green khutbah sample 2014

8/12/2019 Green Khutbah Sample 2014

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Green Khutbah Campaign 2014 Lets Create a Sustainable Future

Be Empowered...Become Educated...Be Engaged

Praise be to God, to whom belongs all that is in the heavens and earth, and praise be to Him in the life to come.

He is the All Wise, the All Aware. He knows all that goes into the earth and all that comes out of it;

He knows all that comes down from the heavens and all that goes up to them. He is the Merciful, the Forgiving. (Quran 34: 1 - 2).

I bear witness that there is no deity, no object worthy of any act ofworship except Allah, the One without any partners, associates orequals. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant andmessenger.

You who believe, be mindful of God, as is His due, and make sure you devote yourselves to Him, to your dying moment. (Quran 3: 102).

People, be mindful of your Lord, who created you from a single soul, and from

it created its mate, and from the pair of them spread countless men andwomen far and wide; be mindful of God, in whose name you make requests ofone another. Beware of severing the ties of kinship: God is always watching

over you.(Quran 4:1).

Believers, be mindful of God, speak in a direct fashion and to good purpose,and He will put your deeds right for you and forgive you your sins. Whoeverobeys God and His Messenger will truly achieve a great triumph. (Quran 33:

70-71).

-- &&& -- It is m y honor to dedicate todays Khutbah to the Green Khutbah Campaign that aims to mobilize Muslims to become responsible stewards of theenvironment.


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This day is a time for us to reflect on the fragility and fine balance of theuniverse and to remind us to be good stewards of Gods creation.

What a wondrous universe Allah has created! - "in the alternation of nightand day,"(Quran 2:164); "in the water which God sends comes down fromthe sky to give life to the earth when it has been barren"(Quran 2:164 ); "inthe changing of the winds," (Quran 2:164); "in the mountains over you(Quran 2:63); in the birds with wings outspread, (Quran 24:41); in thegardens, springs (Quran 26:147) we cannot be but awe struck by theseQuranic descriptions of Cr eation.

But .

We are failing to be good stewards of Gods creation. Heed the warnings in extreme weather or risk losing Earth , was a recentnewspaper headline. The unexpected and extreme weather conditions this past winter icestorms, the polar vortex, record snowfall or typhoon Haiyan whichdestroyed parts of the Philippines last year - gave us a glimpse of the climatechange impact on our fragile infrastructure and how humans are failing inour trust of the worlds resources.

We are failing in this trust and upsetting the balance of the environment.

Our affluence and extravagant lifestyle comes at a high environmental cost.

Our consumption, indeed overconsumption, has done a great wrong and agreat injustice to the planet. Human beings are de filing Allahs creation - from our use of water to ourextraction of fossil fuels to our creation of vast amounts of waste.

The Earth is warming and we, humans, are the cause - that's theoverwhelming and undeniable conclusion of scientists.

Our actions are not only threatening our own health and quality of life butour future generations.


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Corruption has flourished on land and sea as a result of peoples actionsand He will make them taste the consequences of some of their ownactions so that they may turn back. (Quran 30:41).

The environmental crisis is not just a scientific problem or an environmentalone but the result of a deep, inner crisis of the soul - it is a moral issue.

We need to return to our sacred sources, the Qur an and Prophetic traditions,as well as the example of our righteous predecessors, to re-calibrate ourrelationship to the Earth, its environment and all of Gods Creation.

This years Green Khutbah Campaign is calling all Muslims to join withothers to create a sustainable future in this life and the hereafter through a3 E Action Plan:

Be Empowered to act as stewards of the environment Become Educated about eco-friendly principles (recycling, reusable bottles,

eliminating disposables, composting etc.) Be Engaged with society - work together towards improving the

environment (park clean-up, planting tree, community gardens, naturehikes, etc.)

To create a sustainable future means to meet our needs withoutcompromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

A sustainable lifestyle is about caring and of not being harmful to theenvironment or depleting natural resources, and it is about supporting the

long-term ecological balance.

Let us be reminded that . Islam is based on the understanding that Allah is One (Tawhid), andeverything comes from Allah He is the Creator and Sustainer.


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Everything in the natural world is a sign (Ayat) of Allahs creation.

Islam seeks for us to establish justice (Adl) and to maintain the Earthsdelicate balance (Mizan).

We are required to honor the trust we have with Allah (Amana) and bestewards of the Earth (Khalifah).

And we are to be moderate (Wasat) in our lifestyle and becompassionate (Rahmah) to all of Gods creation.

In Islam, there are principles and guidelines on sustainability: 1. Living a sustainable life means understanding that Allah created us directly

from the Earth and we must be stewards of the earth ( Khalifa ) - taking careof it, protecting it and managing it in a sustainable way.

It is He who made you successors on the earth and raises some of youabove others in rank, to test you through what He gives you [Prophet], your Lord is swift in punishment, yet He is most forgiving and merciful.(Quran 6:165).

2. Living a sustainable life means knowing that we have undertaken atrust ( Amana ) with our Creator to protect the planet and sustain itsresources responsibly.

We offered the Trust to the heavens, the earth, and the mountains, yetthey refused to undertake it and were afraid of it; mankind undertook it they have always been inept and foolish. (Quran 33:72).

3. Living a sustainable life means treating all creation, including thenatural world with justice ( Adl ).

God commands justice, doing good, and generosit y towards relativesand He forbids what is shameful, blameworthy, and oppressive. Heteaches you, so that you may take heed. (Quran 16: 90).


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4. Living a sustainable life means recognizing and respecting theperfect balance ( Mizan ) that Allah has created the universe with and livingin balance with the natural world.

He created man and taught him to communicate. The sun and the moon follow their calculated courses; the plants and the trees submit to Hisdesigns; He has raised up the sky. He has set the balance so that you maynot exceed in the balance: weigh with justice and do not fall short in thebalance. (Quran 55: 3 10).

5. Living a sustainable life means living a simple and moderate lifestyle(Wasat), choosing the middle path in all aspects of our life.

We have made you (believers) into a just (a middle nation) community,

so that you may bear witness (to it) before you. (Quran: 2: 143)

..and eat and drink[as We have permitted] but do not be extravagant:God does not like extravagant people. (Quran: 7:31).

6. Living a sustainable life means treating all of God s creation withmercy (Rahmah), from human relationships to all living animals,plants and insects and the natural environment. Our beloved ProphetMuhammad, peace be on him, whose is our role model was sent as amercy to all worlds.

There truly is a me ssage in this for the servants of God! It was only amercy that We sent you (Prophet) to all people. [Quran: 21:106 -107]

These are some of the principles from the Islamic sources for living asustainable life.

These principles affirm the integral relationship between our faith and thenatural world.

Indeed, the signs (ayaat) in the Universe are " messages for those who reasonand think" testifying to the presence and infinite generosity of the One GodWho has laid out the Universe as the outspread book (al-kitab al-manshur )


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containing signs mirroring the signs of the written book , the Quran ( al-kitabal-mastur ).

We cannot be Muslim without a connection to all of creation.

We cannot be Muslim without being responsible stewards of theenvironment by caring for all of Allah's creations.

Although the evidence of environmental damage is stronger than ever, thepublic is starting to tune out due to the recent economic crisis and a lack ofpolitical leadership.

Recent findings, which were gathered by a GlobeScan Radar annual trackingpoll, show that concerns about the environment have reached a two-decadelow since the start of the financial crisis.

But Muslims cannot tune out from the environmental damage.

It is a matter of faith tuning out would mean that we are disregarding ourmoral responsibility to Allahs creation.

Those who violate or abuse the Trust are described in the Quran as thosewho corrupt, degrade and bring ruin on earth ( mufsidin fil -Ard ).

The corrupters ( mufsidin fil -Ard ) abuse the Trust (amana) and are in clearcontrast to the stewards of the earth ( khulafa fil -Ard ).

As such, we must be, not just friends of the earth, but its guardians. Let us supplicate ..

O Allah, forgive us for every blessing which You bestowed upon us butwhich we used in disobedience to You.


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O Allah, we beg Your forgiveness for those of our words which have notbeen matched by our deeds.

-- &&& --

PART 2: Conserve More Consume Less Care for the Environment

All Praise be to Allah and His choicest blessings on our beloved ProphetMuhammad, peace be on him, and on his family, companions and the

righteous ones until the Last Day.

The environmental crisis is asking us to look at ourselves - how we act,behave and live.

This years Green Khutbah Campaign, is requesting each one of us to live asimple, sustainable lifestyle by committing to follow the 3 E action plan:

1. Be Empowered to act as stewards 2. Become Educated about eco-friendly principles3. Be Engaged with society to improve the environment

Here are four tips to start us off living sustainable: 1. Save More

Save more money. Save more energy. Save more of everything you use.Saving more means using less.

2. Consume Less

Choose to consume less. Stop buying things you don't need. Buying lessequals saving money -- a win-win for sustainability.

3. Eat Less Meat

Eating less meat is more healthy. Eating less meat places less stress on theenvironment - less meat is more sustainable.

4. Think Locally

Try working closer to home; shop closer to home; recreate closer to home -it's simply more sustainable to stay closer to home.


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These seemingly small steps will lead you down the road to becoming aneco-conscious Muslim and live a sustainable life

We conclude with a tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him,that is a most striking statement in the religious traditions about theenvironment.

This tradition summarizes the ethical position of Islam with regard to theenvironment.

The Proph et Muhammad, peace be on him, is reported to have said, "If theJudgment Day comes when one of you is holding a seedling in his hand, if youare able to plant it before the Day arrives, do so. " (Imam Ahmad, Al Bukhariin Al Adab Al Mufrad (479)).

-- &&& -- O Allah, forgive us, have Mercy on us, guide us, support us, protect us,provide for us and elevate us.

Our Lord, accept our repentance, cleanse us of our misdeeds, answer our

prayers, substantiate our pleas, guide our hearts, straighten our tonguesand banish all ill-will from our breasts.

And we send peace and blessings on our beloved Prophet Muhammad,peace be on him.


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References:

Abdul Matin, Ibrahim (2010). Green Deen: What Islam Teaches aboutProtecting the Planet. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Abdel Haleem M.A.S (2005). The Qur'an. Oxford University Press. Environmental Concerns "At Record Lows": Global Poll (2013). Retrieved

March 30, 2013, from http://www.globescan.com/commentary-and-analysis/press-releases/press-releases-2013/261-environmental-concerns-at-record-lows-global-poll.html

Sustainable Living Tips: From Associated Content, by Eric Shutt. RetrievedFebruary 25, 2014 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/10/sustainable-living-tips_n_350973.html

Matali, Zabariah. Sustainability in Islam. Retrieved February 25, 2014 fromhttp://www.earthcharterinaction.org/invent/images/uploads/10%20Manuscript_Zabariah.pdf Other useful resources: http://khaleafa.com/greenkhutbah/
http://www.globescan.com/commentary-and-analysis/press-releases/press-releases-2013/261-environmental-concerns-at-record-lows-global-poll.htmlhttp://www.globescan.com/commentary-and-analysis/press-releases/press-releases-2013/261-environmental-concerns-at-record-lows-global-poll.htmlhttp://www.globescan.com/commentary-and-analysis/press-releases/press-releases-2013/261-environmental-concerns-at-record-lows-global-poll.htmlhttp://www.globescan.com/commentary-and-analysis/press-releases/press-releases-2013/261-environmental-concerns-at-record-lows-global-poll.htmlhttp://www.globescan.com/commentary-and-analysis/press-releases/press-releases-2013/261-environmental-concerns-at-record-lows-global-poll.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/10/sustainable-living-tips_n_350973.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/10/sustainable-living-tips_n_350973.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/10/sustainable-living-tips_n_350973.htmlhttp://www.earthcharterinaction.org/invent/images/uploads/10%20Manuscript_Zabariah.pdfhttp://www.earthcharterinaction.org/invent/images/uploads/10%20Manuscript_Zabariah.pdfhttp://www.earthcharterinaction.org/invent/images/uploads/10%20Manuscript_Zabariah.pdfhttp://khaleafa.com/greenkhutbah/http://khaleafa.com/greenkhutbah/http://khaleafa.com/greenkhutbah/http://khaleafa.com/greenkhutbah/http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/invent/images/uploads/10%20Manuscript_Zabariah.pdfhttp://www.earthcharterinaction.org/invent/images/uploads/10%20Manuscript_Zabariah.pdfhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/10/sustainable-living-tips_n_350973.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/10/sustainable-living-tips_n_350973.htmlhttp://www.globescan.com/commentary-and-analysis/press-releases/press-releases-2013/261-environmental-concerns-at-record-lows-global-poll.htmlhttp://www.globescan.com/commentary-and-analysis/press-releases/press-releases-2013/261-environmental-concerns-at-record-lows-global-poll.htmlhttp://www.globescan.com/commentary-and-analysis/press-releases/press-releases-2013/261-environmental-concerns-at-record-lows-global-poll.html

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