, and everyone should feel peaceful with them.
</p>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
  <figure>
    <img
      width="600"
      height="400"
      alt=""
      class="has-img-center lazyloaded"
      src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Ancient_Wisdom_nature_4_jpg_336089c5cc.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-19T14:55:45.625Z"
    />
  </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
  <span style="color: #865d27"
    >For us, green is the symbol of peace, </span
  ><br /><span style="color: #865d27"
    >productivity, and tranquility.</span
  >
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<p>
  They do not give any offense to anyone or anything, either mental or physical.
</p>

<p>
  How does Nature work? After the Industrial Revolution, with the fallout of air
  and water pollution, it dawned on us that the green trees in our neighborhoods
  are themselves a huge industry. They produce so many resources and chemicals,
  giving so many products to humanity, such as dyes and medicines, yet the
  industry inside the tree is creating all these things without pollution,
  without heat, and without noise. That is why the shift is now toward
  bioproducts, because we know that Nature’s models are better than our
  human-made models. In Nature, things are always in balance.
</p>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
  <figure>
    <img
      width="600"
      height="400"
      alt=""
      class="has-img-center lazyload"
      src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Ancient_Wisdom_nature_5_7ffa99e44d.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-19T14:57:43.496Z"
    />
  </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<p>
  Balance is important everywhere. Now, balance and justice are the same thing.
  Where there is justice, there will be balance without chaos, because things
  are at peace. In Nature, peace is prevalent because the divine laws are in
  operation. When we are in sync with Nature, we feel peace. The entire Universe
  is tuned with us, and I call this, “Swimming with the current.” The moment we
  don’t follow the natural laws, for example, when we hoard wealth, disrespect
  our spouse, are cruel to our kids, a neighbor, or workers, we feel uneasy and
  not at peace, because these things are against Nature.
</p>

<p>
  We become disturbed, then angry, frustrated, depressed, and eventually we may
  even feel suicidal. This is the sequence which arises from the internal
  situation where we are not comfortable. So being in sync with Nature is
  important, and this is what the Quran tells us.
</p>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
  <span style="color: #865d27"
    >Balance is important everywhere. Now, balance and justice<br />are the same
    thing. Where there is justice, there will be<br />balance without chaos,
    because things are at peace. In<br />Nature, peace is prevalent because the
    divine laws are in<br />operation. When we are in sync with Nature, we feel
    peace.</span
  >
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<p>
  <span style="color: #136792"
    >ED: If you were to advise young people today how to find peace, what would
    you tell them?</span
  >
</p>

<p>
  <span style="color: #b42024">AP</span>: I would tell
  them what I have practiced and implemented myself, which is to follow the
  natural laws. For example, in the Quran it says, “We have created the children
  of Adam [meaning all human beings] to be respected.” It is a divine principle
  to respect all people. Whatever their color, religion, race, language, and
  gender, they must be respected. This is binding on all of us.
</p>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
  <figure>
    <img
      width="600"
      height="400"
      alt=""
      class="has-img-center lazyload"
      src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Ancient_Wisdom_nature_6_2dd97fedad.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-19T15:04:52.322Z"
    />
  </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<p>
  When we respect people, it means we respect their likes and dislikes, we
  respect their faith, their dress, and everything else. We have ours, but we
  have no problem with theirs being different. When we are able to do this, it
  is <em>Ibadat</em>. If we are respectful 24/7, it is acceptance of the divine
  laws.
</p>

<p>
  Next, the Quran tells us to speak in the best way – no foul language, no
  abuse, no taunts, no sarcasm, etc. This is again a divine principle. So, if
  someone abuses us, no matter who it is, do nothing! Our duty is to be nice.
  This is a hot topic today, just as it has always been. The Quran tells us that
  when we are in the company of people who are speaking badly, simply move away
  and join them again after they have finished. Don’t react. The human
  connection is very important, as all human beings are brothers and sisters
  coming from one source. There is no specific Islamic brotherhood. The human
  brotherhood is supreme – we must respect everyone. If we don’t respect a
  household helper, or even our spouse or partner, it doesn’t help.
</p>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
  <span style="color: #865d27"
    >When we respect people, it means we<br />respect their likes and dislikes,
    we respect<br />their faith, their dress, and everything else.<br />We have
    ours, but we have no problem<br />with theirs being different. When we
    are<br />able to do this, it is <em>Ibadat</em>. If we are<br />respectful
    24/7, it is acceptance of the<br />divine laws.</span
  >
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div>
  <figure>
    <img
      width="600"
      height="286"
      alt=""
      class="has-img-center lazyload"
      src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Ancient_Wisdom_nature_7_bc9bbb6ec5.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-19T15:07:08.680Z"
    />
  </figure>
</div>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h5 class="has-text-align-center">
  <span style="color: #865d27"
    >The human connection is very important, </span
  ><br /><span style="color: #865d27"
    >as all human beings are brothers and sisters </span
  ><br /><span style="color: #865d27"
    >coming from one source.</span
  >
</h5>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<p>
  The Quran also tells us to accept all the revered books from all traditions,
  right from the Vedas, to the Torah and the Bible, etc., and to accept all the
  Prophets that have been sent. A few we know, thousands we don’t know. I
  believe that the Vedas were the first divine books. The wisdom is the same.
  Many of the slokas of the Vedas are exactly the same as the verses of the
  Quran. These wonders are waiting to be discovered and practiced.
</p>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
  Interview by
  <span class="has-black-color"
    >ELIZABETH DENLEY and KAMBIZ RAVAN</span
  >
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


Aslam Parvaiz

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