EcoMuslim – Protecting the Environment Seminar
by st contributor Saturday 11th October 2008
It was getting dark – close to Maghrib (sunset) prayers. Omar Faruk – an old buddy from Bar school days had invited me to this seminar, at the House of Lords. It has been sometime since I had seen him (about 5 years), and he mentioned the programme was something about getting Muslims involved and being responsible for the environment. I went along to renew our friendship and catch up with old times.
I couldn’t decide – should I take the underground or take my car. If I timed it I would just enter the congestion charging zone outside the charging times. But, what about parking? Westminster, especially by the House of Parliament, is possibly the worst possible place to find a spot, even if you are willing to pay the exorbitant rates. I would probably need half an hour just to find a parking spot.
“Take the underground! The walk to and from the stations will do you some good”. The decision was made by my good wife. Going into the city centre by underground was quite pleasant. I found a place to sit and it also gave me some time to read a paper – my favourite pastime. The entrance was along Black Rod’s Garden at the far end of Parliament building, from the station. I wished I had bought my car.
I entered through a narrow passageway after the usual security rig moral. The stone works and the arched passageways gave a grandeur of ancient times. I entered the seminar room just in time to see only a few Muslims. Yep, just as I had thought – I couldn’t imagine Muslims being interested in anything like this. I asked the usher, Omar’s brother Zayd, if there is an area where I could pray Maghrib. I was shown to a room behind and was shocked to see so many Muslims in the prayer room. And my second surprise was that they weren’t your typical hippy Muslims – long shabby beards with long white flowing robes; but dark suited, smart, young city types, and as I later found out most are very successful and professional Muslims.
I sat quietly at the back of the room as the seminar started (and the room overflowed with people – some standing). The principal speakers sat at the bench. Omar introduced the participants – His Royal Highness Prince Mohsin Ali Khan, Lord and Lady Sheikh (founders of ecoMuslim), His Excellency Murari Raj Sharma (ambassador of Nepal), Dr Saleemul Huq (Climate Change expert), Dr Ahmad Al-Dubayan (General of The Islamic Cultural Centre & The London Central Mosque), His Excellency Abdullah Alshaghrood (Deputy Ambassador of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Robin Gwynn (UK Climate & Security Envoy for Vulnerable Countries).
I was impressed – these very distinguished and eminent persons were interested in the environment and were willing to spend a Friday evening here. Lady Sheikh was given the arduous task of ensuring speakers kept to their time which she managed successfully.
Everyone spoke eloquently with HRH Prince Mohsin Ali Khan welcoming both the speaker and guests. Lord Sheikh started off the seminars. He spoke off the impact of climate change happening on a Global scale, yet affecting each and every one of us. And how the UK is leading the way in ensuring the right steps are taken by nations and corporations to keep the ecological disasters at bay. He mentioned how the two biggest contributors were the public and transport system. For us as individuals he emphasised the need to recycle, reduce our travels and make homes heat efficient.
His Excellency Murari Raj Sharma gave his personal insight into the impact of climate changes in Nepal. He emphasised the dependencies of each nations and also of individuals on one another and the issues of desertification and sea level rises. His Excellency stated that countries like Bangladesh and Nepal were in the front line. How high in the Himalaya mountain range at his home there used to be no mosquitoes and now due to the warming climate these mosquitoes are a menace.
My mind drifted to the hassle of mosquito nets, the creams and stings I go through every time I visit Bangladesh. How I used to boast about the beauty of the British environment as we did not have mosquitoes. That was only a few years ago. Now in Britannia village, close to City airport, I go through sleepless nights at their constant whining, bites and the itches that follow after – and all this even in the middle of December thanks to central heating. Wow, the weather really is changing! I decided to move to an empty seat upfront, my ears now glued to the speakers.
His Excellency continued about disappearing tigers and the responsibility of the developed nations to take responsibility for their level of pollution and the impact it has on least developed nations. His Excellency emphasised the balance needed for development to reduce poverty and reduce climate change; and about the importance of local and regional initiatives. How hydropower is providing energy to about 500 million people in Nepal, China and India. His Excellency stressed the need for a global strategy which must include mitigation for the affected countries by the pollution of the developed nations. Think of the future – our children (as if on cue Omar‘s two year old daughter run across the front to her father); all we require is political will, the resources and the technology is there to solve the issues of climate change.
I could feel the audience were keen and interested, as everyone perked up on their seat craning their necks forward to hear more.
His Excellency Abdullah Alshaghrood apologised on behalf of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud who was engaged in another appointment. His Excellency stated that Saudi Arabia too is on the forefront of impact by climate change – changes in temperature and also desertification was making life very difficult for ordinary Saudis. He emphasised that within Islam Allah had made Muslims custodians to protect the environment.
This led nicely onto the points Dr Ahmad Al-Dubayan made. He quoted a verse from the Qur’an,
“Oh mankind do not corrupt the earth after Allah has made it balanced and perfect”. (Holy Qur’an 7:85)
Dr Al-Dubayan emphasised the need for big corporations to take responsibility for their pollution and also for eco awareness to be made part of our education. He also pointed out that caring for the environment is part of worship just as it is to care for people.
Dr Saleemul Huq then iterated that climate change is happening. This is not like the credit crunch issue where you can dump hundred’s of billions of dollars to sort out. If we do not tackle the changes now then it could take decades if not centuries to sort out. Even now climatic impacts are causing global upheavals. That we as British citizens are 4 or 5 times worse polluters than our developing nation’s citizens. He stressed the need for individuals to change their lifestyle, encourage our friends and neighbours, and place pressure on our political leaders to come up with a global solution.
Robin Gwynn stated that he was working as the diplomatic envoy for the foreign office. His role was to work with other nations and ensure that climatic solutions are thought through and implemented with mutual benefits. He also looked forward to working with ecoMuslim in the future.
Omar cut his speech time down to accommodate all and ensure we could tuck into the food which was ready and waiting. He quoted from the Qur’an,
“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 who attain felicity.” Holy Qur’an 3:104
He emphasised the need to join EcoMuslims and asked its members to forward the contact details of their friends such that they can be contacted to become part of ecoMuslim.
The food then followed. And here we feasted on Biryani and healthy salads and fruits while acquainting with many new and past friends. It was also an opportunity to speak to the distinguished guests. When the time came to leave the thought of taking the underground didn’t faze me. After all I wasn’t just saving the environment but myself and my children’s future too. I was heading in the right direction in becoming an ecoMuslim.
Fazle Karim Chowdhury