While we all seek to strengthen our iman and grow closer to Allah (swt) during Ramadan, we tend to forget that it is also our duty to be more sustainable, especially in a blessed time like this one. Think about it this way: our planet and bodies are considered an amanah from our Creator, things he entrusted us with and that we need to take care of. So, what better time than Ramadan to live up to that trust and try our best to implement more sustainability in our daily lives? In today’s post, we’re sharing with you a few tips to have a green Ramadan insha’Allah.
1. Deep clean and declutter your home
We all want to welcome the month with a fresh and refined home, right? Take time to go through your drawers, cupboards and wardrobe to do some decluttering, see what is worth giving to charity so you earn double the reward of helping someone in need and protecting our planet. This might even lead you to realize that you do not need a lot of things, which perfectly aligns with the philosophy our dear Prophet Muhammad (saws) used to have: don’t over consume and be content with the little things.
2. Do not eat too much meat
Prophet Muhammad (saws) used to be very mindful with the way he ate meat. He wouldn’t eat it every day, he wouldn’t overeat it… So why do we do so, especially considering how bad meat overconsumption is for our planet? Not only are there so many recipes to try to not eat it as much as we usually do, but it also happens to have way more benefits than you can imagine (for your budget, your health…).
3. Do not waste food
Allah (swt) said: “It is He Who has brought into being gardens, the cultivated and the wild, and date-palms, and fields with produce of all kinds, and olives and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and variegated. Eat of their fruit in season but give (the poor) their due on harvest day. And do not waste, for God does not love the wasteful. [Quran 6:141]”. Make sure you are being careful with quantities when cooking and if you have leftovers, please don’t throw them away but instead, keep them for the day after or share food with your neighbors!
4. Avoid single use plastic
We all know the struggle of doing the dishes after a long day of fasting… But that shouldn’t be an excuse to go for plastic when it comes to your iftar tableware! Plastic has dramatic consequences on our beautiful planet with currently 8 million tons of it in the ocean. Again, our planet is a gift from our Creator and we cannot afford to treat it this way as Muslims. Instead, go for your usual tableware, think of ways to optimize your dishes and avoid using too much water.
See, being sustainable doesn’t have to be complicated: it completely aligns with Islam and is just another opportunity for ‘ibadah!
May your heart always be rahat.
Assia