Why Muslims don’t drink alcohol
Alcoholism creates addiction and affects health. But for Muslims, not drinking is a command from God.
Lifestyle
Eco-Wudhu and Islam’s Bright Relationship to Water
Wudhu (woo-dhoo) is a Muslim's ritual wash before any act of worship. Wudhu is a control switch, a health check, a reminder of liquid blessings. But how can wudhu make the Islamic faith even greener?
Book Review: Capitalizing on Nature- Ecosystems as Natural Assets
“Nature has provided ecosystems and their benefits to us for free… perhaps because this capital has been provided freely to us, we humans have tended to view it as limitless, abundant, and thus perhaps always available for our use, exploitation, and conversion.” (p.3) The modern economy’s obsession with competitive consumption and endless exploitation of natural […]
Bahrain’s Green Bar Offers Naturally Extravagant Fragrances
Green Bar makes local, natural beauty products in an industry pumped with chemicals and toxic preservatives. It’s tough enough being a woman without having to worry about nasty preservatives in cosmetics, or the loads of other bad things pumped into beauty products. The natural world is filled with plants and flowers that have been used […]
The Stunning Water Murals of Gaza (PHOTOS)
Water murals in the Gaza Strip explore the daily struggle with water shortage and water contamination The Gaza Strip is known to indulge in political murals but water murals are definitely a new thing. Over the summer months, US activists along with local artists, teachers and school children got together to paint 8 murals exploring […]
Eco-Friendly RhythManiAcs Use Upcycled Drums as Instruments
Kids can drum on pots and pans and sound good, and the RhythManiacs have found unusual items to drum with too (and keep out of the trash). Music is not usually something that you think of as being eco-friendly or not. Food, understandably, can be eco-friendly, and fashion can be green, but it takes some […]
Giant Infrared Human Dryers Slash Carbon Emissions
Residents of Sharjah – the Emirate just north of Dubai – enjoy drying off in giant human dryers like these pictured above, which reportedly slash carbon emissions by half in some situations. With average temperatures of 104 degrees Fahrenheit during summer months, you’d think residents of Sharjah – an Emirate just north of Dubai – […]
Gulf Coastal Ecosystems At Growing Risk Due To Development
UN scientists say rapid coastal development, booming populations and the fossil fuel industry is wreaking havoc in the Arabian Gulf The Arabian Gulf, which is also known as the Persian Gulf, is a semi-enclosed area of sea in the Middle East region that has eight bordering countries from Iraq down to Oman. As a major […]
Shopping Malls Go Green in Israel
This Israeli mall, Ir Yamim includes a round tank in foreground for rain or AC runoff water Mid East Green building projects like those in Abu Dhabi’s much publicized Masdar City, green building construction plans for Saudi Arabia, and a newly completed green building in Amman Jordan are indications that a number of countries in […]
International Call for Papers: Ecosexuality Anthology
Have something to say about the sensual side of green? A new magazine is looking for submissions. As a philosophy, ecosexuality is quite new even to many environmentalists who are keen on greening their personal lives yet are unaware of this socially transformative movement. From using eco-friendly lubrication to maintaining healthy reproductive and sexual well-being, […]
Iraq and Libya For Eco-Seeking Bravehearts
Iraqi historical sites are many, but the security situation is still risky Middle East Eco Tourism has been written about a lot on Green Prophet, including upscale Five Star Eco-Tourism in locations like Abu Dhabi and Jordan, hiking holiday tours in Lebanon, and even how to travel through parts of the Middle East by bike. […]
Recycling Plants and Paying the Green Forward
In addition to paper and plastic, now Israelis will be able to recycle their garden and windowsill plants too. When redesigning one’s garden, sometimes perfectly healthy plants get tossed out in the shuffle. The plants are not sick or anything, but simply do not match the new landscaping theme of the garden. These carbon dioxide […]
Mekkah Signals Move Away From Las Vegas-Style Architecture
The hideous Mekkah Clocktower may have been the final straw – officials now state that any additions will be more in tune with traditional architecture It seems that the powers that be in Mekkah (Mecca) are finally listening. After widespread complaints that Mekkah was beginning to resemble Las Vegas with its preference for gargantuan and […]
Field Notes: Spain Still Big on Green
I see that solar panels are now commonplace on rooftops in Barcelona European countries, especially Spain are becoming stronger on green projects like renewable energy and recycling. This was the impression I received while on a recent trip to the Spanish coastal city of Barcelona, where recycling efforts and water conservation are widely practiced and […]
Interview With The Leading Green Islamic Organisation
We speak to Fazlun Khalid who set up The Islamic Foundation For Ecology And Environmental Sciences about the highs and lows of over two decades of work The link between Islam and the environment is slowly gaining recognition amongst the wider public and The Islamic Foundation For Ecology And Environmental Sciences (IFEES) may have something […]
Dubai Airport Flash Mob Dance Will Make You Smile!
If you thought that Emiratis lacked a sense of humor, you obviously haven’t seen this! This isn’t necessarily green news, but it does have potential for sparking green activism projects: At the end of October 55 people posing as airport personnel and other normal citizens broke out in a well-rehearsed dance at the Dubai International […]
If It’s Not Organic, It’s Not Halal (4 Ethical Zabiha Principles)
If the meat's zabiha - slaughtered according to Islamic law - is it always halal? Yes, there is a difference. Zaufishan explains how the ethics in Muslims' meat-eating religion, embraces animal welfare, organic living and vegetarianism.
What You Should Know About Polio
Polio, a crippling virus which lingers in polluted water sources is not a dead virus, says an Israeli researcher. It is in Israel, Gaza and Egypt. But some current vaccines may be deadly. I know women in Israel who were unsure about vaccinating their kids against polio. The nurse practitioners there said that polio is […]
Eco Education Caravan Touring Lebanon This Month
An eco caravan is bringing green education directly to the people of Lebanon this month. A solar powered taxi is traveling the globe at the moment, and now an eco-education caravan has taken to the roads of Lebanon (which, unfortunately, have seen a 538% increase in car use over the past 24 years). The caravan […]
7 Tips for a Sustainable Eid ul Adha Festival
Sacrifice is Muslims' way of giving back to community, the poor and God. But consumerism had turned the Eid-ul-Adha festival into another "Eid-mas". See our doable ideas on what you could be giving up after Hajj season and share your own.
The Grand Green Mufti of Egypt
Sheikh Ali Gomaa is the Grand Mufti of Egypt issuing environmental fatwas. Sheikh Ali Gomaa is the Grand Mufti of Egypt since September 2003 and one of the highest ranking and respected religious authorities throughout the Sunni world. He holds the second highest religious position in Egypt, after that of Sheikh al-Azhar. As the Grand […]
The Green Sheikh Calls for Action Against Ecological Crimes
Pictured on the far left, the Green Sheikh took a break from his environmental activism to support breast cancer awareness at a polo event in the United Arab Emirates. We have been warned that the earth has reached a dangerous borderline. Here I’ll give you my personal opinions about the environment, in order to hopefully […]
Book Review: I’m With the Bears
Pauline Masurel reviews a collection of literary and science fiction stories by world renowned authors that imagine the affects of climate change. Bill McKibben was arrested in August this year while protesting against TransCanada’s proposed plans to build a pipeline that would carry oil from the Alberta tar sands to Texas. McKibben has written: “This […]
Interview With Green Hajj Expert Husna Ahmed
We speak to Dr Husna Ahmed, the co-author of the newly launched Green Guide to Hajj about the role Muslims can play in protecting nature As part of its work to encourage green religious pilgrimages worldwide, the Alliance of Religions and Conservation have just launched a ‘Green Guide to Hajj’. Co-authored by Dr Husna Ahmed […]
Abu Dhabi Neuters and Chips 5,000 Stray Cats and Dogs
This poor Lebanese stray dog might have a chance if neutered and then adopted out While some people might be against the neutering of stray animals like dogs and cats, this practice is much better than having them shot on sight as they are in Lebanon or allowed to starve to death, as occurred recently […]