Let’s be more eco-friendly this Ramadan

Ramadan is a blessed month that Muslims around the world wait for every year. It is a month that challenges our routine lives. It revives our spiritual core and disciplines our body. These are crucial aspects of the holy month that reaffirm and strengthen our bond with our creator, the Almighty.

There is also a part of Ramadan that is more public in nature. It is the side that transcends the individual and impacts those around us, either through charity and volunteering, or by contributing to community well-being and development. It is both the public and private aspects of Ramadan that make it the most blessed of the Islamic months, and helps us be better people.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have said: “The earth has been created for me as a mosque and as a means of purification”. I believe this hadith demonstrates the sanctity our Prophet placed on the earth as a source of purification. For the Prophet, the earth, its forests, wildlife and resources had rights to be protected, and not overexploited and abused.

To uphold the purity of Ramadan, and to respect the practices of our Prophet, it becomes incumbent upon Muslims to also revive their ‘sustainable’ aspect of living on this earth — along with the spiritual and physical. And if we look closely, Ramadan offers opportunities to reflect on our lifestyles and see how we can be kinder to the world we live in.

It makes sense to reflect upon issues such as the consumption of food during Ramadan. Eating is something that we partake in several times during the day. And what we eat truly makes a difference to the planet. Sustainable food consumption does not require that you eat less; it encourages you to eat food that does not impact the environmental footprint (for example, more plant-based food rather than meat). It also encourages you to consume food that is safe for the earth, and safe for our bodies (organic food).

Another food-related aspect of Ramadan is that of wastage. We may abstain from food and drink during the day to stand in solidarity with those who do not have enough to eat and to maintain our bodies. However, once we break our fast, we indulge in heavy iftars, dinners and suhoors that result in a lot of food that goes to waste. One way to reduce food wastage is to limit buffets, and to only take on our plate what we are sure we can finish. We can also avoid cooking in excess, and should share our food.

Our Ramadan iftars also result in a lot of nonfood waste such as plastic, styrofoam, aluminium and glass. Let’s be more mindful of our waste — and its eventual impact on the environment — and try to reduce and recycle as much as possible. At the end, we should look at Ramadan beyond the simple abstinence from food and drink. We should look deeper at the broader implications of a Muslim’s responsibilities towards humanity and the environment. I believe, this is what Allah would be most happy with. Habiba Al Mar’ashi is President and CEO of

Arabia CSR Network

Our Ramadan iftars and dinner parties also result in a lot of non-food waste such as plastic, styrofoam, aluminum and glass. Let’s be more mindful of our waste