Environmental sustainability is very important in Islam. Thus, preserving environment, from an Islamic perspective, is grounded in honoring the relationship between oneself, Allah, and Allah’s creation.
Allah says in the Qur’an, It is He who has appointed you vicegerent on the Earth … (Qur’an, 6:165)
Leading the way for other houses of worship, the largest mosque in Scotland has been solarized to cut down its emissions in a major climate initiative launched at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26.
“As stewards of the earth, it is our moral responsibility to do everything we can to protect our planet and ensure it is preserved for future generations,” said Irfan Razzaq, General Secretary of Glasgow Central Mosque, Islamic Relief reported in a news release.
“For too long, we have overlooked this fact and it is now time to realize our obligations and act.”
The initiative, funded by aid organization Islamic Relief, will see 130 solar panels installed with the aim of cutting out an estimated 18,000kg per year of CO2 emissions.
“Today marks an important step in tackling this and ensuring that the UK’s Muslim community plays an important part in this existential battle. With more than 1,500 mosques across the country, Muslims can play a leading role in our transition away from polluting fossil fuels and ensuring we can all cut our emissions and meet our 2050 targets,” Razzaq added.
Educating Community
The savings from energy usage will allow the mosque to fund other community initiatives such as an urban food growing project to further reduce carbon emissions. The mosque also plan to host annual awareness sessions for the local community on the dangers of climate change.
In recognition of these efforts, the Glasgow Central Mosque has been selected as part of a major Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa’s Green Mosques initiative.
“This project shows the real potential that the Muslim Ummah has to be part of the solution to the worsening climate emergency. Beyond just the direct environmental benefits of ‘greening’ these places of worship, the ability to act as centers of culture and spirituality means they exert huge influence on people and communities,” said Nouhad Awwad, Project Campaigner on Ummah for Earth at Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa.
“This is a wake-up call for political, community and faith leaders of our Ummah to step up and take the environmental impact of their communities more seriously, reminding people of their responsibilities towards their fellow humans and the natural world as stewards and protectors of the earth.”