Saudi Green Initiative should be viewed positively, no need to worry - Mufti

SHAH ALAM - People have mount concerns following the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) to plant 150,000 trees in Taif, a city in Saudi Arabia, with some interpreting that it might be a sign that the Day of Resurrection is near.

There are many signs of the end times based on Islamic beliefs mentioned in hadiths and the greening of Saudi Arabia was just one of them. However, the day of judgement is only known by Allah SWT.

Commenting on the matter, Penang Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said there was no need to worry as the initiative was aligned with Islamic encouragement for people to plant trees.

Quoting a hadith, he said Prophet Muhammad SAW said "Whoever plants a tree and diligently looks after it until it matures and bears fruit (that are eaten by animals, birds or humans) is rewarded".

Salim also said that one of the messages of the Prophet and Khulafa’ ar-Rasyidin to the Islamic soldiers was not to cut down trees.

"Therefore, what we witnessed in modern times, where people cut down trees extensively, is considered as an act of 'fasad' or harm to the earth, which contradicts Islamic teachings," he told Sinar Daily.

Saudi Arabia English-language daily Arab News recently reported that the National Centre for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification has successfully planted 150,000 trees in Saiysad National Park, Taif, with the aim of developing the park and enhancing investment and services for the public.

As part of the national programme to plant 10 billion trees in the country, a key objective of the SGI, the centre offered 17 investment opportunities within the park area.

The trees planted included jujube, acacia, seyal and Vachellia flava, while shrubs such as dodonaea and henna trees were also included in the planting initiative.

Salim said there were Hadiths that reported that one of the signs that the Day of Judgment was near was the transformation of the Arabian Peninsula into a fertile land adorned with plantations, gardens and beautiful parks.

However, he said such phenomena should not cause concerns among Muslims.

He added that it was essential to accept the transient nature of the world and life will continue eternally in the hereafter.

"The crucial thing to do is to adequately prepare ourselves for the afterlife, similar to death, which is inevitable for every human being.

"All lives on earth will end with death, followed by the arrival of the Day of Judgment and subsequently, the eternal afterlife.

"One's happiness in the afterlife will depend on their respective deeds and actions in this world," he said when contacted.

He advised people that there was no need to worry or be anxious about that matter as such projects should be viewed positively as they were align with the role of human beings on earth.

Salim said humans were required to cultivate the earth with factors that contribute to the creation of a comfortable and pleasant environment.

The SGI project involved eight different locations within 28 million square metres of the national park. The park was one of the largest in the Makkah region and stood as one of the oldest parks in Saudi Arabia.

Situated approximately 15 kilometres northeast of Taif, the park derives its name from the ancient Saiysad dam. Surrounded by towering mountains, the park boasts dense foliage and extensive green areas, making it one of the unique natural reserves in the region.