Ramadan is a special season of consecration for all Muslim faithfuls’ around. This year’s Ramadan a special highlight from the grand Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. This mosque was designed to symbolise the country’s independence, with seven gates said to represent the seven heavens in Islam. In 2019, the mosque installed over 500 solar panels on its roof to supply electricity to the magnificent.
Electricity is a main driver for a lot of activities in the mosque. It is used for lighting, pumping water, etc.
The “Green Ramadan” was a climate push initiative to commend. The initiative encourages adaptation in how Muslim faithfuls’ pray and in the feasting elements used to break their fasts.
Some of the recommendations of the “Green Ramadan” initiatives were encouraging the faithfuls to;
* Use less water in performing the ritual washing before prayers.
* Use reusable cutlery and bottle over plastic bottles and cutleries.
* Adopt Carpooling to the mosque instead of arriving in serval independent vehicles, cutting greenhouse emissions.
* Adopt recycling and usage of local produce
* Donate to fund clean energy projects.
Also, Groups in Indonesia adopt an Islamic-based approach and often highlight environmental understandings of certain Quranic verses and sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad about the earth, water and against wastefulness. A U.S. Muslim community environmental activist, Imam Saffet Catovic, said, “Ramadan offers a possibility for ecological training unique to the Muslim community. Thirty days allow someone to change their habits.” Mosques are encouraged to continue raising awareness of plastic pollution and reduce reliance on single-use plastic. The Green Ramadan initiative is indeed one of the many green initiatives and climate awareness efforts to be celebrated.