Fortifying the Deep Ecology Platform

Nursi’s Tafakkur īmānī as a Metaphysical Completion to Naess’s Deep Questioning

Bibliographic Data

ID19486394
AuthorsMoh Isom Mudin (0009-0005-0843-6735, University of Darussalam Gontor), Nur Hadi Ihsan (0000-0001-7037-8891, University of Darussalam Gontor), Nabila Huringiin (0009-0007-1600-3280, University of Darussalam Gontor)
Year2026
Volume11
Issue3
Pagese101
Publication date2026-04-13
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAustralian Journal of Islamic Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2207-4414 • E-ISSN: 2207-4414
PublisherIslamic Sciences and Research Academy (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.55831/ajis.v11i3.1057
OpenAlexW7154289612
LanguageEN
References cited23

The escalating environmental crisis underscores the inadequacy of purely technical solutions, necessitating a fundamental reorientation of humanity’s relationship with nature. This article examines two transformative approaches to this challenge. It first considers Arne Naess’ Deep Ecology, whose method of Deep Questioning effectively repositions humanity within the broader ecological community and establishes a philosophical basis for biocentric equality and the Ecological Self. Naess’ principal achievement lies in developing an inclusive framework that fosters ecological solidarity across diverse traditions. However, the movement’s philosophical openness—its chief strength—simultaneously presents its central limitation: the absence of a definitive metaphysical foundation capable of sustaining long-term environmental commitment. The study, therefore, turns to Bediüzzaman Said Nursi's tawhidic ecology, arguing that its core practice of tafakkur īmānī (contemplation of faith) complements and enhances the Deep Ecology project rather than supplanting it. Grounded in tawḥīd taḥqīqī (verified monotheism) and naẓar ḥarfī (interpreting creation as Divine signification), Nursi’s framework re-conceives the biosphere as a manifestation of Divine Names (tajalliyāt al-asmā’ al-ḥusnā). The resultant synthesis preserves the horizontal-immanent strengths of Naess’ approach while augmenting it with a vertical-transcendent epistemology, thus forging a comprehensive environmental philosophy

Biosphere · Deep ecology · Ecological crisis · Humanity · Metaphysics · Solidarity · Sustainable development · Transformative learning · Environmental Philosophy and Ethics · Medieval and Classical Philosophy · Religion, Ecology, and Ethics

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