In honor of the Holy Month of Ramadan, we feature a guest blog post by Nana Fitriana Firman, the initiator of ECO-FAB Living, LEAD Fellow, and climate leader. Nana who lives in San Diego, California is on the cover of the recent issue Azizah Magazine, published in the United States.

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Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar. It is the month of fasting and the month, which the Qur’an was revealed. It was named after its originally height of summer with days of intense heat. Ramadan is derived from the Arabic word, ramad, which literally means to bake a sheep in its skin. Similarly, the fasting person living in the hot desert undergoes the sensations of burning in his stomach from the extreme thirst and heat. In the same way, the Muslims who fast are slowly burning away their sins.

The Muslims fast (refrain from eating and drinking for everyone, and sexual relation for married couples) from dawn to dust for 30 days during this month. The moment before breaking of the fast (iftar) is the time for all Muslims to consciously reflects and thinks about the day that they have fasted. As each day goes by, one continuously strives to improve on the previous day with the hope that God will accept one’s fast. 

However, it has become accustomed to store up all foods for the whole month of Ramadan, wherein more food and drink are devoured than in several months. Unfortunately, many Muslims also seem to gain more weight during the month of Ramadan than any other months. The extravagant overeating of different varieties of food, rarely prepared during the rest of the year, goes against the principle of fasting itself. The iftar, to some, has just become a party celebrating the completing of the fast. Yet, it is known that the purpose of prescribed fasting is hunger and suppression of lust so that the self might be able to attain pienty.

The spirit as well as the secret of prescribed fasting is to weaken the flesh, which is the human ego’s tool for turning the self back to wrongdoing. The weakening of the flesh is never achieved unless a person reduces his food to the amount of food, which he would have eaten in the evening if he were not fasting. If it is not recommended for us to fill our belly full during any other part of the year, then why should one do so in Ramadan?

So, how we do make this Ramadan spiritually and practically better? First and foremost, we need to take a pledge for this Ramadan to make a difference to be environmentally conscious, socially responsible and compassionate to those around us in following the example of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) – the mercy to the worlds.

A Green Ramadan Initiative is perhaps what we need to do this time.  It is an opportunity to remember and respect our planet that, through the grace of Allah, provides us with the sustenance with which we nourish our bodies and community spirit during a month of fasting. Interacting mindfully with our environment is simply a manifestation of faith. As we refrain from food and drink this blessed Ramadan, let us reaffirm our sense of self-restraint and accountability to the Creator, the Provider of Sustenance.

Whether we admit it or not, the big part of Ramadan is eating. Even more than eating, Ramadan is about eating in community. We fill up a plate, and then grab a drink and a few utensils. Sometimes we remember a napkin. We sit down next to someone we may see every Friday prayer, but have not gotten to know yet. We build personal bridges over many shared meals. After 30 days of bumping elbows at iftar tables all over the world, we say goodbye to Ramadan, ending it as a more connected community of believers.

Besides that, we also leave behind tons of styrofoam, paper and plastic plates, forks, spoons, knives, cups, napkins and paper towels to pile up in our local trash dumps. We cannot ignore the bags of trash that collect after every beautiful iftar. This definitely has to change. So, let us make this blessed Ramadan a better and greener one by doing any of the following actions individually or collectively with our communities:

1. Reduce food waste & over consumption: Take only what you can comfortably finish, eating moderately, do not waste any food, keeping in mind the hadith (fill one third of stomach with food, one third water, and one third empty). Distribute the leftars (left over food from iftars) for the needy.

2. Perform Sunnah Iftars: Eating more fruits and vegetables with less meat, remember that the Prophet’s diet consisted mostly of grains, dates, water, milk, honey, vegetables and fruits, while meat was not daily part of his diet.

3. Eliminate Plastic Water Bottles: Plastic should be minimized because of harm related to global warming and health. Most plastics go to landfill and harm the environment (it takes approximately 500 years to decompose).

4. Eliminate Styrofoam: Styrofoam is unrecyclable and non-biodegradable, which means that it will persist as garbage even a thousand year after its use.

5. Adopt a Reusable water bottle and mug: Whether you are at the mosque, work, or home, avoid bringing plastic disposable bottles to the mosque during iftars and for the evening prayer.

6. Reduce Disposable Party items: Remove or reduce all of disposable items from your parties & save money while doing so. Start bringing your own utensil for iftars and share the food with others (ironically today 1 person can use 3 plates for a meal while in the old days 3 people share a meal in 1 plate).

7. Adopt a Sunnah Wudu: It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad would perform the entire wudu, washing before prayer, from a bowl two-hands full together (approximately 0.5 liter) and he warned against excess in performing ablution.

8. Quick Showers: Reduce shower time by 20%. On average, a 10-minute shower results in 25 gallons of water down the drain.

9. Make an effort to carpool: Make plan effectively and share the transportation to the destination. Initiate the use of non-motorized transportation, walking and bicycle, for short distances.

10. Plant or expand a garden this year (less grass, more trees and plants) at home or the mosque. Start to grow food, not lawn; in the backyard as planting a tree is a charity.

In conclusion, less consumption means less waste! Also, as the guardians upon this earth, khalifah, we have a responsibility to protect the environment, because according to Islamic teaching, protecting the environment is simply an expression of worship.

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Images: Oleandra, Zulhazmi Zabri, Erika Kusuma Wardani, Szefei, Pindyurin Vasily, Artens, Monticello/Shutterstock; Azizah Magazine; Omar Niode Foundation