<![CDATA[The accelerating environmental crisis, marked by ecosystem degradation, pollution, and unsustainable resource exploitation, calls for ethical frameworks that reconsider the human-nature relationship beyond purely instrumental approaches. This study examines Sayyid Qutb’s interpretation of QS. Al-Baqarah [2]:30 in Tafsīr Fī Ẓilāl al-Qur’ān to investigate how the Qur’anic concept of khalīfah can be understood as a framework for environmental responsibility. Employing qualitative library research and Abdul Mustaqim’s character study approach, the study analyzes Qutb’s exegetical interpretation as the primary source and relevant scholarly literature as secondary sources. Data were collected through systematic documentation and analyzed using descriptive-analytical content analysis, focusing on the theological, ethical, and ecological implications of Qutb’s conception of human stewardship. The findings identify six interrelated dimensions of khalīfah: responsible management of the earth, prudent use of natural resources, maintenance of ecological balance, prevention of environmental destruction, support for sustainable development, and fulfillment of moral and religious obligations. The study argues that Qutb’s interpretation frames human authority over the earth as a trust accompanied by accountability rather than unrestricted dominion. This reading contributes to contemporary Qur’anic environmental ethics by connecting khalīfah with ecological responsibility and offering a theological basis for more sustainable human-nature relations.]]>
