Islamic Spirituality as the Basis of Ecological Ethics: An Interdisciplinary Tafsir Study of Ecological Verses in the Qur’an

The global ecological crisis such as global warming, forest destruction, and environmental pollution is not merely ecological in nature but also reflects a spiritual crisis in humanity, which has forgotten its divine mandate as God’s vicegerent (khalifah) on earth. The Qur’an gives great attention to cosmic verses that contain both spiritual messages and ecological ethics. In Islam, spirituality is not limited to the vertical relationship with Allah (ḥablun minallāh), but also includes the horizontal relationship with fellow humans and nature (ḥablun minannās and ḥablun minal ‘ālam). This study aims to explore Islamic spirituality as the foundation of ecological ethics through an interdisciplinary tafsir approach. The method used is thematic interpretation (tafsīr mawḍū‘ī) combined with the theories of ecotheology and Islamic environmental ethics. The primary data consist of Qur’anic verses about nature, such as QS. al-Baqarah [2]: 164, QS. al-Rūm [30]:41, QS. al-A’raf [7]: 85, and QS. al-Raḥmān [55]:7–9. The analysis involves examining both classical and contemporary interpretations, then integrating them with modern ecological perspectives. The results show that Qur’anic spiritual concepts such as tawḥīd, tazkiyah al-nafs, dzikr, shukr, and amanah serve as solutions and form the foundation of Islamic ecological ethics. The principles of khalīfah (stewardship), mīzān (balance), and the prohibition of fasād (corruption) emphasize the importance of maintaining environmental harmony. It can be concluded that ecological destruction is essentially a spiritual crisis; therefore, preserving the environment is an act of worship and a manifestation of Islamic spirituality in the context of sustainable living