A Muslim Call to Climate Action
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) stated, “the earth is green and beautiful, and Allah has appointed you his stewards over it.” (Hadith – Muslim) The 1.6 billion Muslims around the world draw on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to assist in carving out an existence that is both pleasing to Allah (SWT) and beneficial for those around them. Apart from responsible living, many Muslims share a connection with creation, as does Asma Mahdi who feels a deep relationship to the ocean, in lieu of reaching Mecca. May she complete her Hajj in due time, insha'Allah. Until then, Asma finds solace, like many Muslims, in the glorious creation gifted to her and all humans.
The appreciation felt by people of faith such as Asama, is manifesting into climate leadership. For Muslim leaders, "Islam is inextricably linked to the environment," as Asama shares. Caring for creation is not a result of being Muslim, it is essential to a Muslim's deen. It is more than ritual; it is part of what it means to be Muslim, which is why we need climate to become a paramount issue in 2016, reminding people of faith to act for the climate. Let's make this year, the year in which climate becomes a central aspect of Khutbahs across the U.S., iA.
Check out Asama's compelling call to action below!
To Be Your Khalifa: Asma Mahdi shares how her Muslim identity compels her to act on climate change.
Asma Mahdi | Our Voices
They say many people have a calling in life. Well, I knew from a very young age that my calling was to protect the ocean.
Growing up near the water influenced my decision to pursue a livelihood where I get to be an ocean steward day in and day out. But there is more to it than just that. Being near water is where my heart is most calm, where I can really focus my thoughts, dissipate most of my concerns, and feel a sense of rejuvenation unlike anywhere else in the world.
Soul filling — that’s what it is.
It’s the place where I feel a spiritual connection unlike any other. Granted, I have yet to travel to Mecca, the most sacred place in Islam. To date, the ocean is probably the closest I’ve been to feeling that connection. To know that I’m amongst a pure form of God’s creation, though it doesn’t entirely go untouched or unharmed by human impact, is one of the most nourishing spaces for me to make that connection — it’s my mosque.
In the past year, I found myself using my passion as way to steer my ummah, my community, towards caring for the planet and rekindling a spiritual connection taught through the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) prophetic teachings.