Saturday, August 27, 2011

ThinkAsGreen: Nouman Khan elaborates "Do No Harm"


"The first principal in deen [Islam] is 'do no harm' before we do good...making one appreciate what Allah has given us as a gift will take care of it" Nouman Khan, CEO Bayyinah.com
Nouman Khan in conversation with Faraz Khan on green efforts www.ThinkAsGreen.com



Nouman Ali Khan is the founder and CEO of Bayyinah, as well as the lead instructor for a number of Bayyinah courses including the ‘Fundamentals of Classical Arabic’ and ‘Divine Speech’. He has dedicated himself to a seven-year-long project, of conducting a linguistic & literary focus Qur’anic Tafseer (exegesis) series in English at www.bayyinah.com/dream. He is an inspirational young speaker and teacher living in Texas with his family.

ThinkAsGreen: Sarah Jawaid on the Environmental Cause with TAG

"I think the environmental cause is a Muslim cause, a social justice cause and just as important as any part of our faith to me". A conversation with Sarah Jawaid, DC Green Muslims on Islam and the environment.



Green Muslims seek to reemphasize the unique role and responsibility entrusted upon humanity by God: environmental stewardship. We hope to serve as a bridge between American Muslim communities as well as partner with a wide spectrum of organizations accomplishing great work. Additionally, Green Muslims seek to provide a unique and organic source of environmental leadership, inspiration, awareness, and direct action within Muslim communities.

Sarah Jawaid, Director Green Muslims

Sarah Jawaid is an urban planner and artist originally from Southern California and now, residing in Washington, DC. She currently works on affordable housing advocacy issues. Sarah got involved with GM because she believes it is important for Muslim communities to actively engage in the environmental stewardship conversation with the intention of creating a movement that inspires thought to action.

RESOURCES: Check out Ramadan Tool-kit & Green Iftar Guide and No Impact Guide produced by Green Muslims team (Rizwaan Akhtar, Ryan Strom, Sarrah AbuLughod, & Kevin Barrow.

Friday, August 19, 2011

TAG: Imam Zaid Shakir on Green Ramadan

Salam Alaikum Friends,

Imam Zaid invites all of you to Work for a Better Future - better environment. We are making a concerted effort to partner up with individuals like yourself to make a grassroots level green effort.  Please take a Green Ramadan online Pledge (No cost) and encourage your friends to do so.

p.s. How green is YOUR HOME & MASJID



Imam Zaid gives a shout-out to all of the brothers and sisters working on the Green Ramadan project.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

TAG: ThinkAsGreen: Nouman Ali Khan "It's part of what we owe [to] the Earth"

"It's a matter of concern about other creations of Allah and also leaving the world in better shape than you found it for those who are going to come after you." Nouman Ali Khan, Bayyinah Institute.


TAG: Nouman Ali Khan & Faraz Khan on the Environment in the Islamic tradition.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

TAG: Think As Green - "This is the World we are living in..." Baba Ali on green

TAG: www.Think As Green.com with Baba Ali & Faraz Khan - endorsing grassroots green activism in the Muslim community.


"They don't see that this is the world we are living in ... as a community we have to work together [to fix it] otherwise it won't just happen by itself".

Muslim Comedian Baba Ali on Green Mosques, Solar Panels, Curbing waste & Muslim Personality.
www.HalfOurDeen.com

Thursday, August 11, 2011

TAG: Brunswick Sentinel on Green Muslims of New Jersey

Green Muslims promoting environmentally friendly Ramadan
BY DEANNAMcLAFFERTY
Staff Writer
http://ns.gmnews.com/news/2011-08-11/Front_Page/Green_Muslims_promoting_environmentally_friendly_R.html

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — The Green Muslims of New Jersey (GMNJ) held their kickoff event July 24 to promote an environmentally conscious Ramadan this year. The Green Ramadan Initiative (GRI) was held at the Islamic Society of Central Jersey and focused on teaching concerned Muslims the importance of “going green.” Ramadan requires 30 days of fasting from dawn to dusk, and during that period, Muslims make frequent trips to their Islamic center to worship and break fast in the evening. Local mosques provide attendees with food and water.

“It’s a lot of hustle, and people come in hundreds to the mosque,” Faraz Khan, Green Muslims member, said. “You need to cater to their needs, so there is a lot of waste.”
Khan, along with Saffet Catovic, Shajia Khan and South Brunswick resident Arif Patel, formed GMNJ in attempts to educate Muslims about environmental stewardship and conservation and implement changes to reduce waste production.

At the GRI kickoff event, people were asked to sign a Green Ramadan Pledge, promising to follow any of 10 action items. The items fell under the categories of water, waste, food and energy. For example, the pledge suggests reducing shower time by 20 percent, replacing plastic water bottles with a reusable water bottle, planting a garden, and making an effort to carpool.

There was also an educational program featuring interactive activities, videos and short lectures about the role of environmentalism in Islam. The children’s program taught the importance of taking care of the planet and how to implement ideas at home. Khan said this educational approach is part of GMNJ’s central aim to increase awareness of environmental issues. The organization encourages area imams to regularly mention environmental concerns and greener living in their sermons.

“On a macro level, it’s about looking at the bigger picture and raising awareness of global warming at the pulpit,” Khan said. “On a micro level, it’s about being practical about what you can do as a mosque attendee.”
The organization partnered with the social activities committee at the ISCJ to reduce the meat provided during Iftar, the fast-breaking evening meal, by 50 percent. Also, students at Noor-Ul-Iman School in Monmouth Junction created posters with facts about going green and the GRI that were posted online for other mosques to adopt, Khan said.
The organization believes environmentalism coincides with the practices and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, who, Khan said, only used what was necessary. GMNJ members echo these sentiments on their Facebook page.
“My love for nature expanded as I grew older and learned how Islam encourages to live in harmony with creation, how the Prophet Muhammad lived so modestly and treated creatures with as much kindness as with humans,” Rozana Rahman, GMNJ member, said.
According to Khan, about 20 people meet every month to discuss green issues, and members involved with GMNJ are from New Brunswick Islamic Center, Islamic Society of Central Jersey, Noor-Ul- Iman School, Islamic Circle of Passaic County, National Islamic Association Inc., Newark, and Islamic Circle of Mercer County.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Nature Walk with Usama Canon - Inner & Outer Peace

07/30/2011 9:30am-1pm
Sourland Mountain Preserve
Hillsborough, NJ

East Moutain Road, Hillsborough, NJ
With the help of New Brunswick Islamic Center and Green Muslims of New Jersey we gathered in the morning to hike through the scenic preserve. The hike gathered about 80 people from New York, Central Jersey, Newark, and Delaware. Young and old, married and single, men, women, and children were all part of this special journey. The hike was great followed by a dars (lecture) and interactive discussion with Ustadh Usama Canon from California. 
Shajia Khan, Shomail Malik, Brother Dash, Sirfaraz Piracha, Naqiyba Auston & Faraz Khan shared green thinking and activities relating Islamic teachings and the example of Prophet Muhammad to show compassion to people, mountains, trees, birds, and the whole environment. Aside from spiritually uplifting talk by Usaman Canon who related spiritual benefits of silence and listening to the nature and self, the group took part in observing "Signs of God" and Reflections on the inner and outer peace. Shajia Khan shared the Green Ramadan Initiative and Green Pledge with the audience.

TAG: Haroon Moghul & Faraz Khan on Green Values & Muslims





Faraz Khan: Story of Paint Buckets & Fish
Haroon Mughul: Cordoba Mosque, Value driven mosques & the Environment 
www.thinkasgreen.com - TAG, You're It!

TAG: Haroon Moghul & Faraz Khan on Green Islamic Perspective



Faraz Khan: Islam & Environmentalism, New Age Thing or a Western Plot!
Haroon Moghul: Religion is Not Geography. Muslim Intellectual Perspective. Inner & Outer Peace & Cordoba.

Think as Green - Continued Conversation with Haroon Moghul