The Minister for Religious Affairs, Prof. Nasaruddin Umar, emphasised the importance of collective awareness in preserving nature as a form of respect for the Creator. He made these remarks during a public lecture on eco-theology delivered to students, teaching staff and lecturers of the Faculty of Da’wah and Communication at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, held at the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Mosque’s Religious Studies Laboratory in Yogyakarta on Thursday (4 June 2026).

In his presentation, Nasaruddin explained that eco-theology is the study of the universe in relation to divinity. He described nature as everything other than Allah that serves as an alamah, or sign, of the Creator’s existence. In his view, a deep understanding of the relationship between God and the universe must form the foundation for our interaction with the natural environment.

Nasaruddin emphasised that every entity in the universe, from the smallest particle to vast landscapes, is a manifestation or ‘tajali’ of the Divine Presence. Therefore, damaging nature is tantamount to failing to honour the signs of God’s greatness. This approach is hoped to transform humanity’s perspective on the environment, shifting it from merely an object of exploitation to a sacred subject.

“Is anything that comes from God not sacred? It ought to be sacred, shouldn’t it? So don’t just go about burning things at will; this is eco-theology. But we are at a higher level—the second and third levels,” said Nasaruddin whilst delivering his lecture.

He went on to explain that, from a Sufi perspective, the universe is viewed as a ‘shadow’ or reflection of the One and Only. By understanding the mystery of the relationship between substance (jauhar) and physical appearance (arad), humans are expected to gain extraordinary insight that enables them to appreciate every creation.

This public lecture aims to integrate theological understanding with ecological awareness within the university environment. Nasaruddin urged academics not only to rely on rational thought in understanding natural phenomena, but also to engage their inner selves in order to attain a level of gnosis in preserving the integrity of ecosystems.