Faith-Based Climate Action: Islam and Environmentalism

By Saba Khan,

Ummah for Earth is a global, alliance-led project coordinated by Greenpeace MENA (Middle East/North Africa) that seeks to engage with Muslim diaspora communities on climate justice. At Greenpeace Canada, we have partnered with EnviroMuslims, a Canadian organization, to create a fellowship program and support their important work. In this article, Saba Khan, Co-Founder of EnviroMuslims, explains how sustainability is a part of Islam and the group’s faith-based climate action.

Faith groups are often left out of important conversations around climate policy and community engagement initiatives related to environmental issues. But know this: our diverse perspectives can help make an impact, because we are driven by something Divine (literally): our relationship with our Creator.

This statement rings true for many religions, including Islam. Caring for and protecting the natural environment is our duty, and one that should not be taken lightly. In Islam, the term “Khaleafa” refers to being caretakers of the Earth. In the Quran and Prophetic teachings, we learn the importance of caring for animals, not being wasteful, and that we will be held accountable for any harm we intentionally inflict on the Earth. A Prophetic saying even states, “If the Final Hour [the Day of Judgment] comes while you have a shoot of a plant in your hands and it is possible to plant it before the Hour comes, you should plant it.”

There is a clear call to action for faith groups when it comes to taking climate action. And yet, there continues to be a lack of diversity within the environmental movement, which results in missed opportunities to engage with communities that have these unique and valuable perspectives. 

EnviroMuslims works to change that. 

EnviroMuslims and the Canadian Muslim Community

Created at the end of 2019, EnviroMuslims aims to engage with, educate, and empower Canadian Muslims to embed environmental sustainability in their everyday lives—where they live, work, play, or pray. We organize several community events, including tree plantings, shoreline cleanups, and clothing swaps. We have also launched a number of initiatives, such as the Greening Canadian Mosques (GCM) program.     

In 2021, our group launched GCM in collaboration with Faith & the Common Good, an interfaith charity. The first program of its kind in Canada, GCM provides mosques nationwide with online tools and resources to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, educate their congregations on the importance of environmental stewardship, and access funding and materials to support their sustainability journey. The ongoing success of the program led to the creation of EnviroMuslims Bootcamp. A series of action-oriented sessions, the Bootcamp is dedicated to learning, networking, and supporting Canadian Muslim organizations working to embed a culture of environmental sustainability in their programming. 

With these kinds of programs and initiatives, our group provides spaces and opportunities for Muslims (nationwide) to become more involved in environmental stewardship initiatives, pursue careers in sustainability, and hold governments and other institutions accountable for climate action.

Cross-Collaboration for a Sustainable Future

EnviroMuslims has been fortunate to have found support from allies across the world, including Greenpeace Canada and Greenpeace MENA (Middle East and North Africa). Greenpeace is supporting our organization’s current programming—both the Bootcamp and the mosque project—through a fellowship program. The partnership has provided EnviroMuslims with opportunities to engage on a larger scale with the Muslim community in Canada. We have been able to participate in large events, travel to different provinces to meet with Muslim leaders, and provided support to mosques and Muslim organizations working to improve their sustainability. In other words, the fellowship has opened doors and created opportunities for us that we would not otherwise have access to. 

And that’s the crux of the matter. Cross-collaboration can promote diverse perspectives and produce innovative solutions. So, as we champion Muslim voices in the environmental movement, we are also advocating for all faith groups, as well as other equity-seeking groups, to be given the platforms, tools, and resources to continue their work and engage their communities. Because this work is also an essential part of building a more just, peaceful, and equitable future.

This piece was originally published on GREENPEACE on March 1, 2023.

Rising for the Ummah Starts with the Youth

“The Ummah must recognise its responsibility for a green sustainable planet and work together to create it for all humanity.”

Dr. Husna Ahmad- Global One – Ummah for Earth Ally

Amongst the many blessings God has granted us, is the Ummah we belong to. One vibrant with energetic youth and huge capabilities that can bring about remarkable change towards a better future. An Ummah that has the power to create a new reality if it chooses to come together and work hand in hand to create more just, safe and sustainable societies. 

Rising from this, the “Ummah for Earth” alliance has come together..  Connecting with Muslim communities that are most burdened by global crises, especially the climate crisis, and we will seek to bring their concerns forward and create a platform to make their voices heard.

“It felt natural for us to join this alliance, amplifying Muslims’ calls for better care of the earth and each other”

Mark Bryant – IFEES/EcoIslam” 

To fulfill our role as caretakers of the Earth, we have to come to realize the importance of being an Ummah that invests in its ability to protect our  earth. An Ummah that acts in accordance with our teachings and values, one that knows that change is not only possible, but is also our  duty.

Change not only comes on the individual level, but also on the collective level. This requires us to reconsider how our world is currently operating and how it is structured. The world has proved its fragility. The COVID-19 outbreak exposed the weak healthcare systems, dire economic challenges and increased unemployment rates and the climate crisis. All of which are threatening the lives of millions around the Muslim world. With every catastrophe, we witness huge losses and damages incurred by frontline communities , particularly our  most vulnerable who pay the highest price.

‘We have one planet and a shared earth that we must all inhabit. It is only when we come together, that we can begin to tackle the issue of climate change and it vulnerabilities, as humanity and as one Ummah’

Shahin Ashraf – IRW

On the other side, with these crises emerged heartwarming displays of compassion and genuine response. In the midst of catastrophic situations, such as the  COVID pandemic, the Beirut explosion and recent floods in Sudan and Indonesia, we saw numerous volunteer contributions and humanitarian campaigns supporting victims and neighbours helping neighbours. Proving once again that our Ummah is rich with courage and integrity, and its people rush to support the vulnerable and those in need when the situation arises.

We are striving for change, a systemic one that prioritizes social justice, equal opportunities and a better planet. A change driven by the Muslim youth, who are the leading force for a brighter future. 

Together, joining forces to rise for the Ummah from the Ummah.

This piece was originally published on Ummah for Earth on October 26th 2020.