GREEN HAJ CAMPAIGN
Quran highlights the importance of cleanliness and caring for the environment
IWAS 9 when I learnt the meaning of retribution. It happened when I was waiting in school for my ride home.
I stumbled upon an anthill near a huge tree where my friends and I would play during recess. Being a mischievous child, I decided to give thousands of ants in the
anthill a lesson in swimming.
I filled my tumbler with water and walked towards the tree. In my mind, I had imagined emptying the contents of my tumbler into the anthill.
However, before I could reach the tree, I slipped and lost my grip on the tumbler. My fall resulted not only in bruised knees and palms, but also a drenched school uniform.
It was a lesson well learnt. Since then, I respect all living things, even the environment, as God’s penalty is swift and just.
On this note, we have seen the damage and havoc caused by mankind’s attitude when we fail to pay attention to one’s relationship with the natural world.
There are many Quranic verses that touch on the obligation of caring for the environment and preventing it from being ruined.
Studies have shown that the preservation of the environment should be understood as a religious order and must be carried out by everyone.
Perhaps this is why the Saudi Arabian government has rolled out the Green Haj campaign, with Malaysian pilgrims taking part in the programme this year. The campaign was part of an initiative to reduce the environmental footprint of the haj, one of the world’s largest annual gatherings.
Malaysian haj delegation head Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman said pilgrims at maktab (accommodation) 80 were chosen to be involved in the campaign, together with four other Indonesian maktab for Southeast Asian nations to emulate.
“The Green Haj campaign adds value to Malaysia’s mashae’er cleanliness campaign.
“Apart from getting pilgrims to clean their tents (in Mina), those involved in the Green Haj initiative will step up to protect the environment by sorting out their trash and placing them in designated bins.”
He was speaking at the launch of a gotong-royong here.
He said the Green Haj campaign would be a good start for Malaysian pilgrims to become more aware of the need to protect the environment.
“We hope the Green Haj campaign will be expanded to other (Malaysian) maktab and countries.”
Makkah Municipality head of sanitation Mohammed al-Saati last year told AFP that more than 42,000 tonnes of waste were produced during the pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest sites.
The authorities aim to cut the waste volumes by two-thirds by 2030, he said.
On the mashae’er campaign, Saleh said Malaysian pilgrims continued to play their part to keep their tents in Arafah and the space in Muzdalifah clean.
“This is the second year of the campaign and we continue to receive cooperation from all.
“Before our pilgrims left, they cleaned the general space and tents in Arafah and continued that in Muzdalifah.”
We have displayed the traits of a pious Muslim when we are aware of the importance of caring for the environment.
Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), it looks like this year’s 30,200 Malaysian pilgrims are playing their part to look after the environment.