**Abstract**

Islam, based on the prescriptions of the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him), provides guiding principles on the relationship between humans and the rest of the creation. A fundamental aspect of that relationship is that humans are a part of the creation, including known and unknown living creatures. Islamic teaching emphasises the specific ability of humans to act with understanding, compared to the rest of the creation. Such pre-eminence comes with practical obligations to preserve and use natural resources, be it water, land, or animals sustainably and within limits. The article presents the ecological ethics of Islam and describes how it is being revitalised through education. Finally, it presents principles and means to act responsibly on key global environmental challenges such that society can function in harmony with itself and with nature.

**Keywords:** religion, Islam, ecosystems, environmental sustainability, sustainable consumption and production, nature and humans, distributive justice
