Those Who Forbid Corruption

فَلَوْلَا كَانَ مِنَ الْقُرُونِ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ أُولُو بَقِيَّةٍ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْفَسَادِ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا 

مِّمَّنْ أَنجَيْنَا مِنْهُمْ وَاتَّبَعَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مَا أُتْرِفُوا فِيهِ وَكَانُوا مُجْرِمِينَ

So why not had been of the generations before you those possessing a remnant, forbidding from the corruption in the earth except a few of those We saved among them? But followed those who did wrong what luxury they were given therein, and they were criminals.

[Al-Quran 11:116]

The Rethink Genetic Engineering & Transhumanism in the Light of the Quran page begins with the above ayat. 

Corruption is a major problem that accompanies human science and technology. It affects all areas of life, and enables basic changes in many areas of life. From the individual person, to the basic family unit, all across to the weather and climate, the world is now witnessing corruption. 

We were warned to not make changes in the creation of Allah: 

Our homes and our environment is being poisoned by our own species. While we may yet be able to find ways to contain or reverse the corruption on the planet, who will contain or reverse the change within ourselves. We have been warned against making changes in our nafs, as there will dire consequences: 

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Surah Ta Ha twice uses the term أُولِي النُّهَىٰ .. which I think should be translated as those who desist or forbid. The following was originally posted in Dams: 

قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ الْقُرُونِ الْأُولَىٰ

قَالَ عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّي فِي كِتَابٍ لَّا يَضِلُّ رَبِّي وَلَا يَنسَى

الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّن نَّبَاتٍ شَتَّىٰ

كُلُوا وَارْعَوْا أَنْعَامَكُمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي النُّهَىٰ

مِنْهَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ وَفِيهَا نُعِيدُكُمْ وَمِنْهَا نُخْرِجُكُمْ تَارَةً أُخْرَىٰ 

(Pharaoh) said: "What then is the condition of previous generations?"

He replied: "The knowledge of that is with my Lord, duly recorded: my Lord never errs, nor forgets,-

"He Who has, made for you the earth like a carpet spread out; has enabled you to go about therein by roads (and channels); and has sent down water from the sky." With it have We produced diverse pairs of plants each separate from the others.

Eat (for yourselves) and pasture your cattle: verily, in this are Signs for men endued with understanding.

From the (earth) did We create you, and into it shall We return you, and from it shall We bring you out once again. 

[Al-Quran 20:51-55, Translation: Yusuf Ali]

The People who Forbid (لِّأُولِي النُّهَىٰ) 
Q20:54 states that in it are signs for the لِّأُولِي النُّهَىٰ translated generally as people of reasoning, intellect, understanding, ... As can be seen from the translations of most words sharing the same root, the words lend to the meanings of forbid, desist, refrain, ...    

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

Globally, there is a great debate over the construction of dams. Many people favour such projects in the hopes that it will solve the water and electricity shortages. There are a few who voice concern regarding the adverse ecological impact, the cost-effectiveness of mega-projects, and the potential of such massive bodies of water as weapons of mass destruction.

The Quran informs us that:

• Allah has spread the Earth, made roads/channels, and sent down water from the sky (Q20:53)
• Allah is the Sustainer of the Worlds (Q1:2)
• We must not upset the Balance (Q55:7-9) 
• The flood of the dam destroyed the ecology of the land (Q34:15-17) 

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As Surah arRum puts it:

ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ 

Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea on account of what the hands of men have wrought, that He may make them taste a part of that which they have done, so that they may return. 

[Al-Quran 34:41, Translation: Shakir]

The Earth and the Gardens of Paradise are promised as an inheritance. We have this life to prove we are worthy of such a grand inheritance!    

وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِن بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ 

And certainly We wrote in the Book after the reminder that (as for) the land, My righteous servants shall inherit it. 

[Al-Quran 21:105, Translation: Shakir]

As خَلَائِفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ, hasn't the Earth also been given to us in trust? Surah alMuminoon lists keeping the trusts as one of the qualities of those who will inherit Paradise: 

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ

أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ

الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

And those who are keepers of their trusts and their covenant,
And those who keep a guard on their prayers;

These are they who are the heirs,

Who shall inherit the Paradise; they shall abide therein.

[Al-Quran 23:8-11, Translation: Shakir]

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