Quran Verses about The environment and its corruption

ظَهَرَ ٱلۡفَسَادُ فِي ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ أَيۡدِي ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعۡضَ ٱلَّذِي عَمِلُواْ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ ٤١

Ẓaharal-fasādu fil-barri wal-baḥri bimā kasabat aydin-nāsi liyudhīqahum baʿḍal-ladhī ʿamilū laʿallahum yarjiʿūn.

Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He [i.e., Allāh] may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعۡجِبُكَ قَوۡلُهُۥ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَيُشۡهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِي قَلۡبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلۡخِصَامِ ٢٠٤

Wa minan-nāsi may yuʿjibuka qawluhū fil-ḥayātid-dunyā wa yushhidullāha ʿalā mā fī qalbihī wa huwa aladdul-khiṣām.

And of the people is he whose speech pleases you in worldly life, and he calls Allāh to witness as to what is in his heart, yet he is the fiercest of opponents.

وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيُفۡسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهۡلِكَ ٱلۡحَرۡثَ وَٱلنَّسۡلَۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡفَسَادَ ٢٠٥

Wa idhā tawallā saʿā fil-arḍi liyufsida fīhā wa yuhlikal-ḥartha wan-nasl, wallāhu lā yuḥibbul-fasād.

And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allāh does not like corruption.

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ أَخَذَتۡهُ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ بِٱلۡإِثۡمِۚ فَحَسۡبُهُۥ جَهَنَّمُۖ وَلَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمِهَادُ ٢٠٦

Wa idhā qīla lahuttaqillāha akhadhathul-ʿizzatu bil-ithm, faḥasbuhū jahannam, wa labiʾsal-mihād.

And when it is said to him, "Fear Allāh," pride in the sin takes hold of him. Sufficient for him is Hellfire, and how wretched is the resting place.

وَقَالَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ يَدُ ٱللَّهِ مَغۡلُولَةٌۚ غُلَّتۡ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَلُعِنُواْ بِمَا قَالُواْۘ بَلۡ يَدَاهُ مَبۡسُوطَتَانِ يُنفِقُ كَيۡفَ يَشَآءُۚ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرٗا مِّنۡهُم مَّآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغۡيَٰنٗا وَكُفۡرٗاۚ وَأَلۡقَيۡنَا بَيۡنَهُمُ ٱلۡعَدَٰوَةَ وَٱلۡبَغۡضَآءَ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِۚ كُلَّمَآ أَوۡقَدُواْ نَارٗا لِّلۡحَرۡبِ أَطۡفَأَهَا ٱللَّهُۚ وَيَسۡعَوۡنَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَسَادٗاۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ ٦٤

Wa qālatil-yahūdu yadullāhi maghlūlah, ghullat aydīhim wa luʿinū bimā qālū, bal yadāhu mabsūṭatāni yunfiqu kayfa yashāʾ, wa layazīdanna kathīram minhum mā unzila ilayka mir rabbika ṭughyānaw wa kufrā, wa alqaynā baynahumul-ʿadāwata wal-baghḍāʾa ilā yawmil-qiyāmah, kullamā awqadū nāral lil-ḥarbi aṭfaʾahallāh, wa yasʿawna fil-arḍi fasādā, wallāhu lā yuḥibbul-mufsidīn.

And the Jews say, "The hand of Allāh is chained."¹ Chained are their hands, and cursed are they for what they say. Rather, both His hands are extended; He spends however He wills. And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord will surely increase many of them in transgression and disbelief. And We have cast among them animosity and hatred until the Day of Resurrection. Every time they kindled the fire of war [against you], Allāh extinguished it. And they strive throughout the land [causing] corruption, and Allāh does not like corrupters.

وَٱبۡتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَأَحۡسِن كَمَآ أَحۡسَنَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡكَۖ وَلَا تَبۡغِ ٱلۡفَسَادَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ ٧٧

Wabtaghi fīmā ātākallāhud-dāral-ākhirah, wa lā tansa naṣībaka minad-dunyā, wa aḥsin kamā aḥsanallāhu ilayk, wa lā tabghil-fasāda fil-arḍ, innallāha lā yuḥibbul-mufsidīn.

But seek, through that which Allāh has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allāh has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allāh does not like corrupters."

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ لَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ مُصۡلِحُونَ ١١

Wa idhā qīla lahum lā tufsidū fil-arḍi qālū innamā naḥnu muṣliḥūn.

And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth," they say, "We are but reformers."

أَلَآ إِنَّهُمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدُونَ وَلَٰكِن لَّا يَشۡعُرُونَ ١٢

Alā innahum humul-mufsidūna wa lākil lā yashʿurūn.

Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not.

۞ وَإِذِ ٱسۡتَسۡقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوۡمِهِۦ فَقُلۡنَا ٱضۡرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلۡحَجَرَۖ فَٱنفَجَرَتۡ مِنۡهُ ٱثۡنَتَا عَشۡرَةَ عَيۡنٗاۖ قَدۡ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٖ مَّشۡرَبَهُمۡۖ كُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعۡثَوۡاْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِينَ ٦٠

Wa idhistasqā mūsā liqawmihī faqulnaḍrib biʿaṣākal-ḥajar, fanfajarat minhuthnatā ʿashrata ʿaynā, qad ʿalima kullu unāsim mashrabahum, kulū washrabū mir rizqillāhi wa lā taʿthaw fil-arḍi mufsidīn.

And [recall] when Moses prayed for water for his people, so We said, "Strike with your staff the stone." And there gushed forth from it twelve springs, and every people [i.e., tribe] knew its watering place. "Eat and drink from the provision of Allāh, and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption."

وَلَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ إِصۡلَٰحِهَا وَٱدۡعُوهُ خَوۡفٗا وَطَمَعًاۚ إِنَّ رَحۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٥٦

Wa lā tufsidū fil-arḍi baʿda iṣlāḥihā wadʿūhu khawfaw wa ṭamaʿā, inna raḥmatallāhi qarībum minal-muḥsinīn.

And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allāh is near to the doers of good.

وَإِلَىٰ مَدۡيَنَ أَخَاهُمۡ شُعَيۡبٗاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥۖ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡكُم بَيِّنَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡۖ فَأَوۡفُواْ ٱلۡكَيۡلَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ وَلَا تَبۡخَسُواْ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشۡيَآءَهُمۡ وَلَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ إِصۡلَٰحِهَاۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ ٨٥

Wa ilā madyana akhāhum shuʿaybā, qāla yāqawmiʿbudullāha mā lakum min ilāhin ghayruh, qad jāʾatkum bayyinatum mir rabbikum, fa awful-kayla wal-mīzāna wa lā tabkhasun-nāsa ashyāʾahum wa lā tufsidū fil-arḍi baʿda iṣlāḥihā, dhālikum khayrul lakum in kuntum muʾminīn.

And to [the people of] Madyan [We sent] their brother Shuʿayb. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. So fulfill the measure and weight and do not deprive people of their due and cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. That is better for you, if you should be believers.

فَلَوۡلَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرُونِ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ أُوْلُواْ بَقِيَّةٖ يَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلۡفَسَادِ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا مِّمَّنۡ أَنجَيۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡۗ وَٱتَّبَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مَآ أُتۡرِفُواْ فِيهِ وَكَانُواْ مُجۡرِمِينَ ١١٦

Falawlā kāna minal-qurūni min qablikum ulū baqiyyatiy yanhawna ʿanil-fasādi fil-arḍi illā qalīlam mimman anjaynā minhum, wattabaʿal-ladhīna ẓalamū mā utrifū fīhi wa kānū mujrimīn.

So why were there not¹ among the generations before you those of enduring discrimination forbidding corruption on earth - except a few of those We saved from among them? But those who wronged pursued what luxury they were given therein, and they were criminals.

وَلَا تُطِيعُوٓاْ أَمۡرَ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ ١٥١

Wa lā tuṭīʿū amral-musrifīn.

And do not obey the order of the transgressors,

ٱلَّذِينَ يُفۡسِدُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا يُصۡلِحُونَ ١٥٢

Al-ladhīna yufsidūna fil-arḍi wa lā yuṣliḥūn.

Who cause corruption in the land and do not amend."

وَإِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٞ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ خَلِيفَةٗۖ قَالُوٓاْ أَتَجۡعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفۡسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسۡفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَۖ قَالَ إِنِّيٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ٣٠

Wa idh qāla rabbuka lil-malāʾikati innī jāʿilun fil-arḍi khalīfah, qālū atajʿalu fīhā may yufsidu fīhā wa yasfikud-dimāʾa wa naḥnu nusabbiḥu biḥamdika wa nuqaddisu lak, qāla innī aʿlamu mā lā taʿlamūn.

And [mention, O Muḥammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority."¹ They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we exalt You with praise and declare Your perfection?"² He [Allāh] said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَكُمۡ خَلَٰٓئِفَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعۡضَكُمۡ فَوۡقَ بَعۡضٖ دَرَجَٰتٖ لِّيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ فِي مَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمۡۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيعُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَغَفُورٞ رَّحِيمُۢ ١٦٥

Wa huwal-ladhī jaʿalakum khalāʾifal-arḍi wa rafaʿa baʿḍakum fawqa baʿḍin darajātil liyabluwakum fī mā ātākum, inna rabbaka sarīʿul-ʿiqābi wa innahū laghafūrur raḥīm.

And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees [of rank] that He may try you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.

وَٱذۡكُرُوٓاْ إِذۡ جَعَلَكُمۡ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ عَادٖ وَبَوَّأَكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِن سُهُولِهَا قُصُورٗا وَتَنۡحِتُونَ ٱلۡجِبَالَ بُيُوتٗاۖ فَٱذۡكُرُوٓاْ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعۡثَوۡاْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِينَ ٧٤

Wadhkurū idh jaʿalakum khulafāʾa mim baʿdi ʿādiw wa bawwaʾakum fil-arḍi tattakhidhūna min suhūlihā quṣūraw wa tanḥitūnal-jibāla buyūtā, fadhkurū ālāʾallāhi wa lā taʿthaw fil-arḍi mufsidīn.

And remember when He made you successors after the ʿAad and settled you in the land, [and] you take for yourselves palaces from its plains and carve from the mountains, homes. Then remember the favors of Allāh and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption."

۞ وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمۡ صَٰلِحٗاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥۖ هُوَ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱسۡتَعۡمَرَكُمۡ فِيهَا فَٱسۡتَغۡفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي قَرِيبٞ مُّجِيبٞ ٦١

Wa ilā thamūda akhāhum ṣāliḥā, qāla yāqawmiʿbudullāha mā lakum min ilāhin ghayruh, huwa anshaʾakum minal-arḍi wastaʿmarakum fīhā fastaghfirūhu thumma tūbū ilayh, inna rabbī qarībum mujīb.

And to Thamūd [We sent] their brother Ṣāliḥ. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. He has produced you from the earth and settled you in it, so ask forgiveness of Him and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is near and responsive."

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهۡدَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مِيثَٰقِهِۦ وَيَقۡطَعُونَ مَآ أَمَرَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦٓ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفۡسِدُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّعۡنَةُ وَلَهُمۡ سُوٓءُ ٱلدَّارِ ٢٥

Wal-ladhīna yanquḍūna ʿahdallāhi mim baʿdi mīthāqihī wa yaqṭaʿūna mā amarallāhu bihī ay yūṣala wa yufsidūna fil-arḍi ulāʾika lahumul-laʿnatu wa lahum sūʾud-dār.

But those who break the covenant of Allāh after contracting it and sever that which Allāh has ordered to be joined and spread corruption on earth - for them is the curse, and they will have the worst home.¹

تِلۡكَ ٱلدَّارُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ نَجۡعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوّٗا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا فَسَادٗاۚ وَٱلۡعَٰقِبَةُ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ ٨٣

Tilkad-dārul-ākhiratu najʿaluhā lil-ladhīna lā yurīdūna ʿuluwwan fil-arḍi wa lā fasādā, wal-ʿāqibatu lil-muttaqīn.

That home of the Hereafter We assign to those who do not desire exaltedness upon the earth or corruption. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous.

أَمۡ نَجۡعَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ كَٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَمۡ نَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ كَٱلۡفُجَّارِ ٢٨

Am najʿalul-ladhīna āmanū wa ʿamiluṣ-ṣāliḥāti kal-mufsidīna fil-arḍi am najʿalul-muttaqīna kal-fujjār.

Or should We treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like corrupters in the land? Or should We treat those who fear Allāh like the wicked?

فَهَلۡ عَسَيۡتُمۡ إِن تَوَلَّيۡتُمۡ أَن تُفۡسِدُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوٓاْ أَرۡحَامَكُمۡ ٢٢

Fahal ʿasaytum in tawallaytum an tufsidū fil-arḍi wa tuqaṭṭiʿū arḥāmakum.

So would you perhaps, if you turned away,¹ cause corruption on earth and sever your [ties of] relationship?