سموگ: ماحولیاتی بحران کا مذہبی اور سائنسی تجزیہ (لاہور کے خصوصی تناظر میں)

Smog: A religious and Scientific Analysis of the Environmental Crisis (With Special Reference to Lahore)

Abstract

Smog has emerged as one of the most severe environmental challenges facing urban centers in South Asia, particularly the city of Lahore. This research article examines smog as a multidimensional crisis by integrating scientific analysis with Islamic environmental ethics. Scientifically, smog results from complex chemical interactions between nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter (PM2.5), and sunlight, intensified by anthropogenic activities such as industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and agricultural burning. From an Islamic perspective, environmental degradation is understood through the Qur’anic concept of Fasād fī al-Arḍ (corruption on earth), where human negligence disrupts the divinely ordained ecological balance. This study adopts an interdisciplinary methodology, drawing upon environmental science, Qur’anic exegesis, Prophetic traditions, and contemporary policy reports. It argues that effective mitigation of smog in Lahore requires not only technological and regulatory interventions but also a moral and ethical transformation rooted in Islamic teachings on stewardship (Khilāfah), moderation, and public welfare. The article concludes by proposing context-specific, faith-informed policy recommendations aimed at restoring environmental balance and safeguarding public health.