“And it is He (God) who has made you [humans] viceroys (khala’ifa) upon the earth; and has raised some of you above others in degrees [of wealth, intelligence and piety] that He may test you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, Forgiving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 6:165)

In Arabic the word for earthling is Khalifa (خلِيفةً) pronounced kha-leaf-ah. This is a word with multiple meanings like deputy, guardian and viceroy, although it all boils down to Stewardship. Human beings are the most intelligent beings on earth so we have been given the duty, trust and responsibility to care for both our society and our planet.

Thus the wealthy must share their wealth with the poor; the intelligent must share their understanding with the uneducated; and the pious mush share their piety by loving the less pious: and all us humans must share in taking care of all non-human creatures on our planet.

The Qur’an states that: “Indeed, We (God) offered the Trust to [other creatures] in the heavens and the earth and the mountains, and they declined to bear it and feared it; but mankind [undertook to] bear........

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