Urbanization, Civilization, and Sustainability in the Quran
In numerous verses, the Quran poses rhetorical questions such as “Will you not use your reason?” “Will you not know?” “Will you not reflect?” “Will you not see?” and “Will you not ponder?” along with other similar verses and meanings. All of these guide us to contemplate everything contained in the Quran—every major or minor matter, whether enduring or transient, clear or allegorical, divine or cosmic, related to life or to the affairs of creation and creatures concerning existence or miracles, stories and lessons of past nations or extinct or flourishing kingdoms, concerning the unseen or the known, regarding knowledge and the miracles of encompassing it, or the creation of the universe and the precision governing its motion and stillness. They also pertain to faith, its meanings, virtues, or disbelief and its forms and vices; to faith’s realities, attributes, branches, components, and derivatives; to legislation and the systems of state, society, and family; or to individual life. Indeed, we are called to think, reflect, and ponder deeply over every detail and circumstance.
Perhaps what I wish to outline in this article is a specific aspect, which I hope to elaborate on in the future. It concerns what the Quran states regarding urbanization, civilization, and sustainability. These are pivotal pillars of human life and its continuity on Earth, where humanity was entrusted as vicegerent and accepted to bear this trust, either through divine decree or through human injustice “to oneself,” when one deviates from the commands of one’s Lord and Creator, Glory be to Him.
Urbanization, in its meaning, refers to the transition to urban life, encompassing all its associated meanings and elements: the shift from a life of movement, migration, nomadism, and pastoralism to stability and urban living within settled human communities in villages, cities, states, and kingdoms. This is exemplified by the arrival of our Prophet Jacob (peace be upon him), his family, and his children in Egypt, where Joseph (peace be upon him) held power.
As for civilization, it denotes the transition to a dynamic, evolving way of life, one that keeps pace with time, place, and their changes. This includes developing infrastructure and industrialization, and preparing the necessities for life; or improving systems, rules, and institutions; or modernizing and enhancing transactions; and strengthening and developing the system of ethical values and customs that regulate human behavior and interpersonal interactions. It also involves establishing individual or societal constraints that govern such behavior, and monitoring the evolution of lifestyles in accordance with the achievements of civilization or advanced, innovative modernity, along with all associated meanings and elements.
As for sustainability, it is understood as the recognition that urbanization, civilization, habitation, and development are continuous states that should persist. Moreover, it entails preserving these achievements, ensuring the survival of creatures, and safeguarding the fundamental laws of life. Just as night is night and day is day, and so forth, it requires protecting nature and maintaining its form through development that does not disrupt it. Preserving life in all its correct, innate aspects for humans, animals, plants, and inanimate objects is of paramount importance in achieving the ultimate goals of habitation, vicegerency, and the continuity of life and creatures. This ensures the integrity and safety of life and its components, allowing everyone to enjoy its benefits—whether those currently alive or those to come, whether we are aware of them or not. It is our duty to protect and preserve this legacy so that all who exist and live may benefit from it.
