Green Muslims in the District

Green Muslims Has Moved

noreply@blogger.com (Strom.ryan) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 23:12:00 +0000

Assalam Waalaikum,

Green Muslims has a new website!! Check us out at www.green-muslims.org

We look forward to seeing you there!

Pulse?

noreply@blogger.com (Sabira) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 01:26:00 +0000

It's been a while since I wrote a post for this blog. Its also been a while since I visited "No Impact Man". I've just been carrying along with my life, making due. Confessions:

-I drive at least 30 miles everyday for work

-I've been using a TON of energy to heat my water and air...its been such a bitter, long, cold winter!!

-Yeah....I don't need anymore confessions. Driving that much is bad enough. I'm actually still not too bad in other categories.

Today I hopped over to No Impact Man's blog to see what was new with him and his efforts at sustainability. I ended up being inspired by the message of "don't give up"--even though I am forced to drive that much (no metro access, no thank you for the 1 hour +++ bus ride, no carpooling in sight), I shouldn't just give up. And boys and girls, neither should you! If you're stuck in a rut or feel like you're hybernating, have a glance at his story about the stupid frog and the smart frog. It offered a refreshing perspective--you don't always have to be the "smart one" to be the valued one. Read his "Advice from an Accidental Activist": http://noimpactman.typepad.com/

And speaking of frogs, here's what I'm enjoying in the burbs. Hope you city folk can enjoy this symphony in person, too--"spring is coming!!!!"

Makin' it a day on, not a day off!

noreply@blogger.com (sarsoorti) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:56:00 +0000

A group of DC Green Muslims signed up for City Year's day of service last MLK Jr. day of service. City Year put together projects to give a major make-over to the Ron Brown Middle School in Northeast, DC. The projects ranged from painting inspirational quotes such as Shakespeare's "All the World's a Stage and all the Men and Women, Merely Players," in the huge theater, to outdoor clean-up work to patching holes in the roof, to making and painting benches to decorating the school's mascot (a rocket ship) up and down the halls of the school.

Our service group was first put on bench painting and we worked together with others to coat a brand new future on their newly refurbished outdoor space. The benches were going to be used in the school's courtyard and inshaAllah will help others enjoy the fresh outdoor space for years to come. While we worked together, other service groups hauled years worth of rubble from the courtyard, while others raked away the rotting leaves and uncovered the treasure that was to become the students of Ron Brown Middle School's new play area.

It was a blessing being able to help beautify this space. When we think of service projects, often we think of hard manual labor, such as planting trees, or building a house with Habitat for Humanity. Beautification of space can be just as important. As I painted the school's halls with the rocket ship mascot, I thought about how these simple strokes of paint created a new, brighter, shinier environment for the children who attended this school.

Thanks to all those who came out, and special thanks to Rizwaan Akhtar for setting up this DC Green Muslims service event.

Profiling, at My Neighborhood Bus Stop

noreply@blogger.com (Mohamad A. Chakaki) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:19:00 +0000

Rain was falling faster and it was getting late as we both sought refuge under the shelter at the bus stop that evening. I was waiting for the S2/S4 there at the corner of 16th and U, just down the street from my apartment. He was probably just there to wait out the rain under the shelter, if not make it his apartment for the night. So I was in his apartment and he was at my neighborhood bus stop. We were both sharing each other's space. In fact, we were sharing the same bench. I was on one side, he was on the other, and his overstuffed bag was in the middle.

The man, visibly drunk and in a talkative mood, was the first to say something. I was feeling quiet, but I responded. Then he asked me my name. My response changed everything. His response was to move his bag, from between the two of us to the other side of the bench. I wish it stopped there. Instead, he asked me what I was doing here?...

Whether I was going to blow him up? Why my people always blew things up? Why didn't we go back to where we came from? What was I doing here, anyway? Was I going to blow him up?

Then he grabbed his bag and crossed the street, under the rain, to the bus stop at the opposite side of the street. Talking loudly to himself all the way there. I should note that at no time during this interaction, from sharing a bench with the man to listening him berate me about "my people," did I feel threatened in any way. Though I hate to admit it, he – poor, drunk and homeless – simply was not in a position of power or dominance. I was recently asked to reflect on a time when I felt powerless, not dominant (i.e. subordinate) when interacting with someone. "What did it feel like?" they asked. This was my response:

JFK at the mouth of the jetway with the police officer holding my passport. Only my passport. "Randomly." I felt small, short of breath, nervous, self conscious and myopic. I couldn't think clearly, almost paralyzed, frozen in place. Just wanting for it to end. Biting my tongue, but wanting to scream and fight. Or simply just to walk away. To have the freedom to walk away. Or the freedom to have control over my own emotions. Not have someone else control them.

Tell me, which is scarier? An armed police officer trained to pick out my racial profile in a crowd or a homeless man with little to no vested interest in discriminating against me, but doing so anyway. Both these scenes speak volumes about how far we've let our fears (over)take us. As far as I'm concerned, the latter scene speaks much more clearly and more loudly. But what does this have to do with the environment? Nothing. And everything.

As intense as that exchange at the bus stop might sound, the homeless gentleman and I were only just scratching the surface. The questions that encounter raises, albeit implicitly, have more to do with race, gentrification, suburban sprawl, social services, poverty and health than anything else. These are all environmental issues. They are also social justice issues, without doubt. These very issues, if championed by American Muslims as I believe our faith impels us to do (and as the groups I linked to above are doing), could begin to address the sad reality of those scenes at the airport and the bus stop that I described above.

I believe in reframing false frames. The guru of how arguments are framed is George Lakoff, a cognitive linguist at UC Berkeley who wrote the book on cognitive framing. It's called "Don't think of an elephant!" Which, of course, is exactly what you think of when you hear or read that title, an elephant. Another Lakoff framing example is Richard Nixon's classic line, "I am not a crook." Sure, Dick, sure. Finally, and more to the point of this post, is the fact that Islam/Muslims/Muhammad and terror don't belong together. Not even in that sentence.

The point is to focus on what we are or stand for, not what we're against. The difference is subtle, but it makes all the difference in the world. I stand for a vision of the world that is peaceful, serene, loving, forgiving, merciful, understanding and whole. I've been there before and it is blissful. That is where I want to live. Not by myself, but with others. Not in a far off time and place, but here and now.

noreply@blogger.com (NJArtitecture) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:26:00 +0000

30 Days of Autumn; Collection 2009

noreply@blogger.com (NJArtitecture) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:01:00 +0000

http://njartitecture.com/Main_Autumn.htm

Indonesia: The Home of "Green Islam"

noreply@blogger.com (NJArtitecture) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:48:00 +0000

Muslim student girls line up for lunch at Darul Muttaqien

Islamic pesantren (boarding school) in Bogor, Aug. 1, 2007. (Dadang Tri/Reuters)

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/indonesia/091111/islam-environment-indonesia-green

Article shared by Aasil Ahmad.

Check Out DCGM on Huffington Post

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:51:00 +0000

DC Green Muslims in Huffington Post!

Day 6 and 7-Community

noreply@blogger.com (sarsoorti) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:51:00 +0000

Salams,

Welcome to days 6&7 of No Impact Week, Sat & Sun Oct 24th & 25th! The last two days are all about how we interact with our community, friends and family.

Please use the information below in addition to the No Impact Project's Manual (alongside the DC Green Muslims No Impact Manual).

Remember each day builds upon the previous one, so keep up what you have been doing today and previous days and add to it with what you do tomorrow as well.

Notes
Community and enjoining friends and neighbors to good are keystones of the Islamic faith. God speaks of knowing your neighbors, of serving others, of building a community together. These are basic tenants of our faith, and there are multiple hadith regarding how even our daily personal prayers can be heightened in reward by joining together with a fellow friend.

God speaks of the best of people being the ones who invite others to “all that is good.” In Surah Al‐Emraan this is seen clearly:

“Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity.” (3:104)

We as Muslims are not asked to practice our faith in a vacuum. We clearly are told that what we do on a daily basis has effects on the larger society in which we live. There are countless chapters in the Quran that speak about helping others less fortunate than ourselves. These are clear calls to action to better the communities we are a part of.

Islamic Inspiration:

“O mankind! Lo! We have created you from male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.” (49:13)

Allah’s Messenger said, “The reward of the prayer offered by a person in congregation is twenty five times greater than that of the prayer offered in one’s house or in the market (alone).” ‐ Narrated by Abu Hurairah

“And worship God [alone], and do not ascribe divinity, in any way, to aught beside Him. And do good unto your parents, and near of kin, and unto orphans, and the needy, and the neighbor from among your own people, and the neighbor who is a stranger, and the friend by your side, and the wayfarer, and those whom you rightfully possess. Verily, God does not love any of those who, full of self‐conceit, act in a boastful manner” (4:36)

“Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity.” (3:104)

Dont forget to relate your experiences and thoughts and comment on the appropriate days blog post at our blog, dcgreenmuslims.blogspot.com, for a chance to win organic soaps from Mosaic Soaps (http://mosaic.azam.org/)

Day 5: Water and Electricity

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Welcome to day 5 of No Impact Week, Fri Oct 23rd! The fifth day is all out about the most common and ubiquitous resources available to us, that we almost never stop and think about, water & electricity.

Please use the information below in addition to the No Impact Project's Manual (alongside the DC Green Muslims No Impact Manual).

Remember each day builds upon the previous one, so keep up what you have been doing today and previous days and add to it with what you do tomorrow as well.

General Tips

Water Conservation:

Wudu is an act of purification and we can be conscious of how much water is being used, in hopes of preventing unnecessary loss of water.
Shorter showers, turning the faucet off when washing the dishes and brushing teeth.

Electricity Conservation:

Turn off the lights when exiting a room.
Unplug appliances.
Wear a jacket instead of turning up the heat.

Islamic Inspiration:

“And it is God who created the human being out of water.”

Water is a symbol of life. In Islam, it is also seen as an important sign of God as it is mentioned over 60 times in the Qu’ran. We are told “from water God brought everything to life.” (21:30)

“Your God is One God, there is no deity other than Him, the most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Truly in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the succession of the night and the days, and in the ships that speed through the sea with what is useful to humanity, and in the waters which
God sends down from the sky, giving life thereby to the earth after its death, and…in all of this, there are ayat for those the people who use their intelligence.”(2:163‐164)

Water is typically described as being “sent down” from the sky, comparable to how God’s scripture and mercy came from above. Some scholars have referred to water as a metaphor for a broader meaning based on mercy and knowledge being distributed widely to mankind.

God sends down water from the sky, and [once‐dry] valleys are running high, Each according to its capacity. (13:17)

God asks Muslims to pay attention the signs around us as proof of God’s bounty and mercy and as a way to become closer to Him. Once we start contemplating the natural signs all around us, we can begin to recognize the symbiotic relationship that exists between man and nature.
And when Moses asked for water for his people, We said: ‘Strike with your staff the rock.’ And there gushed forth from it twelve springs, and everyone knew his drinking place. (2:60)

The advice that Moses’ community is given in that verse is the very ethical notion of eco‐spiritual trusteeship that we also need to heed today:

“So eat and drink of God’s sustenance, and do no evil or mischief on Earth.”

In a subsequent verse of the Qur’an, we are told that the rock that the prophets strike is not just a physical rock, but rather the rock‐like hardness of our own hearts:

‘‘Then even after that, your hearts grew hard so that they were like rocks, or even harder, for indeed there are rocks from which rivers gush forth, and there are rocks which split asunder so that water flows from them, and others which sink because of the awe they have towards God. And God is not unmindful of what you do.’’(2:74)

Days 2, 3, & 4

noreply@blogger.com (Sabira) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:45:00 +0000

Well, getting sick this week has been a double edged sword as concerns no impact week.

FOOD
As far as food goes, its always been a compromise. We seldom eat meat although there is a halal store within walking distance and owned by family, and another only 7 minutes away. We tried Organic Zabiha and LOVED it (mashallah, the simplest chicken broth adds TONS of flavor, it was extraordinary and I highly recommend it to all, even if you just splurge once every 6 months).

Since we stick to veggies, we also stick to H-Mart, which is certainly NOT local. I've tried growing my own tomatoes and without the fertilizer, but there is only a single, green baby tomatoe hanging from the vines of the plant on my terrace.

Anyway, being sick has meant tons of sunshine soup (recipe at the end of this post) and juice. No processed food (except for that graham cracker pie crust), and no excessive eating (since there is no real appetite to speak of).

BTW, since we're on the topic of food, everyone needs to read The Omnivore's Dilemma--I'm sure lots of people who write for and read this blog have heard of it and read it, but for the others who have not yet had this chance, please do it!

TRANSPORTATION
Being sick has also limited my transportation, since I have stayed home for about 2 days in my effort to not spread germs more. But in thinking further about alternative means of transportation, I come to the bike discussion. Ladies, did you ever feel that you looked goofy on a bike with your helmet on your hijab? Or, did you even grow up riding one? I think some of were in this position, obviously myself included. It wasn't really intentional, its just that I didn't really get out there as a child on a bike. And so, I found myself in the early 20's, a muhajibah and environmentalist-ish person trying to do my body and earth some good ,but stumbling over this small issue of learning to ride a bike in the first place, and getting over the whole "does this helmet make my hijab look goofy?" bit. Thanks to a supportive mentor and friend (aka Faheem), I'm slowly gaining confidence on the bike and hope to use it for errands and such instead of driving. To all the sisters out there who feel hesitant to get on a bike in public/ with their hijabs, don't sweat it. For me, there are few things as awesome as seeing a modest woman do her thang and cruise the city with her uber cool bike (might I add, she knows how to ride well!).

WASTE
Here's one of the disadvantages of being sick this week: LOTS and LOTS of tissue waste. Why? I have an upper respiratory infection. Not a huge deal, but still supposedly highly contagious. And so I resort to carrying boxes of tissues with me wherever I go. Other than that, most things that can go in the recycling end up there. I live in an apartment right now so I didn't try to buy a compost bin/ barrel, but I am looking into buying or building one as soon as we move out to a location that gives us access to land/ more of an outdoor space. In the meantime, lemon peels do double duty: rub them on your hands as my mama does to give your skin a vitamin C-rich polish, then throw them down the disposer for a lemony scent. OK thats the only doublt-duty type thing I have to share right now.... :p

Sunshine Soup (for any sick readers or for soup lovers, I hope you enjoy)
1/2 butternut squash
2 stems celery
1 large sweet potatoe or yam
2 carrots
1 large white potatoe
1 large onion
1 small turnip (optional)
1 yellow squash or zucchini
1 small bunch fresh parsely
1 Tbsp oil

2-4 tsp. turmeric (fights inflammation)
1-2 tsp. garlic powder
salt and pepper
2-3 large bay leaves

Chop all the ingredients very finely so that you can get a little bit of each in a spoonful. Heat oil, saute onions carefully. Add seasoning (all but the bay leaves). Add celery and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the rest of the veggies (except for the turnip, parsely, and yellow squash/zucchini) and cover with water (add the bay leaves now). Boil for 15-20 minutes. Add the final ingredients. Boil an additional 7 minutes and turn down the heat to simmer for about 15 minutes or as long as you like. Garnish with more fresh chopped herbs if you like. These instructions are very general, so use your own judgement while cooking and feel free to add to exclude other ingredients.

(BTW word to the wise: DONT overcook turnips or they'll become bitter!)

Day 4- Waste

noreply@blogger.com (sarsoorti) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:31:00 +0000

Salams,
Welcome to day 4 of No Impact Week, Thur Oct 22nd! The third day is all about the waste we generate throughout our daily lives.
Please use the information below in addition to the No Impact Project's Manual (alongside the DC Green Muslims No Impact Manual).
Remember each day builds upon the previous one, so keep up what you have been doing today and previous days and add to it with what you do tomorrow as well.

General Tips

No WasteTry it out. Generate no waste and find a reusable or recyclable way of disposing all of your waste. This includes anything that can be thrown into a trash‐can.

Islamic Inspiration:

“Mischief has appeared on land and sea because of (the meed)that the hands of men have earned, that (Allah) may give them ataste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back(from Evil)” (30:41)

“But waste not in excess: for Allah loveth not the wasters”(6:141), (7:31)

Notes:

In the U.S., 4.39 pounds of trash per day and up to 56 tons of trash per year are created by the average person.Every year we fill enough garbage trucks to form a line that would stretch from the earth, halfway to the moon. Almost 1/3 of the waste generated the U.S. is packaging. Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.Every year, Americans make enough plastic film to shrink‐wrap the state of Texas. Americans throw away enough aluminum cans to rebuild our commercial air fleet every three months, and enough iron and steel to supply all our nation's automakers every day.
Each year, Americans trash enough office paper to build a 12‐ foot wall from Los Angeles to New York City. Americans toss out enough paper & plastic cups, forks and spoons every year to circle the equator 300 times.As of 1992, 14 billion pounds of trash were dumped into ocean annually around the world. Only two manmade structures on Earth are large enough to be seen from outer space: the Great Wall of China and the Fresh Kills landfill.For more facts go to Clean Air Council:http://www.cleanair.org/Waste/wasteFacts.html

Dont forget to relate your experiences and thoughts and comment on the appropriate days blog post at our blog, dcgreenmuslims.blogspot.com, for a chance to win organic soaps from Mosaic Soaps (http://mosaic.azam.org/)

Day 3-Transportation

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:52:00 +0000

Welcome to day 3 of No Impact Week, Wed Oct 21st! I hope everyone's first day has went well. The third day is all about the ways in which we use transportation and get from point A to point B.

Please use the information below in addition to the No Impact Project's Manual (alongside the DC Green Muslims No Impact Manual).

Remember each day builds upon the previous one, so keep up what you have been doing today and previous days and add to it with what you do tomorrow as well.

General Tips

Carpool: 2 people carpooling lessens the impact by half, 3 people carpooling lessens it by two‐thirds, etc…
Take the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator if possible: Good for both body & environment
Try more environmentally friendly commutes to school or work.
The higher the number, the worst the impact :
- 1. Walking (nature’s transport)
- 2. Bicycling
- 3. Other non‐motorized transportation (rollerblading, skateboarding)
- 4. Public Transportation (bus first, train/subway second)
- 5. Multiple occupancy car
- 6. Single occupancy car
- 7. Private jet (mentioned just in case…)

Islamic Inspiration:

The Prophet (pbuh) declared, “The world is beautiful and
verdant, and verily Allah (SWT), be He exalted, has made you His
stewards in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves.” (Muslim)
“And when he turns away, he endeavors about the earth to
corrupt in it and cause the tillage and stock to perish; and Allah
(SWT) does not love corruption” (2:205)

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Prevention of damage and corruption
before it occurs is better than treatment after it occurs….The
averting of harm takes precedence over the acquisition of
benefits." (Majallat al‐Ahkam al‐Adliya)

The Prophet (pbuh) stated: “The benefit of a thing is in return for
the liability attaching to it." (Tirmidhi and Abu‐Dawud on
authority of Aisha)

Day 2 - FOOD

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:58:00 +0000

Welcome to day 2 of No Impact Week, Tuesday Oct 20th! I hope everyone's first day has went well. The second day is all about the ways in which we eat and drink and use food.

Please use the information below in addition to the No Impact Project's Manual (alongside the DC Green Muslims No Impact Manual), to give you an Islamic perspective to help you through your eco-conscious journey this week which hopefully will be a stepping stone to a life long journey incorporating the eco-spiritual ethics of the Qur'an and Sunnah.

Remember each day builds upon the previous one, so keep up what you have been doing today and add to it with what you do tomorrow as well.

General Tips

Eat Local Food: How many miles did it take for your food to come to you? Reduce your carbon‐footprint by reducing your food‐miles and eating locally. Imported perishable foods are especially bad for the environment considering that they have to be refrigerated along the way as well.
Eat Organic: The more it’s organic, the better it is for both your body & the environment.
Eat Completely Halal: Eat something that’s both raised & slaughtered in a Halal manner. In other words, in addition to finding (for example) meat that is slaughtered Halal, find something that is simultaneously raised in a cruelty‐free manner. Examples of completely Halal meat‐providers are Green Zabihah and Sumayyah’s Peaceful Poultry (see notes below).
Don’t Eat in Excess: Create a balance in your diet that does not take more than what you need from nature. It’s better for both your body & the environment well.

Islamic Inspiration:

O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time
and place of prayer: eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for
Allah loveth not the wasters. (31:5)

O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, Lawful and good; and do
not follow the footsteps of the evil one, for he is to you an
avowed enemy. (2:168)

Thus, partake of the lawful, good things which God grants you as
sustenance, and be conscious of God, in whom you believe.
(5:88)

On the authority of Al‐Miqdaam ibn Maadiy‐Karib who said: I
heard the Messenger of Allah saying: "No human ever filled a
vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Adam
are some morsels to keep his back straight. But if it must be, then
one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his
breath."

“Eat and drink, but do not be extravagant. Verily, Allah does not love extravagant people.” (7: 31)

Notes:
Green Zabiha: http://www.greenzabiha.com
Sumayah’s Peaceful Poultry: http://www.peacefulpoultry.com

Day One

noreply@blogger.com (Sabira) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:59:00 +0000

I probably won't make it for the end of week potluck so I'm just sharing my little experience of No Impact Week here instead. Nothing big,

So it seems I actually started this project yesterday without knowing. I was invited to a babyshower for a beautiful mother to-be. I ended up making the card and offering a massage as the gift (but I still feel like I need to buy something--but it will be a USEFUL and organic little something).

Today, I stopped off at a thrift store looking for inexpensive wall art for my living room. Didn't find anything I was crazy for so I just left. And didn't go to an expensive store either (I actually did on Saturday, but didn't buy anything then either. So I started on Saturday! Yay for me!)

As for foods, I guess I did pretty good: bought some organic bread, cabot cheese which sports both halal and kosher labels on the front (score), canned and frozen veggies (they're not fresh or organic but they sure are cheaper when you're at Giant--btw have I mentioned that the Korean store is AMAZING for fresh produce?? So much selection and such low prices). I decided to forgoe the frozen juices my husband requested (um, first ingredient is corn syrup followed by sugar thankyouverymuch), and all the sweets. Inshallah I'll be baking something from scratch instead. My own bag? Check. The only other thing I coulda done was walk to the store from my apartment, but I was already out driving (muhahah, driving is later on in the week, so we'll see what I do about that).

This topic of consumption is important to me b/c I always used to be pretty good about not buying--I barely bought anything in fact. Recently, however, I've been feathering my nest and catching up to things I never really used to purchase. It didn't go out of hand but its been more than I have ever done before.

Day 1 - Consumption

noreply@blogger.com (sarsoorti) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:54:00 +0000

The No-Impact guide

http://noimpactproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/No-Impact-Experiment-How-To-Manual1.pdf

Please use the additional information below to give you an Islamic perspective to help you through your eco-conscious journey this week which hopefully will be a stepping stone to a life long journey incorporating the eco-spiritual ethics of the Qur'an and Sunnah.

General Tips

Needs, Not Wants
Distinguish needs from wants, and act upon it.

Budget
Budget so as to identify exactly where do your resources go.

Avoid Luxury Spending
Identify the luxuries that have become commonplace. Take steps so as to wean yourself off of them.

Know what you’re buying
Develop a more intimate relationship with what you consume, and avoid blind consumption.

Aftermath
Understand the aftermath effect of your spending of money. Does this company use its finances responsibly? Does it undergo in ecologically unsustainable, or simply unethical, actions?

Islamic Inspiration

“And those on the left hand, how unfortunate will be those on the left hand. In fierce hot wind and scalding water, and under the shadow of black smoke that provides no coolness or comfort. Verily, before this they used to live in luxury.”
(56: 40-46)

“Give the kinsman, the poor, and the wayfarer their due, but do not spend wastefully. Verily, the spendthrifts are the brethren of the devils and Satan is ever ungrateful to his Lord.”
(17: 26-27)

“Eat and drink, but do not be extravagant. Verily, Allah does not love extravagant people.”
(7: 31)

“Do not make your hand as if it is tied to your neck nor extend it to its utmost reach so that you become blameworthy and in severe poverty.”
(17: 29)

Please leave comments about what you did to become more aware and/or lessen your consumption today, all week, and implemented into your daily practice.

No Impact Week

noreply@blogger.com (sarsoorti) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:50:00 +0000

Salaams,

Hope you are all well!

DC Green Muslims is participating in No Impact Week, starting tomorrow October 19th. For those of you who participate and write reflections on the blog, you will be entered into a drawing to receive homemade organic soaps to support family-owned businesses! (More Info below)

Each day we are paying special attention to a given topic in hopes of reducing our carbon footprint. The night before Ryan Strom will send out a reminder for the topic we are focusing on for the following day. With each coming day, our goal is to be mindful of and build upon the topics from the previous days so by the seventh day, we will be paying attention to all of the topics. We have linked the No Impact Project's guide here. Daily, we will be posting a page of our addendum with an Islamic perspective as a guide to help you through your eco-conscious journey this week which hopefully will be a stepping stone to a life long journey incorporating the eco-spiritual ethics of the Qur'an and Sunnah.

In addition to helping this week, the attached guides can be used at any time. Participating in the entirety of No Impact Week can be daunting so please do not feel as though you have to do everything. Do what you can and insha'Allah, reflect on the changes you make. Share your experience with your communities and anyone else you think would benefit from the No Impact experience. Be sure to comment on the blog with your thoughts. (More info below)

October 19th---Day 1: Consumption
October 20th---Day 2: Food
October 21st---Day 3: Transportation
October 22nd---Day 4: Waste
October 23rd---Day 5: Utilities (water/electricity)
October 24th---Day 6: Community Gathering

Event Planned= In collaboration with Greater Washington Power and Light, DC Green Muslims will participate w/ International Day of Climate Action. Please stay tuned for an email from Sarrah AbuLughod.

October 25th---Day 7: Community Sharing

Event Planned= In celebrating the conclusion of No Impact Week, a potluck dinner will be planned. Please stay tuned for an email from Sarrah AbuLughod.

Reflection:
DC Green Muslims' Blog

Each day, the blog will be updated with a given topic. Please comment with what you did during the day and your reflections under each blog post. These reflections can be as simple as a few words on your experience. When you respond to the blog, please be sure to put your name in the comment because you will be entered into a drawing to win the gift!!!

THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE A BATCH OF ALL NATURAL SOAPS WITH NO SYNTHETIC INGREDIENTS FROM Mosaic Soaps.

So let's be conscious stewards of this Earth!!

The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand not their glorification. Truly, He is Ever Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving. (17:44)

Apple Picking Time

noreply@blogger.com (sarsoorti) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:31:00 +0000

This past Sunday a group of the Green Muslims had the opportunity to get out of the city and participate in the traditional autumn activity of apple picking. Having grown up in the Midwest, I (Alhumdulilah) had the opportunity of going on family trips to the orchard and nearby farms to celebrate the season of harvest. One of my fond memories as a child is of spending an entire weekend in the process of apples. There was an orchard behind my grandfather’s farm in Wisconsin and I remember picking the apples in the morning with all my aunts, uncles and cousins and then spending the rest of the day peeling, and cutting and juicing and canning apples into many different delicious appley-end products.

As I watched the trees slowly turn color and the air slowly grow more crisp and cool as I walked to work each day in the city, I felt the urge to escape the busy day-to -day schedule that I’ve created for myself here in DC, and head out to the country to revisit those childhood experiences.

With help from friends and gracious hosting by Kevin and Munjed, the day was soon planned.

I woke with little effort the morning of, even though it was an hour or so before I normally would have. I was motivated by the promise of Belgian waffles and a breakfast gathering of new and old friends alike. Earlier in the week I had sent out an email asking if anyone wanted to come along with me to an orchard in Virginia. After receiving an overwhelming response of over 22 people, the event basically planned itself. As we all crammed into Kevin and Munjed’s apartment and feasted on the potluck breakfast, we started off with introductions and I learned that over half the people there had never been apple picking before (I also learned what kind of animal they would want to be as that was the other icebreaker question).

The orchard was only an hour drive away through the hills of Virginia. Though the leaves had not reached their peak colors, the drive was amazingly beautiful and a perfect prelude to a day in the country. The farther we got from the city, the clearer the sky seemed to get. The closer we got to the orchard, the slower time seemed to move. Perhaps it is the schedule I’ve created for myself, or perhaps it’s just the culture of DC, but one of the things I’ve noticed is that people have stopped noticing things around them. People don’t comment on the weather unless it is to complain about the heat or remind a coworker to take an umbrella in case of the notorious DC showers. People literally do not stop to smell the roses, or the other hundreds other flowering plants that grace DC’s streets. Even though our surroundings are so abundant with gifts, it takes a day’s sabbatical to allow us to count the blessings we do have.

The orchard helped remind me of those blessings. It reminded me of all the friends I have who jumped at the opportunity to share the day together. It reminded me of the blessings of being able to exit the city and experience a new environment, a blessing that perhaps not all of my neighbors can enjoy. It reminded me of the miraculous Earth that God created with nutrients and ingredients to sustain mankind. It reminded me of the blessings of my childhood and the blessings of my family.

Together with the other DC Green Muslims I enjoyed learning about the different apples and terrains on which they grow. We picked bushels and bushels to bring back to the city. We purchased cider and apple butter and learned of the different flavors of honey that come frome the orchard depending on which field the bees visit. We learned what poison ivy looked like, but (Inshallah) avoided learning what it feels like.

Soon our time there came to an end, and a group gathered together to pray noon prayers on top of a hill that overlooked much of the farm. As we gave our supplications to our Creator, we were reminded of how close we are to the rest of His creation. As we whispered the chapters of the Quran, the trees whispered along with us. As we bowed our heads in the grass, it bowed along with us as it tickled our faces. As we thanked our Creator for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us, it felt as if the entire Earth was in sync.

Below I’ve shared a number of Apple recipes that my mom gave me for all those who, like me, still have an enormous amount of apples at home.

APPLESAUCE For 1 Quart (approximately)
Wash and quarter 8-10 large apples, take out the seedy core- and peel the apples if you want it smooth (leave peel if you want the best nutrition and don’t mind chewing or if you have access to a blender to puree it after cooking).
Place in sauce pan, cover partially with water (about 3/4 cup).
Add a pinch of salt and a slice of lemon (opt.)
Cook until tender by stirring every few minutes. Puree, or leave chunky
Return to heat and add cinnamon to taste. Cook until thickened.

APPLE PIE SHAKE

From an Appleland Orchard, Belgium, WI
For a single serving, in a blender combine:
1cup of vanilla ice cream

1/2 cup apple cider

1/2 apple

a shake of cinnamon and/or nutmeg and/or cloves and/or ginger

Pour into a glass and enjoy.

APPLE BUTTER-
Place 1 quart of applesauce in a heavy bottomed (cast iron) pot and continue cooking over low heat for several hours until the sauce turns brown. Stir often so that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
Variation:
Cook with the apples-
2 cups of apple juice/cider (instead of the water when making the applesauce)

1/2 cup of honey

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon of all spice

dash of salt

juice & grated rind of a lemon
Apple Butter will be fine refrigerated for up to 2 months or you can freeze or can it.
A no-fuss, no-stir way to cook the apple butter down would be to use a slow cooker, on a slow boil, with the lid ajar, overnight. (protect the surrounding counter top from sticky splashes with towels)

NO COOK APPLESAUCE
2 tablespoons fruit juice (lemon, orange, lime, apple)
3 apples, washed, cored, unpeeled
2 tablespoons of honey
Sprinkle of cinnamon, (optional)
Wash, peel and cut apples into chunks. Blend juice and one apple in blender, add remaining apples, seasonings and blend again. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Remember to say “Bismillah!”

Original Post from: http://abulublog.wordpress.com/

Farm of Peace

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Sitte) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:12:00 +0000

Over Labor Day weekend, a group of Green Muslims drove up to south-central Pennsylvania to the Farm of Peace. The Farm of Peace is a Sufi-run free range farm that raises chickens, donkeys, and sheep, and keeps a small orchard. Its rolling pastures, tucked between cerulean tree covered hills, are a bucolic treasure. The visual gem of the farm reflects the ideology that drives it - all animals are raised halal. Nowhere is this more evident than with the chickens, who make up the part of the farm called Sumayah's Peaceful Poultry. It is second

nature for us to block out where the drumstick at dinner or breakfast eggs come from, but most of the chicken we ingest, including chicken slaughtered according to Zabiha standards, comes from hormone-injected birds who often have their beaks removed and are kept in cages too cramped to move around or flap their wings. On the other end of the spectrum is Peaceful Poultry, where the chickens are true free range and given the opportunity to live and grow naturally. You can learn more about Peaceful Poultry and its philosophy at their website.

Sumayah herself is an inspirational character

who kept us captivated as she spoke about her efforts. She helped us look deeper into the ethics of where our food comes from, reminding us of the great privilege mankind is given to take another creature's life, and the responsibility that comes with that. We rarely think of the dignity and God-given purpose that is so often robbed from creation to supply our own sustenance. Sumayah helped bring our place in nature's order to focus.

She made sure we gave back to the land as well, and had us clean the manure from the donkey stalls and lay it on one of their pastures. Though a small effort, it felt good to reconnect with the land and take part in its natural renewal. DC can leave one wanting for a stronger connection to nature, and the work was therapeutic. It also made the potluck iftar with some members of the local Sufi community that much more satisfying.

At some point, it would be great to bring more members of Green Muslims to the Farm of Peace. They would greatly appreciate the help, and there is reward to be found in it by anyone. Sumayah would certainly be thrilled to meet more members of our group as well, and we all have much to learn from her insight and experiences.

Ramadan Marks New Beginnings for Green Muslims

noreply@blogger.com (Adam Sitte) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:42:00 +0000

Ramadan is an intensely introspective experience for Muslims. It allows the faster to focus their attention on ways to improve and purify their own thoughts and actions. However, the month also offers a unique chance to deeply examine one's individual role in the society and world around them. Thus, there is no better time to commit to being green conscious.

Gathering at the Muslim Public Service Network house on Capitol Hill, more than twenty area Muslims came together to break their fast and kick Green Muslims off to a renewed start on Thursday, August 27th. Green Muslims is an environmental group concerned with two core questions - how does one be Muslim in the green community, and how does one be green in the Muslim community? After an ice breaker that demonstrated how we all came to this group from different professional and personal backgrounds with diverse motivations, we tackled these two questions.

Being Muslim in the green community requires more than simply doing good in a green manner, but shedding a different light on those acts and offering others a positive example of Muslims fulfilling the duties of their religion. By maintaining our Muslim identity in the green community, we are able to show Muslims a broader side of their religion, and demonstrate that being green isn’t exclusive to singular ethnic, religious, or socioeconomic groups.

Being green in the Muslim community means focussing on our own community and ways in which we can inspire it to be aware of this important Islamic duty. Belief in our role as a caretaker of the world is an essential part of our religion, and we should aim to help other Muslims to embrace this responsibility with an enthusiastic spirit, whether that means instituting energy efficient measures at local mosques or educating Muslim youth about environmentalism.

We continued this discussion by making a list of twenty-one ideas for activities the group can do, from outreach, to projects, to volunteering, to environmental appreciation. The list included sponsoring getting recycling bins at Howard University, interfaith tree planting, apple and pumpkin picking, and having a 'green fast' where we only eat local foods. Each activity was unique and a valuable example of the variety of means through which Green Muslims can fulfill its mission.

After producing our list, we talked about accountability within the group and how we can implement our goals. We decided to keep it a grass-roots effort, with no hierarchy. We will allow individuals to assess the types of activities they want to be involved in and figure out what special skills they have within the group, and from there create smaller circles that are in charge of sub-sets of activities. To stay connected, we will refine the group site and get connected through our online database.

It was a productive, and inspirational first meeting that provided a great launching point for our future activity. God willing, we can use this month to establish a precedent of action that helps both ourselves and those around us well into the future.

speaking of beginnings and spring...

noreply@blogger.com (hijabihoodlum) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:29:00 +0000

there's this nifty event going on this sunday. it's interfaith. it's environment. that makes it pretty awesome, right? and you the reader must know by now that just about anything awesome in the district has 'dc green muslims' written allll over it- or at least, in this case, written in the list of co-sponsors :) we certainly cannot take credit for this event but we *love* it and wish to be a part of it.

if i might say so, i think they've picked a great time for the event- a sunday evening! so go ahead- you know you want to. i'll be there. info is below, find the link, register, and we'll see you there :-)

Oh and YES, there's more info at the link. Spread the word, bring a friend.

The Link (for those wary of embeds):
https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/602/event/checkOut.jsp?event_KEY=47013

New Beginings~

noreply@blogger.com (Sabira) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:56:00 +0000

Happy first day of Spring everyone!!
This also happens to be the Persian New Year, as Mr. Obama acknowledged...It was definitely a new experience to hear "Eideh shoma mobarak" from the president.

Traditionally, Iranians have a special table spread to mark this occasion. Besides the Qur'an, mirror, and candles, that represent light and the remembrance of God, they have at least seven symbolic items that all begin with the letter seen:

sabzi: grass that they have been growing for the last 3 weeks from lentil or barley seeds
seer: garlic
sekkeh: gold coins
serkeh: vinegar
sib: apples
senjed: dried fruit of a lotus tree
sonbol: hyacinth flowers--the smell is instant spring!

There's a whole bunch of other items to include as well, and a traditional dish of smoked fish and sabzi polo (rice cooked with fresh green herbs) to eat with the family. To me, this is a nice tradition but all of these things are secondary compared to the sheer joy of walking outside and seeing GREEN instead of GREY, of being reminded of the miracle of rebith and growth within ourselves and around us.

red, black, blue....and green!

noreply@blogger.com (hijabihoodlum) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:00:00 +0000

sooo, how about that new president, eh? dc was abuzz with swarms of people on january 20th, and lucky me i got to experience it from the warmth of my office, just on the other side of that there capitol. i want to give a shout out to the good Lord for live streaming.

my being at work on the 20th came at a price though. it meant i was in dc all day the 19th, that night at a friend's on the hill, and all day the 20th- right smack in the middle of inaugural happenings (ie, waaayy too many people). those who know me know i am not city. translation: too much pavement too often makes me a grouch. and my theory has always been that it's true, to varying degrees, for everyone. you might *claim* you're not a nature-y type, but spend a few days (longer if you're stubborn) without traffic, bricks walls, street lights, and sewers, and tell me that again. i'm not trying to open the technology can of worms here; i'm just saying that it is human nature to enjoy things green, alive, and, well, natural. so when sarah i. sent this article out, i felt nicely justified in my beliefs. challenge away though, if you wish - there's a comment box for a reason!

and you mighta thought obama was black, but actually, the man is green. take from that what you will, but he's on a mission. impossible? maybe. though after 8 years of the equivalent of an "i can't heaarr youuu" coming out of the west wing, this is pretty cool. personally, obama's brand of environmentalism worries me because i think the american people need to understand its ramifications- i won't be a dissenting voice, at all, but much needs to be said and done in the way of kind education for a people that are still reeling from being told that global warming (call or define it what and how you will) doesn't exist.

snowy day!

noreply@blogger.com (hijabihoodlum) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:37:00 +0000

there was a much more substantive post i had lined up to publish, but why would i bother with something so boring when compared to real, live snow (scroll down a little)?

our region has been snow-starved this season, so yes, this is a big deal. i don't even want to hear it from yall northerners about how insignificant this is. weather-ly speaking, we're in a transition zone, so snow that sticks is rare delicacy in my book.

you know how, normally, you have to unglue yourself from your bed in the mornings? not so for me today; it was easy. and i feel that it was partly that way because of the snow- not that i could see it, but the quieting blanket effect it has on white noise. know what i mean? all those flakes have a wonderful way of absorbing noise that no other precipitation can quite match. so getting out of bed was music to my ears.

also to note- snow's ability to keep things warm. ask a farmer if you don't know- a good layer of snow is her best friend when it comes to winter crops. and igloos ring a bell?

enjoy it while it lasts, everyone. and stay warm/safe/happy.

(I'm adding my snowy day to Yasmin's post...here's a view out of my office window. SubhanAllah so peaceful -- Sanjana)

DCGM----Center for American Progress!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:37:00 +0000

Article about the origins of DC Green Muslims in the context of the larger DC Muslim community embracing eco-consciousness!