The GREEN GUIDE
FOR HAJJ AND
UMRAH
“The earth is green and beautiful and Allah has appointed you his stewards over it.”- spoke the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) centuries ago when humankind had not even identified issues as CO2 or greenhouse gasses, where Veganism was a common cultural practice rather than a high class millennial lifestyle. The holy scripts of the Qu’ran may have reached us at times before technological advancements, yet, it does not cut short on sustainable impositions. It demands its followers to avoid an excessive and wasteful lifestyle, with consideration to the biodiversity.
Verses such as “And eat and drink, but waste not by excess, For Allah loveth not the wasters” set the stone for what has today been identified by international treaties (Paris Agreement 2015) and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8.4).
Global One’s founder Prof Husna Ahmad raises awareness on sustainability under the legacies of Islam to introduce a guide to green practices during hajj. These include recommendations to waste management, public transport and sensible energy consumption in order to reduce our individual carbon footprint during Hajj.
Please find the document of the first version of the Green Guide for Hajj, published in collaboration with Global One 2015, The Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), Eco Muslim and UNDP in September 2011 : The Green Guide for Hajj.
___________________________________________________________
The Second version of the Green Guide For Hajj and Umrah was published in collaboration with Greenpeace MENA, Ummah4Earth in 2021: The Green Guide For Hajj and Umrah
The Green Guide For Hajj and Umrah serves as a starting point to allow 1.8 billion people to reflect on how ordinary Muslims can act together to have an extraordinary impact to save the planet from climate change and become an Ummah for Earth. It supports pilgrims in performing Hajj and Umrah in an environmentally friendly manner, consistent with Islamic values in protecting the earth and all life upon it.
In addition to providing recommendations for communities, governments and institutions to enable a greener pilgrimage, the Guide shows the potential that ‘the Ummah’ has to be part of the solution not only through the direct environmental benefits of ‘greening’ these pilgrimages but also because of their potential to influence people as centres of culture, spirituality and community life.
“Ordinary Muslims taking action can have an extraordinary impact when it comes to preserving Planet Earth.”
Together the Ummah will create a planet where people and nature thrive. It’s your time to make a difference.