Earth will testify to human actions on Judgment Day, sermon says

A Friday sermon delivered in Indonesia calls for humanity to reflect on its relationship with the Earth, emphasizing that the planet itself will bear witness to human actions on the Day of Judgment. The sermon begins with praise for Allah and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad, urging believers to maintain piety and good conduct towards God, fellow humans, and the environment.

The sermon addresses the pressing issue of the ecological crisis, describing how the Earth is suffering due to human exploitation. Practices such as illegal logging, pollution, and excessive resource extraction are depicted as actions that provoke the Earth's "anger," leading to natural disasters like floods and landslides.

Drawing from the Quranic verse Surah Az-Zalzalah (99:1-5), the sermon explains that on the Day of Resurrection, the Earth will reveal all that has happened upon it. If humans have acted with goodness, the Earth will testify to that; conversely, if they have engaged in destruction, the Earth will bear witness to their wrongdoing.

The message underscores the Islamic concept of humanity as stewards (khalifah) of the Earth, responsible for its care. It reminds congregants that even if the Day of Judgment is only a day away, they should continue to do good deeds and maintain good relationships with others and the environment, following the Prophet Muhammad's teachings.