Ulukhaktok mural reflects life in a new land for Muslim teen from Ontario

Mural is 1 of 33 being painted as part of the Inuvialuit Mural Project

Ruqaiyah Noor-e-Zahra Naqvi stands with the mural she and fellow student Alison Klengenberg-Kuneluk painted. (Submitted by Nicholas Kopot)

For 17-year-old Ruqaiyah Noor-e-Zahra Naqvi, living in the small N.W.T. hamlet of Ulukhaktok means muskox hunts, snowfalls like she's never seen before, drum dances and ravens.

Naqvi, a Muslim student at Helen Kalvak School who recently moved to the community of about 400 people, brought all those concepts together with the help of fellow student Alison Klengenberg-Kuneluk for a mural that now hangs on a wall at the school.

"It's definitely [an] interesting thing for me to try, because I never worked on a project that big," said Naqvi, who is in Grade 12.

"I think definitely because of the friends I've met here, I was able to try new things and kind of open myself up a bit."

Naqvi and her family moved to Ulukhaktok in 2020 when her mother took a job as a junior high teacher at the school. It was an unplanned move for the family, who had been living in Burlington, Ont.

"When we were going to move to Ulukhaktok … I almost felt like I get to see another view, another side of my brothers or sisters in humanity," said Ambreen Zahra Bokhari, Naqvi's mother. "We are all part of the same light."

Ruqaiya Noor-e-Zahra Naqvi, left, with her mom Ambreen Zahra Bohari and sister Sakina-Mariam Sufia Naqvi. The family moved to Ulukhaktok in 2020. (Submitted by Ambreen Zahra Bohari)

Though out of her comfort zone at first, Naqvi soon settled in. She began to meet people, make friends, and started her own creative arts club. She joined a muskox hunt with other students, took part in a drum dance and learned from elders about what they experienced at residential schools.

"It broke my heart," she said of hearing those residential school experiences. "But I think the point of them sharing it was to remind people of how far they've come in what has happened in the past, so you don't forget."

She wove those emotional and special experiences all together with paint. She's thankful, she said, for the history, culture and knowledge people have shared with her.

"If you told me two or three years ago that I would go hunting for muskox for nine hours in deep snow … I would be like, 'Are you crazy? I would never do something like that!'" she said.

"That's an experience you don't forget."

The mural is one of 33 funded by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and commissioned by the Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization back in March as part of the Inuvialuit Mural Project. The project aimed to support artists across the Inuvialuit Settlement Region with a stipend for their work.

Joanne Ogina, Mary Kudlak, Agnes Kuptana, Annie Inuktalik, Alison Klengenberg-Kuneluk, Annie Goose and Ruqaiyah Noor-e-Zahra Naqvi show off the school's new mural. (Submitted by Nicholas Kopot)

Though most of the artists for the other murals are Inuvialuit, school principal Nicholas Kopot recommended Naqvi and Klengenberg-Kuneluk for this one — an unusual opportunity for the new student.

Alexandrea Gordon, communications manager for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, said in an email that individual community corporations selected the various artists.

She wrote that the decision to allow a non-Indigenous student to be one of the painters "demonstrates how inclusive our people are."

Gordon said the idea was to give artists freedom to express empowerment, culture and self-pride.

"This allowed the artists to create art without boundaries," she wrote.

Naqvi's finished product features a pink-cheeked girl with an ulu-shaped earring, breathing on her mitts to warm her hands. Three hills rise amidst clouds, and a baby raven takes flight over the silhouettes of a woman and a child holding hands. The silhouettes represent the important message of Orange Shirt Day.

"I thought, there's a lot of great things, but you shouldn't forget about the sad things that happened as well," she explained.

Copies of all the murals will be displayed down the streets of Inuvik early this winter.

This piece was originally published on the CBC on October 9, 2022.

How I Became a Chicken Farmer

By Bahaar Luhar

Bahaar Luhar and her family own an organic chicken farm called Chicken Thika Farm.  They are the first small scale farm in Ontario to be certified organic and certified halal. An Aerospace Engineer by profession, she was an experienced retail banker before deciding to start her own farm. Let us read her story in her own words:

Coming to Canada

I was born in Nairobi, Kenya – third generation of a huge East Indian community raised in East Africa. My great-grandparents, and so many families, immigrated from the deserts of Buj, Kutch in India – to help build the big railway line in Africa. My father worked at a local private airport in Nairobi – a huge influence for me. As a young widow my mother made the difficult choice to immigrate to Canada with three young kids in tow. Education was the main goal and purpose behind the huge sacrifice we made, leaving the comfort of our community. I was raised dreaming of getting my pilots license – in fact the first birthday cake I remember had a plane on it . Unfortunately my eyesight excluded me from being able to fly.

Becoming an Aerospace Engineer

I pursued my dream by completing my bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Ryerson Polytechnic University. In our families success typically meant studying law, medicine or engineering; my sister who completed her education in alternate medicine as a naturopathic doctor – was another influence on me. Along the way I worked in many different places from the age of 13 : Baskin Robbins, Los Rios, delivering newspapers, working in a bakery, at a hairstylist assistant, summer jobs at a pharmaceutical company; selling make-up for Mary Kay; and tele fundraising while in university. After university I worked as a process engineer for an arm of the automotive manufacturer -Magna International. I programmed laser machines to cut metal, wood, plastic: everything from jewelry to the holes in the titanium de-icing tubes for Boeing planes. I was thrilled to be able to design and build my own candle-holders for my wedding.

Becoming a Banker

After my first child it was difficult to re-enter the workforce in my chosen field of study. My need to stay close to family narrowed my options further. I was able to work part-time at call centers because of the skillset I picked up during university. I joined a financial institution, 5 minutes from home, for what I thought would be a couple months until I went back into engineering. It will be almost 20 years since I joined the bank. The roles I have had the opportunity to enjoy include sales, leadership, intrapreneurship. I have been recognized for leading nationally in customer service, digital education, diversity & inclusion. You would think that my career was set at that point. This is when when life threw me and my family an unexpected opportunity and the best role of all.

Searching for Organic Halal Chickens

Let’s take a few steps back – Back in 1987 when we first came to Canada – it was difficult to find halal meat let alone organic or pasture-raised meat. We had to share a car and plan a shopping trip with 3-4 families to Knob Hill Farms. Fast forward 25 years – my husband, our 3 boys and myself have been living in rural southwestern Ontario for the past 17 years. In this beautiful countryside where there is no shortage of farms, we couldn’t find anyone to do halal slaughter. We were unaware that the meat that is certified both halal and organic comes from Quebec – that doesn’t make sense when we have access to local farms and can reduce our carbon footprint transporting meat within the province. Also that there are only 2 stores in Ontario that carry organic meat. We noticed a gap in organic, pasture-raised meat that was hand slaughtered and realized we could fill the gap. So we decided to give it a try and start with chickens – and here we are 4 years later. Proud to share we are the first small-scale family-farm in Ontario to be certified organic and certified halal. Probably the best decision ever for our family. While my husband and boys did the labor intense work – I set out to work on sales, marketing and client experience. It was an amazing opportunity to use my love of photography. At one point my mom asked me to please send pics of her grandkids because I only shared pics of chickens!

My Journey as a Farmer

When I came to Canada, among other dreams, I thought we would live in a farm – and my dream came true – I have definitely converted from being a city girl to a country girl :). I am very blessed to have been able to experience and learn all that I have over the last few years . We continue to learn and share our experiences – for example how to grow and store garlic, as well as tomatoes. Pasture-raised means we only raise chickens from April – September. Challenges include trying to keep our flock protected from predators and the elements. This year biosecurity became important with the avian flu. We ensure to keep up with audit requirements for Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Halal Monitoring Authority and CSI Organic Standards. We care for our animals and make sure we are producing highest quality for our customers. Even though it has been the toughest experience, raising chickens with my family has turned out to be the most rewarding experience. It keeps us close to nature, to reflect on the bounties of Allah and His blessings all around us. There’s no better feeling than producing food that you have grown with your own hard work and seeing the impact it has on families. We have had amazing feedback about the difference in taste – we have noticed that even our family, including 3 teenage boys, eat less but better quality meat and very filling. We enjoy spending time talking to customers about what we do and learning from them at our local farmer’s market. We encourage people to find out more about where their food comes from and “Meet Their Farmer” Saturdays at the Mount Forest Farmer’s Market – which runs all summer – and drop by the farm for a visit after. Our business continues to expand as the community learns about us all over the province. We now have regular clients in Ottawa, London, Mississauga and GTAA – we deliver all across Ontario as far as North Bay. We are partnering with other farmers to meet the demand for other meats such as goat, lamb and beef that meet standards of organic, pasture raised and halal hand slaughter. The last 2 years we have sold out and have had customers wait for the new season when the first crop comes in.

Final Thoughts

We discuss often at the dinner table the need to have an education and how many marriage ads contain the word BA or MA educated. To me education is only as good as it’s application. When I think about my background and where I ended up it may not look like a straight line. My degree is called the most expensive piece of paper in our house. When you think about how much time it took to accomplish that – the lesson is learning never stops – from the cradle to the grave. I believe in exposing our children to a variety of experiences so they can tap into natural talents and build a career based on their passions. I prioritize over any degree how we treat each other – family, neighbors, community and our fellow Muslims. Manners, trust and class are very important – and education that will build a foundation for your future is something no one can take away from you – and it certainly has earned the respect of people around me. The ultimate is if you are able to establish yourself in a career that combines Deen and Duniya without compromise. I believe in expressing out loud to the universe what you want and then accepting with open arms what God gives you in blessings. There is nothing that cannot be accomplished without prayer, vision and rolling up your sleeves to get to work. I thank God for guiding us this entire journey and look forwards to how it unfolds. Thank you all for your continuous support and encouragement – Here’s to continuous learning, lifting each other up and being part of a healthy, wealthy ummah:)

About the Author

Bahaar has a B. Eng from Toronto Metropolitan University. She managed high-performing teams in retail banking – recognized nationally for customer service. Bahaar is passionate about health, wealth and family and works with entrepreneurs, specializing in agriculture, who are looking to scale up. Visit her website at www.chickenthikafarm.com

This piece was originally published on MuslimMoms.ca on August 14, 2022.

OPINION Hajj: a sacred journey inviting new perspective for environmental activism

After two years of COVID-19-restricted access to the holy sites in Mecca, one million Muslims are expected to arrive as they respond to the call of hajj this year. Fundamentally, the hajj is embedded in a journey and an encounter.

Outwardly, it is an enactment tracing the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim (a significant figure among all three Abrahamic faiths). Inwardly, it is a spiritual journey to conquer the self and to dampen the temptations of ego with the purpose to recalibrate our place in the cosmos and examine our priorities in this world. The two are intricately woven into one through the concept of the haram.

Haram literally means: to put restrictions or limitations on something — and is commonly used to imply the forbidding of certain actions to protect that which is sacred. For the pilgrim, entering this sacred state is signified by the donning of simple clothes that are meant to remove all societal representations of wealth or social differences.

Rituals of hajj are meant to tame the ego and seek a state of harmony with the surroundings. Indeed, haram is further expressed in the context of time and space. The three months of hajj are known as the sacred months. Haram also extends to the geographical area that surrounds the Kaaba in the precincts of Mecca, a space restored as a sanctuary since 628 CE. Arguably, this makes the Kaaba one of earth’s earliest protected sanctuaries, bestowing a sacredness to the place, which can be extended to the planet and the cosmos.

As humanity is reaching an epiphany in the trajectory of climate change on the planet, hajj is inviting us to explore and embrace new frameworks to address this existential threat and ground environmental action and policies in different paradigms.

Ashlee Cunsolo, a leading voice on climate change and human well-being, said “climate change is asking us to be different” and “to accept the honest truth.” But as philosopher Kwame Appiah observed, humanity’s moral failings are defined less by lack of knowledge and more by pursuing strategic ignorance by invoking tradition, or necessity, in order to avoid facing those inconvenient truths. So, reversing current trajectories will require more than science and data, but action anchored on moral and ethical paradigms to restore our broken relationship with the planet.

Firstly, the environmental protection laws must be built on a different calculus based on an inclusive legal protection framework that is extended to animals, plants, oceans, water reservoirs and land. This must aim to halt the loss of biodiversity, which has been declining sharply. The world has seen an average 68 per cent drop in mammal, bird, fish, reptile, and amphibian populations since 1970.

Secondly, we need to find a path to moderation and reverse the consumption trends of the past 100 to 150 years. These consumption patterns and human activities are altering the planet ecosystems on a geological scale. Transitioning to a net-zero world calls for a complete transformation of how we produce, consume and move around.

If we fail to reverse current trajectories, the impact of climate change on humanity will be unimaginable. For example, it is predicted that up to 250 million people will be displaced by the 2050 as a result of extreme weather conditions, dwindling water reserves and a degradation of agricultural land.

It is time for humanity to build hope by infusing different world views in the circle to address a crisis that is impacting all of creation. Hajj uniquely presents an intersectionality between religion and the environment, as it offers us a rich discourse to engage in environmental protection on a higher moral pedestal: the sacredness of the universe and individual responsibility.

Abdul Nakua, an executive with the Muslim Association of Canada, serves on the board of directors for Ontario Nonprofit Network and is a member of the Nonprofit Sector Equitable Recovery Collective.Memona Hossain, a Ph.D. candidate in ecopsychology, is an environmentalist and has served on the board of directors for the Muslim Association of Canada.

This piece was originally published in the Toronto Star on July 8, 2022.

Mobilizing Faith and Spirit for the Climate Crisis

About the Speaker

Sameer Merchant spent two decades as a software engineer in Seattle and Vancouver working for Microsoft, Hulu, and Tableau. He is currently taking an extended sabbatical to get a better understanding of the climate crisis, what we can do to reduce our individual and collective contributions to the problem, and to understand the psychology behind climate denial and climate inaction. His faith tradition is Ismaili Muslim, which is central to his views on humanity’s role as stewards of the Earth.

About the Series: Mobilizing Faith and Spirit for the Climate Crisis 

Every day we are reminded that we are in a climate emergency. Unprecedented heat waves, droughts, fires, extreme weather events, floods, refugees – the list goes on. Taken together with the current pandemic, it’s understandable that many of us feel frightened, overwhelmed, powerless.  Where can we find the individual and collective strength to clearly face the truth of the emergency, mourn the damage being done to our blue planet, and inspire ourselves and others to action?

The Vancouver Unitarians are hosting a series of talks by prominent Canadians from faith, spiritual and secular backgrounds to support us in answering that question.  They will educate, nourish, and inspire us, drawing on diverse faith and spiritual traditions including those of Indigenous peoples. They will delve into how these traditions and practices, and the values they represent, help them contend with the climate emergency and the actions they are taking.  And, in this way, they will help us engage more effectively with the crisis and create our way forward to a sustainable future – for ourselves and our families, our communities, our nation, and for the health of our loved ones and our planet.

About the Format and Venue

The speaker series is being live-streamed from the campus of the Vancouver Unitarians to audiences online and in-person in the Sanctuary. Two Vancouver Unitarians are moderating the series – introducing the speakers, leading discussions after each talk, and providing continuity over the course of the full program.  The series will include occasional panel discussions of key themes and learnings from what we heard. 

All events in this series are being held in the Sanctuary at UCV. It is recognized as a remarkable mid-twentieth century architectural legacy – a well-received spiritual gathering place and a civic gathering place for events in the arts, public affairs, and discourse on the issues of the day.

Windsor teacher promotes green themes during Ramadan

A Windsor Islamic High School teacher recently taught her students about sustainability through a curriculum from the group Green Ummah. (Aastha Shetty/CBC News)

Protecting Mother Nature is an important theme in Islam, and a Windsor teacher is helping her students make the connection during Ramadan. 

Shaymaa Zantout helps lead green initiatives at the Windsor Islamic High School. She says one of the central ideas in Islam is that human beings were created as khalifa — stewards or guardians of the land.

"So, there's a huge emphasis on being caretakers of the land and the environment that surrounds us, because it's seen as this trust... that we've been entrusted with by our creator. And so the connection there is really significant and I think one that we're trying to instill in the students at our school as well."

She's working with a group called Green Ummah, which developed a curriculum for students in partnership with Nature Canada.

The group was founded by students, including some from Windsor, to promote an environmental movement within the Muslim community.

Shaymaa Zantout, a teacher at Windsor Islamic High School, speaks with CBC Windsor Morning host Peter Duck about how caring for nature is a spiritual responsibility.

"We had the opportunity to participate in activities, go on a field trip...out into nature. We got to write letters to our school administration asking for some changes to be made to make our school more eco-friendly," she said.

"So we're trying to make it very hands on, thanks to this program. And even now that that curriculum, we've finished studying it, we're still incorporating some of those teachings throughout all our lessons."

The Green Ummah website says its lesson plans for teachers are solutions-oriented. Students, the organization says, already bring creativity, energy and innovative thinking to green issues.

"Our hope is to provide middle school and high school students an intersectional understanding of the environmental movement, equip them with methodologies to build sustainable and equitable solutions, and create opportunities for digital collaboration between Muslim youth across Canada," stated the website.

Zantout says that faith provides a useful lens to look at issues like the environment because people may not get to see the impact they made during their lifetime.

"But the idea is, whether you see the results or not ... this servitude as part of your relationship with God," she said.

This piece was originally published on CBC News on April 9 2022.

Muslims across the world to celebrate Earth Day with Green Khutbah Campaign

This year’s Green Khutbah will be on Friday, April 22 2022.. The theme this year is changing hearts and minds through action.

Muslims across the world will commemorate Earth Day on Friday, April 22, 2022 with the Green Khutbah Campaign as religious leaders deliver a sermon to raise awareness on the environmental challenges facing humanity.

“We are encouraging mosques, schools, universities and Islamic Institutions to devote their Friday Khutbah to celebrate the blessings, graces and beauty of all of God’s creation and to raise awareness on the environmental challenges facing humanity,” said Muaz Nasir, the publisher of the Canadian environmental website, Khaleafa.com and one of the founders of the Campaign.

“This year the theme of the Green Khutbah Campaign is ‘Changing Hearts and Minds Through Action’ whereby we encourage Muslims to evaluate their contribution towards global warming and consider the implications for current and future generations,” Nasir added.

The Campaign was launched in 2012 in Canada and, every year, Imams across the world are encouraged to deliver a message that reminds their congregations of the Qur’anic message to be stewards of the earth and its environment.

The first Earth Day, held on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement.

More than 1 billion people across the world now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

Recently the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a report warning that for the world to stave off the worst ravages of climate breakdown it would require a “now or never” dash to a low-carbon economy and society.

Greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025, and be nearly halved this decade, according to IPCC, to give the world a chance of limiting future heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

But the world is failing to make the changes needed, the scientists warned. Temperatures will soar to more than 3C, with catastrophic consequences, unless policies and actions are urgently strengthened.

“It’s now or never, if we want to limit global warming to 1.5C. Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, it will be impossible,”  said Jim Skea, a professor at Imperial College London and co-chair of the working group behind the report.

Muaz Nasir says that Muslims cannot tune out from this environmental crisis.

“Tuning out would mean that we are disregarding our moral responsibility to God’s creation,” he said.

“Those who violate or abuse the Trust are described in the Qur’an as those who corrupt, degrade and bring ruin on earth,” Muaz Nasir added. “The corrupters abuse the Trust and are in clear contrast to what Muslims must be - the stewards of the earth.”

An extensive online resource has been created by Khaleafa.com (www.Khaleafa.com/greenkhutbah) to support the Green Khutbah Campaign and Islamic organizations and well-known leaders are throwing their support behind the initiative.

Can Islam Fight Climate Change?

In British Columbia, Canada, massive floods and landslides are washing out roads and bridges. Thousands of people have been evacuated, and a few people have even died. Dr. Shabir Ally and Dr. Safiyyah Ally look at why extreme weather events are happening and point to verses from the Quran that emphasize the responsibility human beings have to maintain the balance God has set for all living creatures. They urge Muslims to act decisively to limit climate change and preserve the environment.

With $1 trillion to spend, imagine what Muslims could do for our overheated planet

Almost two billion people are affiliated with Islam, and if properly mobilized they could transform humanity’s response to climate change. A core idea for all Muslims is zakat, an obligatory charitable tax that yields roughly $1 trillion annually.

Reversing climate change requires trillions of dollars. Unfortunately, the numbers discussed at Glasgow are far below what’s needed.

But there is one source of relatively untapped funding capable of transforming climate funding.

The UN says 80 per cent of people identify religiously. Almost two billion are affiliated with Islam, and if properly mobilized they could transform humanity’s response to climate change.

Making this a reality would require only a small shift to yield a colossal return.

A core idea for all Muslims is zakat, an obligatory charitable tax whereby 2.5 per cent of one’s annual wealth is given to the less fortunate. Zakat yields roughly $1 trillion annually — enough to help the UN meet its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Or more than fifty times the $19 billion COP26 committed to tackling deforestation. Redirecting even a significant percentage of zakat could have a game-changing impact on global climate action.

Currently, most zakat alleviates poverty in very direct ways in the form of short-term humanitarian assistance. That, of course, is important. But it fails to mobilize much of zakat towards longer-term challenges. Zakat must fulfil its wider goals of addressing inequality — a core criteria of zakat distribution. And climate change will undoubtedly be the world’s biggest driver of inequality in years to come.

The Middle East, after all, is already warming at a rate double that of the rest of the world, with much of it at risk of becoming uninhabitable.

Such extreme circumstances require zakat to be applied in the holistic way it was originally intended, by pre-empting crises rather than just tending to the survivors of disaster.

There are religious precedents for doing so. After all, addressing unequal opportunities and eradicating drivers of future poverty are what justifies zakat being used for educational programs.

So why are the same principles not used to catalyze zakat into becoming one of the leading climate financing institutions?

The answer lies in climate education and understanding — or the lack thereof.

Many Islamic leaders still fail to grasp the do-or-die urgency climate action demands. Yes, they may understand that environmental preservation aligns with faith values. But do they understand the urgency with which those actions must be taken? That realization would illuminate the undeniable connection between climate action and poverty alleviation.

Addressing this deficit requires a profound and wide-ranging meeting of the minds between the world of science and religion.

This might be easier said than done, but efforts are afoot. The organization I lead, the Muslim World League, is activating its network of 1,200 senior Islamic scholars across 139 countries for such a dialogue.

To make this a reality, we invite climate experts from around the world — not least from North America — to participate.

Religion may have traditionally been viewed as the antithesis of science. But by embracing the true spirit of religious charity and engaging scientific minds for the sake of humanity, religion might just revolutionize climate financing, and save our planet.

Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa is Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), the world’s biggest Islamic NGO. MWL was represented at the pre-COP26 Vatican meeting of religious leaders convened by Pope Francis.

This piece was originally published in The Toronto Star on November 17, 2021.

Green Ummah Launches New Curriculum for Muslim Youth

In October, Islamic schools implemented a new curriculum to help Muslim high school students learn about environmental stewardship and advocacy. It’s a curriculum that could appear in schools across the country.

Green Ummah, a non-profit organization focused on creating a green movement in the Muslim community, developed and launched the Greening Our Communities Toolkit, with the help of teachers. The curriculum will teach youth about the climate-and-biodiversity crisis, environmental racism and justice, and Islamic perspectives on the environment. 

“We need to start getting racialized, marginalized youth into spaces in nature. We need to be the ones to break down those barriers ourselves, for these kids,” says Aadil Nathani, co-founder of Green Ummah.

“They’re already engaged with what’s happening with the climate,” he adds. “They already have a little bit of climate anxiety, eco-anxiety, to go along with all of the other anxiety that they deal with. If we can get them right into nature with relevant programs, with a way for them to understand and find a care for nature or love for nature, that’s also going to help the climate movement in the future.” 

A student at Gibraltar Leadership academy works on an activity that is part of the toolkit.

Gibraltar Leadership Academy (Scarborough), Safa and Marwa School (Mississauga), and Windsor Islamic High School (known as WIHS) are the first schools to implement the new curriculum, which is taught in the Geography and Islamic Studies classes. Teachers can use the toolkit for any grade at the high school level.

Rejaa Ali, a teacher at Gibraltar, says a lot of the information in the toolkit is refreshing. Shaymaa Zantout, who teaches at WIHS, says the content has been enriching her lessons. Both teachers expressed that students are making a lot of personal connections with the toolkit as compared to other classroom settings. 

HOW STUDENTS AT GIBRALTAR ARE RESPONDING 

“Everything we’ve talked about is curriculum based, but being able to connect with it from your own value systems, that’s a big deal, because that knowledge stays with you forever and you’re way more engaged,” says Ali. 

The modules include topics on what it means to be green, and students get to analyze their own worldview and learn about other worldviews, going beyond the eurocentric view and encouraging students to learn different perspectives.

“Many of the students have never really been exposed to perspectives outside of a colonial perspective in terms of just knowledge. So they’re responding to the toolkit with a lot of interest,” Ali says. 

A completed mind map activity done by a student at Gibraltar Leadership Academy, in the class taught by Ali.

“We’ve been studying Indigenous traditional knowledge and a lot of them were able to connect that to their own forms of traditional knowledge that’s been passed down in their own families, or even within Islamic heritage. Practices that are not typically perceived as science based, but have a lot of history involved in their right.” 

Ali hopes that with the material they learn through the toolkit, students will be able to take action and implement what they’ve learned to make a positive change, for example, thinking about their own carbon footprint and how they can decrease it, as opposed to feeling guilt. 

“There’s a lot of passion involved. The more knowledgeable you are of events that are happening in the world, then you come with a lot of energy.” 

HOW THE TOOLKIT IS HELPING STUDENTS AT WIHS 

“This really aligns well with what I’ve been wanting to do, which is incorporating more personal elements where they can actually connect with the material,” says Zantout. 

Zantout says she believes faith is an important lens to see the world through, acknowledging that one should be mindful of their surroundings and how much emphasis is put on the environment. 

“I love the opportunities where they can tie themselves to the most intrinsic level to the content, like your role as a Muslim. It’s not just a label you slap onto yourself — how are you actively playing a role within your identity to better the environment?” 

Zantout says many students come in with a rigid view of what geography is and how it relates to them. 

“Geography is really closely tied to many aspects of their life. There are so many perspectives that you need in order to understand geography,” she says, adding that she hopes students take away lessons of mindfulness about their role and their impact on the environment.

Green Ummah hopes to spread this toolkit to more schools, including non-Islamic ones, and will collect feedback after this first phase. 

This piece was originally published on Nature Canada on November 19, 2021.

Why taking action on climate change is an Islamic obligation

As more than 100 world leaders meet this week in Glasgow, attention is on a handful of major economic powers and the hope that COP26 turns the tide of climate change. If there is to be real progress, every country has to do its part, including Muslim-majority countries.

With an estimated population of 1.8 billion in more than 56 Muslim-majority countries, Muslims make up 23% of the world’s population. Muslim countries are generally developing nations and do not top the list of largest carbon-emitting nations. But they will need to be part of the conversation and the solution to this global crisis.

Islamic thinking in the contemporary world has often focused on issues such as radicalism, terror, security, and how to engage with the legacy of Western imperialism and the emergence of modern science. Climate change and environmental sustainability do not yet occupy an important place.

The pioneering work of Seyyed Hossein Nasr on an Islamic understanding of the care of creation has only occasionally stimulated further research and action. Nasr has drawn on the spiritual and metaphysical dimensions within the Islamic tradition to argue the importance of the environment and human responsibility to protect it. In the intervening years, global concern has shifted from sustainability and the loss of biodiversity to the urgent and serious threats posed by human-induced climate change.

Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change

Faced with this deepening crisis, Muslim eco-activists and scientists released an Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change. This declaration arose out of a symposium held in Istanbul shortly before the Paris climate summit in 2015. The declaration reconciles climate science with relevant Quranic wisdom.

The declaration is under no illusions: each person is called to be a “caretaker or steward (khalifah)” in the new epoch. The current rate of climate change cannot be sustained and “we are in danger of ending life as we know it on our planet”. There is a stark acknowledgement of humanity’s failure to fulfil its role of khalifah and the effect of such abuse on the created order.

The declaration concludes with a series of calls. These are calls to be accountable. There are specific policy-based calls to well-off nations, oil-producing states and corporations, as well as the finance and business sectors.

The declaration concludes with a call for all Muslims:

wherever they may be […] to tackle habits, mindsets, and the root causes of climate change, environmental degradation, and the loss of biodiversity in their particular spheres of influence, following the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and bring about a resolution to the challenges that now face us.

The declaration draws heavily on the Quran, but with texts isolated to support the general direction of the argument without mounting a sustained theology. Criticism of the declaration has labelled it “defensive, if not apologetic” and claimed it falls short in asking questions “in the magnitude of today’s environmental crisis”. Nevertheless, by describing the science of climate change with invocation of Quranic claims, the declaration roots the problem in the heart of Islam, which Muslims cannot ignore.

Taking action on climate change is an Islamic obligation

The global harm caused by human activity is at a critical point. According to Islamic law, containing the harm is a priority. Caring for the environment and action to limit and even reverse climate change must be at a level of obligation (fard) for Muslim people, organisations and governments.

There are two types of obligations in Islamic law: fard al-‘ayn (individual obligation) and fard al-kifaya (collective obligation). The latter means that if a group of Muslims fulfil the duty, the obligation is lifted from other Muslims. Caring for the environment can be considered as fard al-‘ayn and fard al-kifaya at the same time.

From the perspective of activism, the possibility of environmental protection can also be covered by the Islamic concept of jihad, especially for individual Muslims and Muslim organisations. In the Islamic religious sense, jihad is an important umbrella concept. It concerns all personal struggles that one has to overcome to achieve success.

If one dimension of jihad means struggle against harmful forces for a virtuous outcome and cause, environmental activism becomes a form of jihad. Peaceful activism launched with sincere intentions against sources and forces that cause harm to the environment is a legitimate form of jihad that God will reward in the afterlife, as Islamic teachings promises.

Every individual and household has a measurable carbon footprint. Unless individuals take action to reduce their footprint, the harm caused to the environment will not reduce: it will get worse. Since damage to the Earth is increasing and existing levels of activism are not reversing the situation, it becomes an individual obligation on every Muslim.

This does not mean the obligation is lifted from organised groups of Muslims who have greater resources, funding and capability. There is also a collective obligation on organised groups. Every Islamic organisation and institution must be involved in environmental protection. At the very least, every organisation can reduce its carbon footprint, by having a deliberate, eco-friendly operation, and educate staff and the community they serve on the need to care for the environment.

Yet even these actions would not be sufficient. There is a further obligation on governments of Muslim-majority countries, because the cultural and economic policies of a country have a major influence on its carbon footprint. Muslim countries must also actively work to influence global policies on climate change through international organisations.

Reversing the impact of climate change requires all people to make sacrifices. They need to consume less and produce less waste. Through its theology of the environment and the power of its ethical stance, Islam, along with other world religions, can facilitate this critical outcome.

Mehmet Ozalp is an Associate Professor in Islamic Studies, Director of The Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation and Executive Member of Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University

This piece was originally published on The Conversation on November 4th 2021

Our Home on Native Land: Indigenous Education in Islamic Schools

By Farrah Marfatia

Humility is a great teacher, if we let it do its work. As a community figure committed to equity and social justice, I strive to continuously learn and often, that means learning from my own mistakes, however embarrassing.

I was invited with a group of people to be a change leader with the Inspirit Foundation at the annual Couchiching Conference. The location was stunning and it was an honour to appear alongside my colleagues over a weekend of community spirit building. The conference wasn’t the only thing pregnant with possibility, I also went there expecting my third child, excited to be pushing for her better future as well.

After a day of conferencing, there was a moment that has stuck out in my mind: a humbling learning moment – one that reminded me that I didn’t know everything despite my best intentions and education and, actually, I still had a very, very long way to go.

One of the conference participants, an Indigenous friend, asked a group of us if we would participate in a smudging ceremony that he was performing with others on site. I immediately felt my gut tighten up.

What exactly is the ceremony?

Am I able to participate from an Islamic point of view?

Why don’t I already know this stuff?!

Ultimately, I declined, hiding behind my pregnancy but the incident jarred me. How can I have grown up in Canada, educated in a school system that claimed to prize multiculturalism and yet, be totally ignorant of the cultural practices and values of the First Peoples of this land?

Since then my knowledge level has drastically changed and it has got me thinking more and more about the responsibility of Islamic schools in particular and Muslims in general to be learning about Indigenous peoples, cultures and histories to fill the education gaps.

Muslim Canadians have an ethical obligation to come to terms with the fact that by being in Canada, they have entered into treaty relationships with the Indigenous peoples of this land. These relationships, for everyday folks, come with particular responsibilities including knowing the truth about the history of settler-indigenous relationships and working to incorporate acts of long-term reconciliation into their lives. This responsibility is even more important for Muslim educators. Understanding the truth and working towards reconciliation, particularly through education, are lifelong commitments. And yes, it can feel impossible knowing where to start but the point is to begin somewhere and to remain consistent in educating oneself.

But, why bother?

The easy answer for educators is that the 2018 revisions to the Ontario curriculum require it. The revisions demonstrate Ontario’s commitment to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action and were made in collaboration with Indigenous teachers, elders, knowledge keepers, senators, community representatives and residential school survivors. The goals of the revisions are:

• To focus on strengthening students’ knowledge and understanding

• To center Indigenous histories, cultures, perspectives, contributions and ways of knowing

• To teach the colonial history of residential schools, treaties and the Indian Act.

For readers who might not be familiar with the TRC, I want to provide a brief note about what it is and encourage you to make the time to read (at least) it’s Executive Summary. From 2007 to 2015, as part of the Indian Residential Schools Agreement, the Government of Canada set up the TRC as an opportunity for Indigenous peoples across Canada to testify and bear witness to the history and legacy of the Canadian Residential Schools system (the Truth). More than 6,500 witnesses were heard and included in a new record of the oppressive colonial system. The final report is a staggering six volumes documenting this terrible history and how it continues to affect the lives and relationships of Indigenous peoples to this day. Additionally, the report culminated in 94 Calls to Action for Canadians and bodies of all strides to follow in the move towards shared societal healing (reconciliation).

It is hard to put into words the pain and trauma endured by Indigenous children and their families as documented in this report: the tragedy of thousands of broken families, of cultural and physical genocide, of the transformation of this system into modern child welfare, and the lasting effects of intergenerational trauma on survivors and their descendents. Much more important and deeper than the fact that Indigenous education is in the curriculum is the moral responsibility we all hold in bearing witness to this history and understanding our contemporary social relationships from it.

As Muslims we are continuously encouraged throughout our faith tradition to seek knowledge, to think critically about the world around us, to challenge injustice and oppression every time it happens. At a systemic level, this means taking a keen eye to the country we call home and what foundations it has been built upon. It means moving beyond the self-proclaimed national traits of what it means to be Canadian (nice, apologetic, etc) and sitting with uncomfortable truths about ourselves – that ultimately the privileges we enjoy as Canadians come with a high cost to Indigenous peoples who continue to so graciously share this land with us. Shouldn’t we want to enjoy these things together? In a way that dignifies the histories, languages, cultures and ways of being for everyone here? As Tanya Talaga noted in her recent op-ed for The Star, “Most Indigenous leaders never use the word “reconciliation” because it is not plausible when First Peoples are still fighting for basic human rights — for water, land, social services, health care and education. The reality of 2019 looks a lot like Canada’s colonial past.” And that isn’t going to change until non-Indigenous Canadians, like us, take up this cause as we would our own.

Muslims are no strangers to experiencing the trauma of colonialism and reflecting on our similarities can build mutual understanding and empathy which must underlie every reconciled relationship. Virtually every Muslim country on earth from West Africa to the South Pacific has a history of having been colonized and knows the oppression that came with it. Some countries, like Palestine, continue to suffer under occupation. It seems when we arrive in a place like Canada and begin to build our lives and communities here we spend more time focusing on our own experiences (and with good reason – anti-Muslim hatred affects all of us) and forget that our presence could be actively contributing to Indigenous experiences of colonialism.

There are challenges to taking Indigenous education seriously, however, with confronting apathy being the primary obstacle. Muslim communities are not immune to the general indifference of Canadian society to the plight of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG), suicide epidemics in Indigenous communities, learning about residential schools, or centering Indigenous histories and voices. And it isn’t as if this is something new: it’s a continued part of the coldness of a system that has been built on Indigenous marginalization. Even teachers with the absolute best of intentions lack the necessary knowledge to feel confident teaching Indigenous education – a deficiency that develops in the system that produces it. As educators and educational administrators who know that we want to do better on this issue, the task can feel daunting and no one wants to cheapen these necessary lessons by going over them superficially either.

So, how do you do it?

How can we ensure well-rounded Indigenous education in Islamic schools using the new curriculum changes as a framework?

Involve parents. Social change requires a collective paradigmatic shift and that starts in families and communities. Not only have studies shown that students do better when their parents are involved with their studies, it also encourages parents to expand their knowledge horizons. Parents are the primary educators of their children with respect to learning about values, appropriate behaviour, and cultural, spiritual and personal beliefs and traditions. They are their children’s first role models, thereby making their involvement in learning this subject crucial. Schools and parents must work together to ensure that home and school provide a mutually supportive framework for the education of our youth. A great example of direct parental involvement is organizing a Blanket Exercise – an incredible teaching tool for learning about the colonization of Turtle Island that I used when I was Principal.

Get informed and be patient. A task like this only seems daunting if we are in a hurry to check it off. If we are in it for the long term, we know that we will accumulate valuable lessons and resources a lot faster than we think, giving us the confidence to continuously tackle these subjects meaningfully and confidently. When you are looking for resources, try to ensure that Indigenous peoples are being portrayed fairly and, ideally, choose Indigenous authors, artists and textbook writers to lend their perspectives and stories of lived experiences authentically. Other helpful resources include: the Ministry of Education Ontario toolkit, the Assembly of First Nations toolkit, Good Minds, the Elementary Teacher Federation of Ontario, and Queens University’s curriculum resources.

Be active in engaging students. The curriculum should come alive in schools and classrooms, and should be animated by teachers using different tools, resources and strategies to do so. Don’t be afraid to try something different like a youth exchange or classroom exercises, being careful to avoid stereotyping or inappropriate uses of culture. We can teach students until we are blue in the face but if we figure out unique ways of engaging them, we are more likely to have a lasting impact on their knowledge and outlook.

Build relationships with Indigenous communities. Indigenous education does not need to be limited to the classroom. Firstly, there are Indigenous Muslims who may attend your schools who might be encouraged to share and showcase their culture, if desired. More than that, remember that your school is a community institution and can reach out to nearby First Nations to arrange informative field trips, Elder talks at the school (fairly compensated, of course), cultural days where you hire Indigenous dancers and artists to teach the students traditional dances and other elements, or see if residential school or Sixties Scoop survivors are doing talks in your area. Students are unlikely to forget such an experience. And if the FNIM (Engaging First Nation, Inuit and Métis Youth) communities near you need some help, a school-wide drive or campaign can help build bridges and friendships that last a lifetime.

We cannot change Canada’s horrifying past but as Muslims and educators we have a hand in influencing its future. Let’s do it right.

This piece was originally published on MuslimLink on January 24 2019. It has been republished given recent discovery of 215 Indigenous children at a former residential school.

Greening Canadian Mosques: Program Launch

By Saba Khan

In partnership with EnviroMuslims and with generous funding from Olive Tree Foundation, Faith & the Common Good has launched Greening Canadian Mosques, the first program of its kind giving Canadian mosques the tools and resources they need to embed sustainable practices and policies within their facilities.

As is the case for many religions, Islam holds a high regard for environmental stewardship and the important role humans have as stewards of the planet. Muslims all over the world have a religious duty to learn about environmental issues and make changes both individually and collectively to protect the natural environment. While there is growing interest from Islamic leaders and mosques in Canada to engage on the matter, there is limited targeted guidance and support for them to lead the way on environmental stewardship. 

The Greening Canadian Mosques program aims to support Canadian mosques in developing and implementing environmentally friendly practices and policies. The program consists of two main resources:

 Toolkit: The toolkit features key statistics and Islamic references on environmental issues, helpful resources, inspiring case studies, and creative ideas to make mosques more environmentally and economically sustainable – reducing their impact on the environment while contributing to the well-being of local communities. The toolkit consists of different areas that mosques can focus their efforts on including waste management, water stewardship, energy conservation, sustainable transportation, community engagement, event management and environmentally conscious efforts towards greening the holy month of Ramadan. Each of these sections are divided into tangible actions that can be taken depending on their relevant costs (no-cost, low-cost, and high-cost). The toolkit also consists of policy templates, action plans, and resources to help gain the support of senior leadership.

Communications Package: The communications package consists of graphics and word templates to help mosques showcase their leadership and participation in the program. These consist of templates for newsletters and websites, as well as social media templates and graphics to communicate participation in the program.

Another important feature of the communications package is the addition of multilingual posters that can be displayed in Canadian mosques. The posters are in Somali, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic and Gujrati, and cater to the diverse Canadian Muslim population.

The Greening Canadian Mosques program is a call to action for Muslim community leaders to embed policies and practices within their mosques centering around the protection of the natural environment, and to encourage their Muslim congregations and community members to uphold their roles as stewards of the environment – protecting it from harm and leaving it in a state better than how we found it, for our future generations.

This piece was originally published on Faith and the Common Good on May 17 2021.

Our Climate, Our Stories

A Collection of Stories and Poems by Canadian Youth

Our Climate Our Stories is a compilation of essays, stories, and poems written by Black, Indigenous, and youth of color from Canada. This e-book was developed to amplify diverse voices on emotions related to climate change, as well as journeys and experiences, communication, impacts and climate action. Our Climate, Our Stories showcases 20 young Canadian writers along with illustrations developed by Climate Illustrated.

Our Climate, Our Stories is a project of People Planet Pages, a book club run in partnership with EnviroMuslims, Community Climate Council and Books-Art-Music Collective, with the goal of bringing together a community of readers to discuss environmental and social sustainability, to initiate conversations, and to provide skills necessary to live sustainable lifestyles. 

This project was generously funded by the Rising Youth Grant, a program led by TakingItGlobal. Our teams would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Nature Canada, World Wildlife Fund Canada ( WWF-Canada), David Suzuki Foundation, Jane Goodall Institute of Canada and Climate Strike Canada for providing a foreword and opening statements to each section of the e-book.

We would also like to express our appreciation to the following illustrators for their creative contributions:

• Luise Hesse. Halle, Germany (illustrator and lead designer) @lufie.nesse, post@luisehesse.de

• Carolina Altavilla. Buenos Aires, Argentina (illustrator and designer) @caroaltavilla, carolina.altavilla@gmail.com

• Jenny Schneider. Boston, USA (illustrator) @Jenny_schneider, jennyschneiderart@gmail.com

• Audrey SUAU. Lyon, France (illustrator) @audreysuau_illustration, audreysuau@gmail.com

• Satyasree Rajeeth. Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (illustrator) @satyasreerajeeth, sathyasreerajeeth@gmail.com

• Zelo Safi. Washington, DC, USA (illustrator) @createdbyz_, createdbyzs1@gmail.com

• Orvokki a.k.a. Kaisa Leppäkoski. Turku, Finland (illustrator) @mielenkuvia, @kaisaleppakoski, kaisa.leppakoski@gmail.com

• Jenny Caldwell. Olympia, WA, USA (illustrator) @jennycaldwelldesign, @jennypaintswithpixels, jennycaldwelldesign@gmail.com

• Nina Clausonet. Chiemgau, Germany (illustrator)@nina.clausonet, nm.clausonet@gmx.de

Download the book here: http://www.enviromuslims.ca/our-climate-our-stories/

30 streets in 30 days: Ottawa man aiming for clean sweep during holy month

Jamal Alsharif is on a personal mission to clean up Ottawa, one street at a time.

Alsharif started the initiative a decade ago. During Ramadan, he challenges himself to pick up trash along 30 neighbourhood streets in 30 days.

It's about, "doing our part for keeping our environment, keeping our city, keeping our neighbourhood clean," he said.

To prepare, Alsharif prints out a map of his Riverside South community, then picks one street each day, checking them off when he's done.

Typically, he finds a lot of coffee cups, plastic and glass, but he's also found eyeglasses and even knives. This year, he's picking up a lot of discarded masks — 20 of them in a single day — as well as bottles of sanitizer.

Inspiring others at home and abroad

Alsharif's 14-year-old son often grabs a garbage bag and pitches in.

"I try to teach my son that we live in a community that we have to protect. If we want to change the world, we have to change ourselves," Alsharif said.

Alsharif, who identifies as Palestinian-Jordanian, was born in Libya and came to Canada in 2009. He's currently the president of a non-profit called Humans for Peace Institution. 

Alsharif said word of his cleanup campaign has spread through his social media channels, and people have picked up the challenge everywhere from Gatineau, Que., where he started the initiative, to Jordan and Morocco.

When he's out cleaning his neighbourhood, Alsharif said passersby often stop to ask what he's doing. Sometimes they even offer to help.

"We have to stand together, we have to clean our community together," he said.

This piece was originally published on CBC News on April 15 2021.

Muslims across the world to celebrate Earth Day with Green Khutbah Campaign

TORONTO, April 1, 2021 - Muslims across the world will commemorate Earth Day by dedicating their Friday khutbah (or sermon) to raise awareness on environmental issues. This initiative, known as the Green Khutbah Campaign, takes place each year on the Friday before Earth Day. 

This year the Green Khutbah Campaign will take place on Friday, April 16, 2021.

“We are encouraging faith leaders to devote their Friday Khutbah (or sermon) to celebrate the blessings, graces and beauty of all of God’s creation and to raise awareness about our current environmental challenges,” said Muaz Nasir, the publisher of the Canadian environmental website, Khaleafa.com and one of the founders of the Campaign.

This year, the theme of the Green Khutbah Campaign is ‘Explore. Reflect. Act.’ 

“With the pandemic extending into this year we felt it was important to find meaningful ways to connect with nature while remaining safe,” Nasir added. “By exploring and reconnecting with nature we can encourage people from all walks of life and of all ages to take action. No action is too small because it adds up to make a collective difference.”

The Campaign was launched in 2012 in Canada and, every year, faith leaders across the world are encouraged to deliver a message that reminds their congregations of the Qur’anic message to be stewards of the earth and the environment.

Islamic organizations and well-known faith leaders here in Toronto and around the world are throwing their support behind the campaign intending to dedicate their Friday Khutbah on April 16 to this year’s campaign theme. 

Organizations and faith leaders can sign up through the Green Khutbah website to participate. The Khaleafa.com team has also created an online resource kit to support faith leaders participating in the Green Khutbah Campaign. 

##

For more information, photos or to arrange an interview please contact:  

Muaz Nasir

Green Khutbah Campaign

e: http://www.khaleafa.com/contactus | info@khaleafa.com 

Greening religion: New Islamic covenant for the Earth

Following on from the Catholic Church, the global Islamic community is finalising a new Earth charter to encourage Muslims to combat pollution, climate change and other threats to the planet.

Jorge Bergoglio penned a powerful 37 000-word message to humanity a few years ago, pointing at special economic interests, technology and large sections of the media for helping turn the world into “an immense pile of filth”.

God had never granted humans unchecked dominion over nature, declared the world-renowned Argentinian football fan, former bar bouncer, janitor and chemistry technician.

Bergoglio said young people were demanding change but, regrettably, efforts to find lasting solutions to the global environmental crisis had been ineffective. This was largely because of powerful opposition from special interests, but also apathy among those who mistakenly saw themselves as biblically ordained “lords and masters” entitled to plunder the Earth at will.

Bergoglio – better known as Pope Francis, the current head of the Catholic Church – set down these thoughts in his papal encyclical Laudato si’, published on 24 May 2015 for the estimated 1.3 billion baptised Catholics and “every person living on this planet”.

Francis painted a gloomy picture: “It is remarkable how weak international political responses have been. The failure of global summits on the environment make it plain that our politics are subject to technology and finance … economic interests easily end up trumping the common good … any genuine attempt by groups within society to introduce change is viewed as a nuisance … we must forcefully reject the notion that our being created in God’s image and given dominion over the Earth justifies absolute domination over other creatures.”

Now, the global Muslim community is drafting its new environmental charter, titled Al-Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth. The draft is scheduled to be completed by late March, with the final version published in October.

Iyad Abumoghli, the Nairobi-based founding director of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Faith for Earth project, announced the Al-Mizan endeavour last year.

Undated: Iyad Abumoghli is the Nairobi-based founding director of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Faith for Earth project

The Laudato si’ inspired many Christians and people of other religions, said Abumoghli. “Several religious institutions and leaders have issued declarations on climate change or calls for action on biodiversity, rainforests and other environmental challenges. However, these remain expressions of positions and solidarity with nature. What is needed is a concerted effort that charts the way forward and engages followers in meaningful actions by all religions comparable to Laudato si’.

“Muslims form over one-fifth of the world’s population and can offer humanity important Islamic perspectives on how to mitigate the impacts of the unprecedented crises we are living through.” 

Islamic guidelines

The new Islamic charter would help identify what Islam can do to ensure future generations inherit a healthy and sustainable planet.

Islamic scholars and institutions have teamed with Faith for Earth, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Science, Uskudar University in Istanbul, the Qur’anic Botanic Garden and the College of Islamic Studies and Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar to draft the charter, said Abumoghli. There are two teams, one representing these organisations and “a scholars team representing different regions and Islamic sects”. 

Sri Lanka-born, Britain-based Sidi Fazlun Khalid is the chair and co-author of the scholars team. Khalid has been described as “a pioneer in the field of Islamic environmentalism”. He founded the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences and is the author of Signs on the Earth: Islam, Modernity and the Climate Crisis.

15 August 2020: The opening chapters of the Qur’an. (Photograph by Abdullah Faraz/ Unsplash)

Although not involved in drafting the document, Abumoghli said the authors had reached out to the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) in South Africa as well as many other Muslim leaders during the review process.

MJC member and head of the Coowatool Mosque in Loop Street, Cape Town, Moulana Shuaib Appleby welcomed the initiative. His interest in environmental issues has deepened since his appointment to the board of the Southern Africa Faith Communities’ Environmental Institute (SAFCEI), a multi-faith organisation launched in 2005 to support faith leaders and their communities to increase awareness, understanding and action on eco-justice, sustainable living and climate change.

Its members practise a broad spectrum of faiths, from African traditional healers to Bahá’í, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Quaker and a range of Christian denominations.

Appleby said it is essential for religious and faith leaders to work together to raise public awareness about environmental issues within their communities. He said that the SAFCEI has also launched a campaign to install renewable energy such as solar panels and wind turbines in places of worship, but said “more needs to be done to implement campaigns within communities. As much as it is great to share theory and discuss ideas about global environmental issues, I also see the need for more tangible projects for ordinary people on the ground.”

A game changer

Abumoghli noted that the Quran, the practices of Prophet Muhammad and the teachings of Islam all urge humanity to value and protect nature. But many of these environmental lessons remain unknown to Muslims, he said in a recent interview on the UN Environment Programme website, including how they relate to contemporary environmental issues such as climate change, ecosystem destruction and overconsumption.

“Mizan is designed to change that – and encourage Muslims to do all they can to safeguard the planet … In many places, we’re losing our connection to nature. Mizan will help provide a set of authoritative standards for Muslims to follow in their daily lives. We think it could be a game changer.”

At a broader level of the Faith for Earth Initiative, Abumoghli sees opportunities to work with religious institutions, who are often major investors, to green their assets and reduce their environmental footprints.

In Laudato si’, Pope Francis lamented the decline in the quality of human life, especially among the urban impoverished. He posited that environmental degradation could not be resolved unless society attended to the causes of social degradation for billions of impoverished people, evidenced by social breakdown, increased violence, growing drug use by young people and a loss of identity. 

“They frequently remain at the bottom of the pile. This is due partly to the fact that many professionals, opinion makers, communications media and centres of power, being located in affluent urban areas, are far removed from the poor, with little direct contact with their problems … We have to realise that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor,” he said.

All the same, Francis’ encyclical ends on a positive note, where he speaks about the “duty to care for creation through little daily actions” such as avoiding the use of plastic and paper, reducing water consumption, separating refuse, cooking only what can reasonably be consumed, showing care for other living beings and using public transport.

“We must not think that these efforts are not going to change the world. They benefit society, often unbeknown to us, for they call forth a goodness which, albeit unseen, inevitably tends to spread.”

Bending the Curve. (Image supplied by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)

Hope versus action 

But there is a big difference between hope, on one hand, and action on the other, said United States theologian and energy ethics scholar Erin Lothes Biviano.

Writing in the Journal of Moral Theology about the American Catholic Church and the Laudato si’ initiative, Biviano touched on the abiding conservative-liberal divide among US Catholics.

“Despite the wealth of magisterial teaching and theological writing on religion and ecology, we find that far less is being done than we would like … Why is that? 

“I do not believe we should threaten people with doom – it does not work. This is not to say that we should downplay the gravity of climate change or avoid the sobering facts,” she suggested. Rather, those who seek to connect with more conservative Catholics on the issue of climate change should pay more attention to their “rhetorical tone”.

“Leadership is critical – believers must hear ecological reflections from the pulpit and read them in diocesan and parish publications to counter assumptions that environmentalism is superfluous, if not irrelevant to, faith … We also need to talk about morality without moralising – the ‘green zealot’ will simply turn people off. We must recognise that people do things differently; they have different personalities, different economic philosophies, different levels of scientific literacy,” she wrote.

This piece was originally published on New Frame on March 25 2021.

Islamic Perspective on Biodiversity

By Kamran Shezad

In a famous speech delivered in 2010, His Royal Highness, Prince Charles spoke extensively on “Islam and the Environment”. During this excellent overview, he mentioned two important, personal findings. Firstly, he concluded that people were more likely to care for the environment if they were told that this is a religious responsibility. Secondly, he asserted that no religion stresses the importance of green matters more so than Islam. 

It is hard to disagree with him on this, the teachings of Islam are inherently environmental. Biodiversity is celebrated in the Holy Qur’an. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) championed environmental rights and concerns fourteen centuries ago. 

Life on earth is made up of a complex set of interrelated ‘ecosystems’ which should be maintained in a natural balance. For example, if there were no pollinating insects on earth like bees and butterflies, there would not be any fruit. Without plants that provide nectar and pollen, there would be no food to sustain the bees. Bees and plants are dependent upon each other. Many ecosystems rely on a wide variety of plants and animals interacting with one another like bees and plants; this is what we call biodiversity. The Quran mentions this balance beautifully: 

ِمي َزا َنِْق ْس ِط َوَل تُ ْخ ِس ُروا الْالَِو ْز َن بِْقي ُموا الَِن - َوأِمي َزاْْطَغْوا فِي الََل َتِمي َزا َن - أَْوال َس َما َء َرَفَعَها َوَو َض َع ال 

“Allah raised the heaven and established the balance, so that you would not transgress the balance. Give just weight – do not skimp in the balance” (Qur’an 55:7-9). 

Allah requests humanity to respect the balance and acknowledge its importance for our very own existence. He also asks us to maintain this balance - what we take from this earth with one hand, we must return with the other. 

Elsewhere, the Quran is rich of references to the beautiful world He has created for us. It teaches many lessons on the protection of biodiversity; from the story of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) who was asked by God to protect all the animals before the coming flood (11: 40), to Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) who took into consideration the plight of ants whilst marching his army (27: 17-18). 

The primary purpose of the Quran is to provide ‘guidance for the pious’ (2: 2). But an observer will undoubtedly notice it is a book on nature too. It pays constant tribute to life on earth, with many chapters named after animals and plants, such as al-Baqarah (Cow), al-An`am (Cattle), al-Nahl (Bees), al-Naml (Ants), al-Ankabut (Spider), al-Adiyat (Horses), al-Fil (Elephant), al-Insan (Man), al-Tin (Fig), and al-Nas (Mankind). It asks us to reflect on how the camel was created and how the sky was raised (88: 17-18). Plants such as onions, figs, mustard, pomegranate, trees, lentils, grapes, fruits, garlics, cucumbers and dates all get a mention in the Quran - as a sign of Allah’s perfection and a reminder of the variety and variability of life on earth. 

Our lives depend on healthy waters, the oceans and rivers are essential for the survival of life; they are the lifeline of this planet and civilisation. Oceans cover over two thirds of our planet and hold 97% of the planet's water. They produce more than half of the oxygen in the atmosphere and absorb the most carbon from it. Rivers are equally as important, they also provide us with food as well as energy, recreation,

transportation routes, and of course, water for irrigation and for drinking purposes. Most settlements and major cities around the world are built along major rivers. Muslims are aware of all of this thanks to the Qur’an, which in many places refers to the role of the oceans: 

َك َمَوا ِخ َر ِفي ِه َولَِتْبَت ُغواْلفَُْب ُسوَن َها َوَت َرى الَْتلَية ُْه ِحلُجوا ِمنِْا َوَت ْسَت ْخر ي َِطرْح ماُه لَُوا ِمنُْكلَْب ْح َر لَِتأِْذي َس َخ َر الََو ُهَو ال َ ُكْم َت ْش ُك ُرو َنَعلِمن َف ْضلِ ِه َولَ 

“And Allah committed the sea to serve you; you eat from it tender meat and extract jewellery which you wear. And you see the ships roaming it for your commercial benefits, as you seek His bounties, that you may be appreciative” (Qur’an 16:14). 

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a huge advocate of protecting nature and biodiversity. At a time when there appeared to be no environmental rights or law, he declared a thirty-kilometre area around the city of al-Madina to be a protected sanctuary, and prohibited the cutting down of trees within its borders, as well as giving various protection to other aspects of nature (Hima/Harim). This example is now being used by environmentalist around the world to protect the region’s threatened woodlands, grasslands, wetlands and rangelands. 

In his sayings and actions, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was green. He equated environmental acts as a form of worship (ibada): 

“If a Muslim plants a tree or sows a seed, and then a bird, human or animal eats from it, then it is regarded a charitable gift (a means of reward, sadaqa) for him” (Sahih al-Bukhari). 

"Verily, there is heavenly reward for every act of kindness done to a living animal.” (Sahih al-Bukhari). 

For his beloved followers, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is a paragon of mercy. This mercy was not limited to humans, it certainly extended to the plant and animal kingdom. Reports mention that whenever he (peace be upon him) and his devotees would dismount at a station for a rest (during their travels), they would remove all baggage and seating from their camel before performing prayers, eating and drinking. He warned Muslims: 

"Fear God in your treatment of animals" (Abu Dawud). 

"If someone kills a sparrow for sport, the sparrow will cry out on the Day of Judgement, "O Lord! That person killed me in vain! He did not kill me for any useful purpose." (Sunan al-Nasa’i) 

I also want highlight a section from the Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change drafted by Dr Fazlun  Khalid of the Islamic Foundation for Environmental and Ecological Sciences (IFEES/EcoIslam): 

“We recognize that we are but a minuscule part of the divine order, yet within that order we are  exceptionally powerful beings, and have the responsibility to establish good and avert evil in every way we  can. We also recognize that – 

∙ We are but one of the multitude of living beings with whom we share the earth; ∙ We have no right to abuse the creation or impair it; 

∙ Intelligence and conscience should lead us, as our faith commands, to treat all things with care and  awe (taqwā) of their Creator, compassion (rahmah) and utmost good (ihsān)

One of my favourite ayahs in the Quran is from Surah Al An’am (the Cattle): 

ْمِلَ ى َرِّبهَِم إُِكَتا ِب ِمن َش ْي ء َ ثُْ ُكم َ َما َف َر ْطَنا ِفي الالَْمثََم م أَُل أَِجَنا َحْي ِه إِ ر َي ِطي ُر بْر ِض َوَل َطاِئْْلََو َما ِمن َداَب ة فِي ا ُي ْح َش ُرو َن 

“And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the Register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.” (Qur’an 6:38) 

Allah is referring to biodiversity as ‘communities’. What is a community, the definition of a community in the dictionary states: 

∙ a group living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common ∙ a group living together and practicing common ownership 

Reflect for a second on what Allah swt is saying to us here, biodiversity is not for us to use and abuse, it’s not for us to have dominion over, it’s not for us to control or consume but for us to treat as a community, Every single variety of plant and animal life on this planet has a role to play just as different people have roles to play in communities. We are interconnected and there is no getting away from that. 

To conclude, Allah has created this magnificent world for us. Whilst we must enjoy the blessings that this earth provides us, we must also show responsibility in our actions. This responsibility is manifested through consumption - that we only use what is necessary. It is also reflected in maintaining the balance - that we constantly replenish what we have taken. 

You can read more about different faith perspectives on biodiversity by visiting the UN Environment Programme webpage set up by the Faith for Earth initiative. 

How a new initiative is mobilizing Muslims to help save the planet

Earlier this year, the Faith for Earth Initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched a global push to bring together Islamic institutions from around the world in a bid to combat pollution, climate change and other threats to the planet. Called Mizan, Arabic for “balance”, the charter is designed to showcase Islam’s teachings on the environment and spur the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims to embrace sustainability as part of their everyday lives.

We recently spoke with the head of the effort, Iyad Abumoghli, who is also the director of the Faith for Earth Initiative, about Mizan and its lofty ambitions.

For centuries, Islam has called on followers to protect the environment, says UNEP’s Iyad Abumoghli. Photo: Unsplash / Abdullah Faraz

UNEP: Why is this initiative important?

Iyad Abumoghli: The sacred scripture in the Quran, the practices of Prophet Mohammad and the teachings of Islam all urge humanity to value and protect nature. But those lessons are largely unknown to many Muslims, including how they relate to contemporary environmental issues, such as climate change, ecosystem destruction and overconsumption. Mizan is designed to change that – and encourage Muslims to do all they can to safeguard the planet.

UNEP: Why is that necessary now?

IA: The planet is facing multiple crises, including pollution, climate change, and environmental destruction. In many places, we’re losing our connection to nature. In addition to science and state policies, people need spiritual guidance on environmental issues, which will create a sense of responsibility for nature. Mizan will help provide a set of authoritative standards for Muslims to follow in their daily lives. 

UNEP: Other religions are also embracing environmentalism, aren’t they?

IA: Yes. In 2015, Pope Francis launched Laudato Si, a papal encyclical that urged Catholics to care for what he called our “common home”, the Earth. Other faith leaders, including Buddhists, Hindus, Baha’is and Jews, have issued declarations on climate change. There are also interfaith commitments to address specific issues, such as biodiversity loss and rainforest destruction. But it’s important to note that these initiatives are not new. Religious texts and faith leaders have for centuries been urging their followers to protect the environment.

UNEP: Which organizations are involved in Mizan?

IA: We are partnering with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Uskudar University in Istanbul, the Qur'anic Botanic Garden and the College of Islamic Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar.

Pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Unsplash / Ömer F. Arslan

UNEP: When are you planning to roll out Mizan?

IA: The draft charter is expected to be ready in March 2021. It will be distributed to more than 300 Islamic institutions around the world for feedback. After finalization, Mizan will be submitted to the Islamic Council of Environment Ministers for adoption in October 2021. The consultative process and adoption are essential as we are aiming for Mizan to be a global spiritual reference, a plan of action for individuals as well as institutions.

UNEP: Can you tell us a little more about UNEP’s Faith for Earth Initiative?

IA: Since its launch in 2017, Faith for Earth has collaborated with representatives of more than 15 religions, highlighting how these faiths can mobilize the power of their followers and address some of the gravest threats to the planet. Along with organizing major conferences, we help religious leaders develop practical steps their followers can take to fight air pollution, protect biodiversity and limit plastic pollution. We also work with religious institutions, who are often major investors, to green their assets and reduce their environmental footprint.

UNEP: What are your long-term hopes for Mizan?

IA: We think it could be a game changer. There are about 4 million mosques around the world. If we could, for example, install solar panels on these houses of worship, we could prevent 12 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. As well, every year 10 million people take part in Islam’s two major pilgrimages, the Hajj and the Umrah. If we could make those a little greener, by encouraging pilgrims to avoid single-use plastics, for example, it could make a substantial difference. Bigger picture, we are ultimately hoping that more faith-based organizations will take Mizan as a guiding principle and mobilize action. We also aspire that Mizan will help foster an understanding between religions that we have a common responsibility towards the Earth.

For more information on Mizan, visit UNEP’s Faith for Earth Initiative or contact Iyad Abumoghli at iyad.abumoghli@un.org

Green Ummah Launches Blog Post Competition

To secure an equitable and sustainable future, we need to collaborate on the solutions. Below are three topics we feel are worth addressing:

1. How will you work towards a better relationship between you/your community and nature in your neighbourhood?

2. What is your ideal “Green Future” in Canada? What is a challenge to achieving this future and how can we overcome it?

3. How has the impact of COVID-19 (ex. lockdown, work from home, shifting social norms) changed the way you engage with nature?

We want to hear from you. If you are interested in sharing your thoughts, we encourage you to submit a 750 word piece as a Word document to info@greenummah.org. In your submission please include your name, phone number, age and city of residence, along with an optional 1-2 sentence short bio and a social media handle. Furthermore, feel free to input up to 3 pictures or graphics into your submission. Any pictures/graphics and sources used shall be hyperlinked and or cited at the bottom of the submission.

We encourage you to be creative; solutions can range from policy, to technical interventions, to individual behaviour change, and beyond. The authors for the top blog post for each question will win a prize and be given the opportunity to present their work at the Green Ummah webinar conference (information to be provided shortly). The deadline to submit in order to be eligible for a prize is January 31, 2021. Submissions will be graded using the following marking scheme:

1) Writing style (grammar, spelling, punctuation, flow, citations) – 25%
2) Content and creativity (unique answer, comprehensive insight, cohesive viewpoint) – 50%
3) Lay out of text and use of graphics – 25%

Note, we have zero tolerance for discrimination in any form and will not accept submissions rooted in discrimination or bigotry. 

We look forward to hearing your ideas and working with you on your submissions! If you have any questions, please email us at info@greenummah.org.

Greening Canadian Mosques

In partnership with Faith & the Common Good and with generous funding from Olive Tree Foundation, EnviroMuslims is proud to share the Greening Canadian Mosques program! The program aims to empower mosque management teams, as well as mosque-goers, to understand environmental issues and take appropriate action.

Want to get involved?

If you are a mosque-goer, please fill out this survey to help us understand what your expectations are from your local mosque when it comes to embedding sustainable practices within their facilities. You'll also have the chance to win 1 of 2 $50 gift cards at the end of the survey! https://bit.ly/34RK4Z0

If you are an imam or manager of a mosque facility, complete the survey below to tell us about some of your current sustainability policies and practices, and what types of resources you'd like to see as part of the GCM program: https://bit.ly/2KHbmdH

Help us spread the word - tag your family and friends, and encourage your local mosque to take action!