[And proclaim to mankind the Hajj. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant mountain highway.] (Surah Al-Hajj 22: 27).
As hundreds of thousands of Muslims worldwide embark on the lifetime journey of hajj, Saudi government is embracing environmental issues in preparation for the annual pilgrimage to Makkah this year.
“There is no waste, since pilgrims are not allowed to bring their own foodstuff or things related to cooking or other materials that can be wasted and harm the environment, (so that we) keep Hajj pollutant and waste-free this year,” Khalid, a Saudi Hajj guide, told The National.
“In Islam, cleanliness is part of our faith and we priorities hygiene and cleanliness, which in itself helps us take care of ourselves and our environment. There is a huge number of staff designated to ensure cleanliness of each tent, and room throughout the five days of Hajj.
“We have distributed eco-friendly waste containers in different parts throughout the holy sites.”
The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is performed by every Muslim with the financial and physical ability.
Hajj consists of several ceremonies which symbolizes the essential concepts of the Islamic faith. They also commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.
Clean Hajj
Embracing clean environment, hajj officials encouraged pilgrims to avoid food waste, use reusable water bottles, and separate rubbish and recyclables.
The Grand Mosque will continuously be sterilized throughout the day and night to keep a clean environment for all.
Environmental sustainability is very important in Islam. Thus, preserving environment 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)