Yesterday we have a thought provoking episode of ‘Life as it is’ where the topic was ‘Going Green’… Thanks for the feedback sent over whatsapp…. it would be nice to see it posted here on this page as well…

here are the key take home points….

Worldly Angle:

Going Green – Our relationship with the environment
Living (humans / plants / animals)
Non-Living (Air / Water / Earth)

In 50s / 60s – moderinised / industrilized nations – – mass production / consumption -> pollution
Market failure
Culprits – individuals (selfishness) – but more corporates (greed – profits)
Solution?!?! – gov intervention
Both capitalism / communision abused environment
By 70s Only, this Reactive response by ‘Students’ – after / …
Symptons – Pollution – smog / deforastion / acid rain
disasters – 3 mile island – USA / Mercury in fish – jp

Students – Antiwar / Anti-corporations / anti capitalism
Communism was the solution? – it was not
So they switched to ‘green’ – – 1970 (first earth day)

Change our selves: Do less with more
Use less – so less production is enough (car pool / use public transportation)
Re-use – so less waste / pollution is generated (recycle this waste) (electric cars/ solar)

Needs vs Wants – – Contentment vs Selfishness/Greed
Educate -> Distribute -> Self-regulate -> Implement -> Regulate!
Try to make it a life style, not just a fashion statement

Spiritual (Islamic) Angle:
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(70s = 40-50 yrs) …. 1436 yrs! – Proactive! – 500 aya related to environment!
we have a strong one (as per islamic perspective)

Creation of environment
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“The creation of the heavens and earth is greater than the creation of mankind, but most of the people do not know.” (Al Ghafir The Forgiver- 40:57)

Then we came…. From water…
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Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? (21:30)

We were made Khalifa: authority – responsibilty – accountability
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And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.” They said, “Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?” Allah said, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know.” (2:30)

All the things are made to serve us
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Do you not see that Allah has subjected to you whatever is on the earth and the ships which run through the sea by His command? And He restrains the sky from falling upon the earth, unless by His permission. Indeed Allah , to the people, is Kind and Merciful. (22:65)

Guess what….. even ‘non-living things’ worship their Creator!!!
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“whatsoever is the heavens and on the earth glorifies God” (59:1; 61:1; 62:1; 64:1)

“The stars and the trees prostrate” (55:6)

“the thunder hymns His praise” (13:13),

“unto God prostrates whosoever is in the heavens and whosoever is on the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, and the beasts” (22:18)

“there is no thing, save that it hymns His praise, though you do not understand their praise. Truly He is Clement, Forgiving” (17:44).

Warning – Waste!
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And He it is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. …Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and give its due [zakah] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess. (6:141)

O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess. (7:31)

Warning – Arrogance!
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The Quran thus enjoins us to “walk not exultantly upon the earth” (17:63)

“And follow not the bidding of those who are extravagant … Who make mischief in the land, and mend not (their ways).” (26: 152)

EXAMPLE from past nations:
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Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt with the ‘Ad (people),- (89 Surah Al-Fajr, 6)
Of the (city of) Iram, with lofty pillars, (Surah Al-Fajr, 7)
The like of which were not produced in (all) the land? (Surah Al-Fajr, 8)
And with the Thamud (people), who cut out (huge) rocks in the valley?- (Surah Al-Fajr, 9)
And with Pharaoh, lord of stakes? (Surah Al-Fajr, 10)
(All) these transgressed beyond bounds in the lands, (Surah Al-Fajr, 11)

Today’s program will be entitled “Implementing what we learn in schools’ with Ahmed & Hatim….

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Take care of your self and your environment, its the only one you have got….. How will you GO GREEN…. share your action item in the comments section below…..

PEACE!