Khaleafa, an Eco Islam blog created by Muaz Nasir, has been nominated for the Brass Crescent ‘Best New Blog’ Award

Over the last year, I’ve stumbled across lots of great posts from the Khaleafa blog exploring the Islamic approach to environmentalism on my internet travels. As such, it’s great to hear that the site has been nominated for the annual Brass Crescent ‘Best New Blog’ Award. Created by Toronto-based Muaz Nasir, the site looks at green topics ranging from healthy eating, the environmental movement in America, eco-Islam and also hosts green inter-faith events. If you’d like to see the site win ‘Best New Blog’ then you have until the 21st of October to cast your ballot!

Writing on the blog, Muaz Nasir said it was humbling to be considered for the category alongside such great writers and hoped for the continued support of the blog’s readers. The Brass Crescent Awards were created in 2004 with the purpose of promoting the best writing across the Muslim web. The awards have now grown to be the most anticipated within the Muslim blogosphere.

Khaleafa.com was created with the goal of “reigniting the discourse surrounding the Islamic approach to environmentalism” and has had contributions from academics, religious scholars and activists within the Muslim community. As well writing about the importance of environmental action, the site has brought together community activists to explore how they implement environmental initiatives in a diverse society.

“The term ‘Khaleafa’ is the Arabic term for steward and represents the sacred responsibility that has been bestowed upon us by Allah. The concept of stewardship is the inspiration of this project and has formed for the foundation for discussion of the environmental ideals already present within the Islamic faith.”

Khaleafa also ran a successful Green Khutbah Campaign to coincide with Earth Day which garnered the support of over 75 Imams/Organizations across North America, Europe and Africa. This campaign encouraged mosques, schools, universities and Islamic Institutions in North America to devote their Friday Khutbah (sermon) to raising awareness on the environmental challenges facing humanity. An interfaith event was also hosted recently by Khaleafa to highlight the sanctity of water and provide practical information to help faith groups preserve water. The event drew over 50 attendees from a variety of congregations and faith groups.

Polls close end of day Sunday, October 21, 2012! 9 pm (Mon) PST, 12 am (Tue) EST, 5 am (Tue) GMT. To cast your ballot- click here.

For more green Muslims see: 

Cambridge’s Eco Mosque Granted Permission (PHOTOS)

Iftar Guide – Breaking the Ramadan Fast Sustainably

Film Review: ‘The Blessed Tree’ – An Interfaith Meeting Under The Shade of Nature

The post Khaleafa: New Green Muslim Blog Nominated For Prestigious Award appeared first on Green Prophet.

MADE is encouraging Muslims to embrace ethical living this Ramadan and to break their fast with Fair-trade

A UK-based organisation called MADE is asking Muslims to look again at the way that their food is traded and to consider going Fair-trade this Ramadan. As they explain, whilst many Muslims are concerned about whether their food is halal or not very few investigate whether it has been ethically traded. And yet, trade justice is an important principle in Islam and Muslims have a responsibility to ensure that they do not consume products that contribute towards injustice.

“We live in an economically unjust world where producers of our food do not earn the income they are due,” MADE explains. “As consumers we have an Islamic responsibility to ensure that our money is not supporting injustice.” They they go on to quote the Qur’an which reads: “Give full measure and full weight in justice, and wrong not people in respect of their goods” (11:85). The ‘Fair Trade in Islam’ campaign aims to increase awareness about the importance of ethical consumption and fair trade in the Muslim community.

Another branch of the fair-trade campaign is focused on encouraging Muslims to buy fair-trade Palestinian good so that Palestinian producers are able to earn a sustainable living for their families. “Palestinian farmers believe passionately in their right to be able to produce and sell products from their own land despite all the existing difficulties,” MADE explains. “With the support of British Muslim consumers, Palestinian farmers hope to be able to increase production so they can stand on their own feet.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiNxZkrzsBw[/youtube]

The ‘Fair-trade in Islam’ initiative is part of MADE’s Ramadan 2012 ethical living campaign. As well promoting fair-trade, they have been busy curating discussions around bottled water and encouraging people to ‘Drink Tap!’. At recent Islam-related events, they have screened films exposing the environmental impact of bottled water and encouraged people to invest in re-useable bottles instead. As they explain, high consumer demand for bottled water has a high and unecessary impact on our environment. The ‘I Drink Tap!’ campaign is “about encouraging Muslim communities to give up wasteful and environmentally harmful bottled water and drink tap water instead.”

The MADE in Europe campaign in is partnership with Zaytoun & Oxfam. MADE in Europe is also a proud member of the Stop Climate Change Coalition, the UK’s largest group of people dedicated to action on climate change and limiting its impact on the world’s poorest communities.

::MADE

For more on a green Ramadan see:
“Host Greener Iftars At Mosques” Is Imam Zaid Shakir’s Ramadan Message (VIDEO)
Ramadan Food Waste & Green Tips for Cutting it Down
Vegetarian Ramadan Recipes From the Middle East (PHOTOS)

The post Break Your Ramadan Fast With Fair Trade appeared first on Green Prophet.

Saudi Minister Denies Land Bridge to Egypt Plans
Following a rather mixed reaction to the news that plans were afoot to build a bridge connecting Egypt and Saudi via the Red Sea, the Saudi Minister of Transport has denied any agreement between the countries. Speaking to the Arab News, the minister said, “There is no any such agreement to the effect between the ministry and any other party concerning the project.”

Whilst the project’s future now appears in limbo, it has been estimated that if the bridge was built it would bring in 1.2 million Saudi tourists (and their cars) every year. The present number of visitors is currently 300,000. For a thorough look at the environmental concerns surrounding the land and sea bridge proposal see this blogpost by Egyptian blogger Zeinobia.
:: Arab News

Protests Against Nuclear Power in Turkey
As part of a wider Greenpeace campaign, protestors gathered outside the Hagia Sofia Museum in Istanbul to highlight the dangers of nuclear. The protest marks the lead up to the first anniversary of the Fukushima disaster in Japan which will take on March 11. According to campaigners, the day of action is also to remind us of the fact that the world’s more than 400 nuclear reactors pose an ongoing threat to the hundreds of millions of people who live in their shadow.
: Image and information via Greenpeace Arabic.

Muslim Nations Meet To Talk Water
Members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) met in Istanbul on Monday 5 March to “develop a common vision regarding water”. The conference which included 62 OIC member countries, approved a final statement which recommended more nations co-operate in water research and co-ordinate their water-related organizations and campaigns. Countries in attendance include Kuwait, Egypt, Qatar, Syria, Libya, Oman and Turkey. No doubt the conference was important, although it seems the power of OIC as well as the action actually taken by the group is limited.
:: Arab News

The Road to Doha
In the lead up to the climate summit in Doha, Qatar, there is a distinct effort to get the region up to scratch on climate change issues. And Carboun, the sustainability consultancy, is playing its part. It recently published a ‘everything you need to know about climate change’ article by William Yassine which not only very readable but has lots of diagrams and infographics to help you get your head around the climate science and politics. Carboun is also promising more MENA-focused climate change guides in the future.
:: Read the ‘Road to Doha: An Introduction to Climate Change’ here.

For more green news nuggets see:
Saudi Arabia’s Climate U-Turn?

Saudi Arabia, Corals, Aviation and Basil- Green News Snippets

Saturday’s Green News Snippets – February 25 2012

The post Saudi’s Bridge Plans and Nuclear Protest in Turkey- News Snippets appeared first on Green Prophet.

We speak to Muslim green campaigner Sofiah Jamil about the environmental threats facing Southeast Asia and why climate justice alone isn’t enough

Sofiah Jamil is a Singapore-based campaigner who has been working hard to help Muslims living in Southeast Asia connect their faith with environmental issues. As well as setting up ‘Project ME: Muslims + Environment‘ and running The Green Bush blog, her research at Nanyang Technological University focuses on environmental security. Spurred on by her undergraduate studies in Australia where she experienced a higher level of environmental awareness (compared to her concrete and urban home of Singapore), she has studied the implications of forest fires on Indonesia and Malaysia.

In 2009, Sofiah took part in a 6-week programme by the Study of the United States Institute for the Environment to help increase her knowledge and hopes to start her PhD next year at the Australian National University focusing on the topic of Muslim environmental initiatives. Green Prophet spoke to her about the unique environmental risks that the Southeast region faces and the role women can play in dealing with these.

Green Prophet: What the main environmental threats that Southeast Asia faces?

Sofiah Jamil: The Southeast Asian region is a highly complex and diverse region, and the intensity of environmental threats and the capacity available to address them, varies depending where you are. Several countries in the region sit along the Pacific Rim of Fire, and are thus prone to earthquakes, volcano eruptions and tsunamis. Indonesia is a case in point.

Several Southeast Asian countries are also prone to typhoons, such as the Philippines and Vietnam, who on average experience at least 12 typhoons a year. Most countries in the region also experience high levels of rainfall during the monsoon seasons. In addition to this, studies have demonstrated that climate change has in fact increased the intensity and frequency of these weather-related disasters.

The risks you mention above are part and parcel of the environmental context of the region. In what ways have these been aggravated by human factors?

Urbanisation has brought about various environmental issues such groundwater extraction which has resulted in cities sinking (even before we take into account rising sea levels) and the loss of important natural habitats. For example, mangroves that are important natural defences against typhoons and tsunamis have been affected.

This is further exacerbated by trends of population growth. The region is home to at least 3 of the world’s megacities – Bangkok, Manila, Jakarta – and Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam is likely to be a 4th. The question here is whether these cities are able to accommodate the increasing population, which requires more resources as well as more fortified social infrastructure.

There is also increasing rural to urban migration in various parts of Southeast Asia. Informal slums by migrants from rural areas are often situated in areas that are most vulnerable to environmental threats, such as along river banks which overflow during a flood. While there have been attempts to relocate slum dwellers to designated public housing areas, these areas are often far from their sources of economic livelihood, and hence many leave the public housing (and rent it out) while returning back to the slums.

Flooding in megacities is also due to ineffective drainage systems, which are often clogged by thrash either from the slums or from other urban residents. As such, environmental threats in urban areas need to look at the issue holistically by including issues related to urban planning and economic activity. Given the above issues, a main challenge for many countries in the region is figuring out how to address these multiple concerns which can at times happen simultaneously. This was the case for Indonesia last year which experienced an earthquake, tsunami and volcano eruption at the same time.

What are the specific risks facing Singapore and do you get a sense that there is increasing environmental awareness of these risks?

In Singapore, like many other island countries, we are threatened by sea-level rise. More threatening is the fact that more than 90% of our food is imported. Staple items such as rice and vegetables come from neighbouring countries. As such our food security is, to a certain extent, dependent on our neighbours and their ability to address their environmental threats.

What’s more worrying is the fact that most Singaporeans are not aware of these environmental threats. Very few are in touch with nature as more than 90% of our natural habitat has been lost as a result of urban development. Most are happy as long as the supermarket shelves are stocked with the necessary food items, even though prices of food has been increasing lately.

Women are most likely to affected by environmental disasters- does the issue of climate justice motivate you work?

It does to a certain extent, but in some ways I find the concept of climate justice limiting. Climate justice must also demonstrate how it is significant to other existing issues. Not all of the environmental disasters that we experience in this region are climate related. Moreover, it must show how it relates to other forms of justice – such as social justice, which women are still fighting a hard battle for.

For example, when the tsunami happened in Aceh in 2004, it was sad that some sections of society blamed the disaster on women. That the tsunami was a result of vice in Aceh, and that immoral women were part of the problem. Such sort of mentalities, I think, limit societies’ abilities to fully appreciate the resourcefulness of individuals. In fact, many Acehnese women who lost their fishermen husbands at sea during the tsunami had to become the sole breadwinners of their families. Here we see how women play important roles in getting their families back on their feet after environmental disasters.

What really motivates me is the fact that women are not the problem, but rather have the potential to provide solutions to address environmental disasters and more importantly address other socio-economic issues. We just need more women out there to come forward to tell us their stories.

For more interviews with inspiring green Muslims see:

Interview with America’s Leading Green Muslim- Ibrahim Abdul Matin

Naqa’a: Saudi Women For The Environment

Meet The Mexican Muslim Tree Huggers 

The post INTERVIEW: Sofiah Jamil Talks Faith, Women & Climate Justice appeared first on Green Prophet.

We speak to Fazlun Khalid who set up

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 to do with that. Over the last two decades, the UK-based organization has been reaching out to Muslims and non-Muslims alike about the role that faith can play in environmental protection. IFEES has worked particularly hard to highlight the Islamic teachings on nature and have set up their EcoIslam newsletter and published various green guides with that aim in mind. The organization has also campaigned to end dynamite fishing in Zanzibar and encourage tree planting in Indonesia through Islamic teachings. I caught up Fazlun Khalid who established the charity to talk more.

Arwa: I know that IFEES has been around for a while and is based in the UK but could you tell us a little more about the organisation?

Fazlun: Well, this work started more than 25 years ago and IFEES has been around since 1994. What we do is project the specifically Islamic teachings about the environment– this isn’t to say that we don’t work with secular groups or other denominations; we do, because ultimately what we are facing is a common problem. Since the eighties we have been researching Islamic texts, the Qur’an and Shariah on environmental issues and we have put that together to train people… amongst the international community IFEES is used for Islamic training on the environment in Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Indonesia, Madagascar and Malaysia. We are also trying to educate the Islamic leaders and ulamas about the environment and the direct link to the Qur’an and Shariah and how they can implement projects based on these teachings. So it’s quite real and practical work.

Arwa: Was there a particular event that catalyzed your focus on Islam and the environment?

Fazlun: I remember I went to a conference in the 1980’s where I was asked what are Muslims doing about the environment and I said not a great deal. I was asked what does Islam say about the environment and I replied that I didn’t know. So what I did was leave work and go back to university to study the Koran and its links to the earth – in fact, my dissertation was on creation.

During this research and the work you have done since, what emerged as the single most important link between Islam and the environment?

I would say that it is the principle of Khalifah, which says that we have a profound responsibility as creations of Allah to keep the environment in good order. There is a verse in the Quran which says that we will corrupt the land but god will show us the error of our ways and give us a second chance. So we must accept our mistakes and seize the second chance that god has given us.

You have been working on this issue for a long time, have you noticed a change in the way the Muslim community is dealing with environmental problems?

I’m sorry to say that I haven’t noticed a real change. I mean there are environmental agencies being set up in the Muslim world but the problem is this – they are being run as secular organisations and are ignoring the Islamic perspective. I feel that Islam has the best teachings on the environment, the whole framework is there and sadly, we are so besotted wealth, money and position and wanting to copy the West and everything that the West does that we don’t realise that we have a diamond in our hand.

Whilst it’s great to educate people about the problems and the need for change- ultimately what we need to see is more action. What kind of action would like to Muslim doing more of?

I think one thing that Muslim can do is learn what Islam has to say about the environment and work with organisations such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and other local organisations. Muslims also need to be approaching their Imams and chairmans at their local mosques and telling them about environmental problems and asking them what Islam has to say about it. Challenge them, we need to challenge them and ask them why they aren’t doing Friday khutbahs on these issues.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future?

(laughs) You know, Arwa, you have to be optimistic in this world. You have to trust in Allah and you have to know that what you’re doing is what god has asked of us and that’s enough.

::Images via IFEES.

For more green faith news see:

Interview With Green Hajj Expert Dr. Husna Ahmed

Faith Network Promotes Green Religious Pilgrimages

If It’s Not Organic, It’s Not Halal (4 Ethical Zabiha Principles)

The post Interview With The Leading Green Islamic Organisation appeared first on Green Prophet.

From its humble beginnings during the time of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) to modern incarnations, such as those futuristic designs envisaged for the green mosque of Cambridge, the Eco-Mosque has come a long way. Now, the Qatari government is assessing its building policies so that every new mosque built in the country will be based on environmentally friendly models which help save water and energy.

According to Gulf News, a special committee has been formed to assess the design of all mosques in the country and they are currently deliberating on the most appropriate environmentally friendly model to use as a standard. Abdullah Al Dosari, the general manager of Aqaf Public Department said that the panel are focusing on the need to encourage environmentally friendly measure that reduce the consumption of water and power in mosques across Qatar. The panel is believed to be reviewing 18 model designs from which an eco-friendly design will be chosen.

Across the world the Eco-Mosque has come in various guises; from the solar-powered mosque of Turkey, Germany’s wind-powered mosque to the United Arab Emirates project to reduce water and electricity consumption in 300 mosques in Dubai.

As a centre of public worship at the heart of many Muslim communities, the benefits of promoting green and environmentally-friendly values at mosques can be huge. It not only sets green practices as the ideal way of life, it also shows that steps to protect the environment are doable and easy to carry out.

Following recent findings that carbon emissions have been rising rapidly in the rich Gulf states, let’s hope that this green move is sign that Qatar recognises the importance of more green action.

:: Gulf News

For more on Eco-Mosques see:

Cambridge to Build Europe’s First Eco-Mosque
5 Spectacular Eco Mosques Of The World
Project to Reduce Water and Electricity Consumption in 300 Mosques in Dubai
:Image via Ikhlasul Amal/Flickr.

The post All New Mosques In Qatar Will Be Eco-Mosques appeared first on Green Prophet.

A humanities instructor by day and social activist by night, Californian based hip-hop artist ‘Professor A.L.I.’ is behind a cool new era of enviro-activism. We’re talking Islamic Eco-Rap. In this exclusive Green Prophet interview, Zaufishan asks eco-Muslim A.L.I. why his environmental message should be on our iTunes playlist.

Green Prophet: Firstly, who is behind ‘Professor A.L.I?’

Professor A.L.I.: I’m a hip-hop poet, artist and activist based out of the Bay Area in California. I identify myself as a human being. I try to define myself through my actions, clarify myself through my intentions, and strive to be a Muslim.

Outside of rap music, I am both a writer and an educator. I am working on several writing projects with the poetry compilation entitled ’72 Martyr Series’ coming out the soonest. I also teach courses in African-American Literature and poetry at U.C. Berkeley as well as in the Humanities department at a prestigious college preparatory school in the Bay Area.

Green Prophet: When did you start the “Eco-Rap” concept?

Professor A.L.I.: I’ve been rapping since high school, but over time what I rapped about and communicated through hip-hop changed. It was fueled by my observations and life lessons. Hip-hop to me is a method of communication to a specific audience, one that is capable of understanding coded language and acting upon a message.

“The overwhelming message in my short life has been that this planet is dying and we are the murderers. Once the lesson was imparted, that this pristine planet is now polluted, the natural has become artificial and that life itself has become unbearable… I made this my predominant message. I called it “the real green movement” but a radio show host at KPFA called it ‘Eco-Rap’ on the air, ‘Islamic Eco-Rap’ at that, and it stuck.”

I didn’t set out to promote a specific theme, I was just trying to tell a story to inspire my fellow Muslims to save our planet – not just from Global Warming or pollution but all forms of epidemics and oppression.

Green Prophet: We love creative environmentalists and Green Prophet fans would be very interested in the background to your eco-messages. So, what exactly do you rap about?

Professor A.L.I.: Hip-hop is an intelligent movement in which rap plays a role of delivering… [a] message. The message here is that the ‘Mother’ Earth is in fact dying; slowly murdered by the children she once suckled. Eco-Rap is bringing awareness to this global issue. And Islamic Eco-Rap is putting it in the Muslim context of the ultimate goal in life: to please Allah Almighty (God).

I believe that we will be judged by God for our contribution to the destruction of this planet. I also believe that the foretold revolutions by prophets in the past will come to pass as ecological disasters that we are creating and have created. I hope that using the art of hip-hop and rap music to deliver a message will be heard by the only group that has the energy, incentive and hope to change things: the youth.

Green Prophet: That is a fantastic aim and we hope the youth will be part of the movement. What drives you to spread this ecological message to others?

Professor A.L.I.: My mother died from Lymphoma in 2007. Her last words to me still echo in my mind ‘Grab the Mic’. She wanted me to continue with hip-hop and rap which I had almost given up on at that point. In her life she was an accomplished musician, singer and vocalist. She encouraged me to use my voice. After she passed I embarked on using my voice to tell a story.

I firmly believe that my mother, who died young, died because of what we as human beings have done to the environment. Cancer is a by-product, and my mother a casualty of human neglect. I do this to honor her and to help inspire people to make the world a better place for my daughter to grow up in.

Green Prophet: Have you collaborated with any other singers or activists?

The ‘Carbon Cycle Diaries’ LP was a project that was constructed just to tell that story. There was something in it that resonated with established artists in the music industry and so I was first joined by the iconic figures: E-40, then Killah Priest, Raekwon, Canibus, Brand Nubian and Hussein Fatal of the Outlawz. Many other artists also collaborated with me in this solo debut, helping to bring this [eco] message to the people.

Green Prophet: Rap artists are generally associated with the mainstream music industry – songs are about living the fast life, cars, women, women in cars. How and why are you different with your eco principles?

I wouldn’t say that I am a mainstream artist. I do collaborate with mainstream artists as I mentioned earlier but I think what I am doing is what true hip-hop artists have always done which is communicate to the masses about real issues. I think where I differ is that I keep both a human focus, but an overall global feel. The earth is at the heart of the question; it is after-all why I call my solo debut the ‘Carbon Cycle Diaries’.

Green Prophet: Muslims are increasingly raising awareness about food waste and pollution. What are your biggest concerns as an eco-Muslim and which areas of the world do you feel are most affected by similar issues?

Professor A.L.I.: Let me tackle part two first. I have travelled all over the world extensively and spend a great length of time in the Middle East and Asia. I would say that nations developing now and trying the bridge the gap between themselves and ‘The West’ are the areas of the world I am most concerned with. The reason is that these nations are using the same methods used by the U.S. and Europe which we are now paying for as ecological disasters and as Global Warming. They are using these methods because in many instances they are cheap and quick; often times the climate issues are exacerbated by geography and pre-existing weather patterns as well.

One of the most polluted places I have been in recently is Tehran and it goes beyond the fossil fuels burned for millions of unregulated vehicles. Tehran and much of Iran is on a plateau, pollution just sits there and is visible as you fly in and out of the city as a thick brown layer.

As an Eco-Muslim my biggest concern is that my fellow Muslims lose sight of the fact that the earth is a trust, and destroy it in hopes of being more like other nations. I fear we will lose ourselves in the process.

Green Prophet: Now that you mention the Middle Eastern regions affected by human neglect, more of its otherwise traditionally Muslim countries are welcoming rap artists and their entourages. Where have you performed and what has the reaction been from different communities?

Professor A.L.I.: I have performed in Canada and the United States and I hope to perform in Turkey, Arab Nations, and Iran now that ‘Carbon Cycle Diaries’ is out. I get a mixed reaction. Many Muslims are under the false assumption that only traditional language [spoken] music is permissible or that Western influenced music or instrumentation is problematic. At the end of the day I find the greatest support amongst those who listen to the message conveyed which is one which resonates within Muslim culture.

Green Prophet: With that in mind, what advice would you give to aspiring Muslim eco-rap artists and other environmentally aware Muslims (who cannot sing!)?

Professor A.L.I.: I have young Muslims connecting with me now who aspire to be rap artists. My question is always ‘Why?’ Most recently I had someone tell me that they wanted to rap so they can be like Jay-Z. In other instances I have people only paying attention to my music because of the big names attached to my project. At the end of the day I’ll tell all of them the same thing, don’t embrace rap and hip-hop because you want to be rich. Get involved if you have a message and a passion to effectuate change. Be creative yet stay true to your voice and experiences. At the end of the day if you want to copy someone copy the Prophet Muhammad in Islam.

To my environmentally conscious Muslims, I say we need to educate the communities at large of how ‘Haraam’ (unlawful) our wasteful lifestyle is.

“I have never been to an Islamic center that regularly recycles and composts; I have been to many that use Styrofoam and waste copious amounts of power, food and water. These may seem like little things but they contribute greatly to the worldwide epidemic. Each one, teach one and let’s keep the movement growing!

Green Prophet: Amen to that! So, lastly, what contribution do you hope to make towards Muslim environmentalists?”

Professor A.L.I.: The Arts need to play a significant role from music to painting, to plays and animation. My greatest hope is to network with so-called ‘green sheikhs’ and eco-Muslimas like Kristiane Backer, to help bring light to environment issues in our own communities. We need to stop thinking in terms of being Carbon Neutral and start thinking in terms of being Carbon regenerative.

We need to be the stewards of this ‘Real Green Movement’ and help create a global awareness starting in the Middle East. Music and hip-hop can be powerful tools in energizing our future leaders into becoming environmental stewards themselves.

Green Prophet: Thank you kindly A.L.I. for sharing your environmental words of wisdom and we hope that everyone reading is inspired and takes a leaf out of your unique activism.

:: www.professorali.com

More eco-Muslims:
This Is What A Muslim Vegetarian Looks Like
“Green Deen” Ibrahim Abdul-Matin Connects Environmentalism With Islam
From Rockstars to Recycling: Kristiane Backer – An Eco-Muslimah
How Does the World’s 1.5 Billion Muslims Relate to Climate Change?
The Green Sheikh Knows How To Treat A Lady
30 Mosques in 30 States: USA’s Organic Muslims

The post Eco-Muslim, Professor Ali’s Islamic Eco-Rap appeared first on Green Prophet.

Green Prophet loves to cover where eco meets faith and the Middle East. Zaufishan puts together a handy list of five of the world’s most beautiful eco-mosques.

Albania’s Mosque for All

Albania’s “Mosque For All” pictured above and below and designed by BIG features an inside-outdoor shaded Islamic centre, promoting religious harmony through Quran Gardens and a unique intersecting square design.

Albania sits at the crossroads of three major religions: Islam, Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity, and two new churches were recently completed for the later religions. So in order to promote religious harmony within a capital city in the midst of major renovations, Skanderbeg Square has been set aside for the Islamic cultural center.

Playing off the orientation of the existing square as well as alignment towards Mecca, the buildings’ forms emerge from these intersecting axes. The back of the buildings line up with the streets while a series of semi-covered plazas, two minor ones on the sides of the Mosque and a major plaza with a minaret in front, face Mecca.

The mosque area would be flexible to accommodate up to 1,000 people for daily prayers all the way up to 10,000 for special holy days like Ramadan – especially those make it eco. All the shaded spaces are cool and inviting, while the curved facades are covered in a multitude of rectangular windows inspired by mashrabiya screens. Was it ever built? Doesn’t look like it.

The Green Mosque In Chicago

The Green Mosque, which was awarded Best Freestanding Religious Structure in the Faith in Place competition in Chicago, incorporates a library, education center, lecture halls, and a soup kitchen. Is this the world’s greenest mosque?

As far as we know the mosque has never built built. In theory it’s green, in practice, not so much. But details here can lend to any architect’s inspiration.

Cambridge Eco Mosque

The United Kingdom’s largest environmentally-friendly mosque in Cambridge adopts energy saving techniques. Architect Marks Barfield will be designing the £13 million eco mosque on a 0.4 hectare site in Cambridge embedded within some of the region’s most beautiful scenic views. Read the Green Prophet exclusive on England’s eco mosque. (Update 2021: the mosque is finally complete and the images here reflect that.)

The defining internal characteristic of the mosque is the timber ‘trees’ which form the structural support for the roof and the roof lights. The geometry of the trees was developed through work with geometric artist Keith Critchlow, creating the underlying geometry of the mosque. It combines an Islamic ‘the Breath of the Compassionate’ pattern into a structural grid that supports the roof and is then brought to a point at the columns. It is a simple device that combines the structural logic of supporting a large span with few columns and a celebration of the structural material and its decorative possibilities, bringing to mind both Fosters’ Stansted Airport, and King’s College Chapel.

The external brick tiles that clad the CLT structure are from traditional Cambridge Gault and are red brick colours. The protruding headers form a pattern of Arabic Kufic calligraphy that reads “say he is God (the) one”.

Social and environmental sustainability were central to the competition-winning scheme and have been delivered. The intent was to produce a building in accordance with the spiritual belief that humanity’s role is as a responsible custodian of nature, meaning one should minimise their carbon footprint.

The building has achieved net zero carbon energy on site in use. The competing elements of the demand for car parking to suit large events with elderly congregations, creating an underground car park and the environmental consequences of embodied carbon have been recognised. The passive and active sustainable measures incorporated within the building meet and exceed some elements of the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge targets and other elements of the design have future-proofed the building to allow for predicted climate change.

Great Mud Mosque of Djenné, Mali

The Great Mud Mosque of Djenne in Mali is just one of the world’s hand built mud buildings that are increasingly considered as options for low-carbon and low-cost construction. It was built in 1917, though it looks like a thousand years old and still standing.

Yemen boasts the magnificent ‘Manhattan of the Desert’ mosque and Iran is home to the Bam citadel. Check out more Middle Eastern beauties and mud architecture.

Ray of Light Mosque, Dubai

Nicknamed the “Ray of Light,” this unusually shaped entry for the Dubai Mosque Competition is illuminated with LEDs, designed to minimise energy use and metaphysically segregate worshippers by a ray of light (most Muslim places of worship include separate prayer spaces for men and women).

Like most great ideas it takes more than an architecture proposal to get off the ground. Millions of dollars of investment and years of building are needed. Looks like this one didn’t succeed. But the photos are fascinating.

More green urban architecture:
Stunning Abu Dhabi Resort Celebrates Bedouin Architecture
Luxurious Chiseled Desert Lodge In Jordan Is Also Sustainable
Dubai’s New Net Zero Building Codes Should Boost Cleantech Worldwide
What Happened To Islam’s Environmentally Friendly Architecture?

The post 5 Spectacular Eco Mosques Of The World – real and conceptual appeared first on Green Prophet.

According to our calculations, a pilgrimage to Mecca from the UK releases more tonnes of carbon than the average French person does in a year

In part 1 of our feature on Green Hajj, we worked out that the carbon footprint of the average UK Hajj pilgrim is pretty high. Our guinea pigs, the Hussain family released around 32.77 tonnes of carbon during their trip which means that each individual member released more C02 in their single trip than the average person in France releases per year (6 tonnes of Carbon). So how do we make Hajj more green? Well we use their experience and knowledge to suggest new ways to make the impact of Hajj easier on this old planet.

Speaking to the Hussain family about the Hajj experience, what is clear is that overall there were some good and bad aspects, in terms of environmental protection, but also a lot more which could be done.

Let’s start with the bad: due to the stifling heat, air conditioning is on all the time in most places which means that lots of electricity is wasted. The family reported flooding in the toilets and wudu (ablution) areas which also means that water was wasted and recycling facilities were almost non-existent. Considering the amount of plastic used and the waste produced by swathes of pilgrims, this is a worrying thought.

There were, however, some eco brownie points to be won. Due to the large amounts of people converging on Mecca during Hajj period, public transport is highly encouraged by the Saudi authorities who provided buses for the pilgrims. Although the Mekkah Rail which Green Prophet covered was not yet open to international visitors in 2010, it will no doubt help reduce people’s emissions when travelling during Hajj in the future.

When I ask Iman Hussain, who took part in Hajj in 2010, if she thought Hajj was environmentally friendly she replies: “No, but due to the scale of people on Hajj it’s really difficult to be green. The environment is very warm so there is a lot of waste due to two main factors: food goes off very quickly and the A/C needs to be on all the time.” She also added that the main issue for the Saudi government is people’s safety so inevitably, eco issues get sidelined. In a bid in raise the profile of the importance of being eco, we have come up with some simple suggestions in the third and final installment of the series on Green Hajj.

: Image via Fatima_it_is on flickr.

:: Again I just want to re-iterate that I am no carbon expert. In fact, I welcome any offers from experts to assess the carbon footprint of the average Hajj pilgrim properly as it was the lack of any data, which led me to this rather slapdash effort.

For more on Green Hajj see:

Part 1: We Measure One Family’s Hajj Carbon Footprint

‘Mekka Metro’ Marls a Green Hajj for Pilgrims

An Epic Journey to Mecca- by Bike! (Slideshow)

The post Part 2: Weighing up the Green (and Not So Green) Aspects of Hajj appeared first on Green Prophet.

As the world’s eyes are watching Egypt’s people uprise against its government, the need for change has already began impacting the streets of Cairo. After seven days of demonstrations rubbish, placards and dirty water have collected in the roads which the Egyptian people are not leaving for outsiders to clear up, despite their frustration for economic survival and better living.

This feeling of Egyptian pride is contagious as people are encouraging others to come outside with brooms and bags, voluntarily cleaning the streets. Muslim women have been taking their scarf pins to help attach ‘Keep Egypt Clean’ signs to men’s shirts; men themselves embrace one another with smiles, with hope and a love for the maintenance and environment of their country.

‘This charges us with positivity, so we can do more, to help our country to be better’, said Mohammad. Watch the fast spreading video by The Daily News).

More passion has flooded the streets as medical workers have volunteered their skills to help protesters hurt in the previous days and free food and drink is being handed out.

There is environmental revolution in the air. And we are witnessing a truly different Egypt that won’t be changed back easily.

Image:: Kitsap Sun (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Video:: The Daily News

Read more on Egypt:
Egyptian Energy Crisis Sends Protestors To The Streets
In the Face of “Nile-lessness” Egyptians Protest Water Shortage
What Egyptian Regime Change May Mean for Regional Energy Cooperation
Egypt To Grab Sudanese Land To Meet Its Wheat Needs
21st Century Egypt Powers Two Villages Entirely With Solar Power
Egypt in Top 22 Nations for Renewable Investment Potential

The post Egypt’s Social Change Begins With Cleaning The Streets appeared first on Green Prophet.