View of Islam on earthquakes, human vitality and disaster

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to increase public participation in the reduction process of growing disaster risk in developing countries by making optimum benefit from the richness of Islamic teaching toward developing an effective and scientifically sound risk communication and education plan that blends with historical traditions, religious beliefs and indigenous knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the correlation between the guiding principle of earthquake risk reduction and the views of Islam on disaster, earthquake, God's bounty, the earth, good deeds, as well as human behavior, safety and vitality in order to clear existing misconceptions and it shows the issues of environment protection, risk management, safety and human life in terms of religious teaching.

Findings

The dissemination of this type of knowledge has helped to clear the misconceptions and increase people's understanding of and knowledge about disaster‐related issues; as a necessary step in the process of disaster risk reduction and improving safety and development, all of which can be viewed as demonstrations of God's love for humankind.

Originality/value

It is the first time that this noble correlation between religion and risk reduction has been explained in a paper, and it is expected to open the road for research and discussion on this topic.

Citation

Ghafory‐Ashtiany, M. (2009), "View of Islam on earthquakes, human vitality and disaster", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 18 No. 3, pp. 218-232. https://doi.org/10.1108/09653560910965600