Food Waste, Media Fasts and other Green Ramadan updates
31 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Food, Green Muslims, Media, Middle East, Ramadan, Ramadan Compact, UAE, UK, US, Waste
As we head into the last days of Ramadan, A World of Green Muslims has scoured the blogosphere for the latest news on Muslims going green this holy month. First up are the Ramadan Compactors.
In case you don’t know, the Ramadan Compactors are a group of Muslim who pledge to give up consumption and unnecessary spending during Ramadan. One of the participants, Dina. B recently posted a great blog on the need to ‘un-plug’ from the modern distractions of TV and the internet and came up with some rules for a ‘media fast’.
Earth is a Mosque: Green your Deen in 30 days
18 Aug 2010 2 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: Green Deen, Green Guide, Green Islam, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, Ramadan, Recycle, US, Waste, Water
Green Your Deen in 30 Days (Click on the image to download the guide)
I have already posted a blog on going green this Ramadan as well as publishing an article on the ‘Ramadan Compact’ in Green Prophet but the latest initiative by the ‘Green Deen’ author really deserves some backing.
Brother Ibrahim Abdul-Matin has put together a great little guide with some very simple steps that you, your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your masjid can all do – steps for the individual and steps for the collective – to reduce waste, save water, conserve energy, and provide food to as many as possible.
And as its Ramadan- there really isn’t a better time to do it. Remember it takes 30 days to install a good habit so lets start now and take these positive habits forward after Ramadan too.
As Abdul-Matin reminds us:
Earth is a mosque. If we can pray anywhere, everywhere is sacred. Protect the planet from piles of plastic and dried up water supplies. Simple steps can make sweeping changes.
Take the ‘Buy-Nothing-Ramadan’ Pledge
13 Aug 2010 4 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: consume less, DC Green Muslims, Ramadan, Sanjana Ahmad, Saving
Declutter your life this Ramadan and learn to live simply. Image via Untitled blue on Flickr
During Ramadan Muslims are asked to give up a couple of things- namely food, water and a decent nights sleep due to nocturnal binging sessions- but it’s not all bad. Once you get into the swing of things the payback is clarity of mind and the appreciation that less is more.
We could all live with a little less. Less in our stomachs, less in our wardrobes, cupboards, drawers, bags, cars, fridges, our purses… You get the idea. So in the true spirit of Ramadan comes the ‘Buy-Nothing-Ramadan’ pledge. Over the last three Ramadans the ‘Ramadan Compact’ has been bringing together green Muslims from across the US to reduce/stop their consumption for one month.
The idea of the Buy-Nothing Ramadan comes from the Compact movement, first started in the San Francisco area where members agreed to go a year without buying anything. Although you can add your own personal rules and exemptions, the three simple rules are:
- Don’t buy any new products. [Exceptions: Food and drink, medicine, personal items (ex. socks and underwear), services, charitable contributions, and gifts.]
- For other items, borrow or buy used.
- Take the time you would spend shopping in other productive ways.
As the Ramadan Compact states:
I invite you to take the barakah of Ramadan to be thankful for the blessings in our lives, be more mindful of our actions and their environmental impact, and reduce material consumption.
Check out their blog for the latest trials and tribulations of those who signed up.
6 Steps to a Green Ramadan!
08 Aug 2010 1 Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: DC Green Muslims, Green Guide, Green Islam, Green Prophet, Local Food, Organic, Prophet Muhammed (pbuh), Ramadan, Walk, Waste, Water
Arwa offers a 6 step guide to greening this year’s Ramadan starting August 11.
With the month of Ramadan quickly approaching, Muslims across the world are beginning to prepare for the month of fasting from sunrise to sunset. Food supplies are stocked up (ironic, I know), appointments are rescheduled and preparations are made for the month of spiritual rediscovery. At its simplest Ramadan is a welcome reminder of the basic but invaluable blessing of food and water, but it is also a chance for Muslims to re-affirm their faith and reconnect with god and all his creations. And what better way to do this then by ‘greening’ your Ramadan.
Islam states that humans are the stewards of the earth, with a duty to protect it from harm but are we doing enough? Well, I have put together a basic list of things all Muslims from the US to the Middle East can all do this Ramadan (and hopefully the rest of the year) to protect the environment and any ideas you want to add are welcome! 
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