Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet
Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet by Ibrahim Abdul-Matin. Berrett-Koehler. 2010. 232 pages. $16.95.
Conservation of the earth is integral to Islam, argues Muslim author and policy advisor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin. He presents multiple examples of what Muslims are doing and can do to improve human stewardship of the planet and its resources.
These include “green” mosques that incorporate sustainability into their architecture; urban and suburban food gardens that flourish in some Muslim neighborhoods; and Alpujarra, a Muslim community in Mexico that draws all of its energy from localized solar and wind generators. There are also individual Muslims who are leading sustainability changes in their own communities, such as Adnan Durrani, an organic food pioneer; and Qaid Hassan, an entrepreneur who delivers fresh produce to low-income communities in Chicago. Also, the Inner-City Muslim Action Network, a Chicago nonprofit, operates a Green Reentry Project that helps recently incarcerated men transition into green jobs.
None of the examples above is an anomaly, Abdul-Matin asserts. He notes that Muhammad, Islam’s foremost prophet, once said that “The Earth is a Mosque, and everything on it is sacred.” Abdul-Khan points to many verses in the Qur’an pertaining to daily living and how each actually contributes to solving global problems of energy use, food distribution, water supplies, and waste. He further explains how these teachings can be useful and relevant to anyone, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, who is concerned about the environment’s long-term health.
Green Deen offers a new perspective on Islam—the world’s second largest religion—and its potential as a force for positive worldwide change. Secular and religious audiences of all faith traditions may find it informative and enlightening.
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