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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Quranic Interpretation Links Hypocrisy to Ecological and Social Damage

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Official statement Context piece
  • The Quran condemns human actions that cause ecological and social kerusakan (damage), particularly hypocrisy where perpetrators claim to be reformers.
  • This interpretation is drawn from Surah Al-Baqarah, verses 11-12, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Tafsir Ayat-Ayat Ekologi.
  • The text highlights that hypocrisy is a root cause of severe environmental degradation, not just social or moral decline.

The Quran critiques human actions leading to ecological and social damage, framing such behavior as a facade for true reform. According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Tafsir Ayat-Ayat Ekologi (Ecological Verse Commentary), verses 11-12 of Surah Al-Baqarah illustrate the irony of those causing destruction while claiming to be peacemakers.

This interpretation links such behavior to the characteristics of hypocrites (munafik). The commentary asserts that hypocrisy extends beyond moral and social spheres, becoming a fundamental driver of escalating environmental kerusakan. The verses cited state: "And when it is said to them, 'Do not cause corruption on the earth,' they say, 'We are but reformers.' Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they do not perceive."

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

— Quran (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 11)This verse illustrates the Quranic critique of those who cause damage while claiming to be reformers, as interpreted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The Tafsir Ayat-Ayat Ekologi emphasizes that these hypocrites consciously engage in various forms of damage, moral, social, and environmental, yet maintain the pretense of being agents of improvement. The commentary underscores that this self-deception prevents them from recognizing their role in the worsening ecological crises.

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

— Quran (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 12)This verse, following the previous one, highlights the lack of self-awareness among those causing corruption, according to the Tafsir Ayat-Ayat Ekologi.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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