In 2018, I gave a speech on the case for the reusable coffee mug at the Downtown Islamic Center Toastmasters Open House and the launch of the Chicago Muslims Green Team (CMGT), and I won a book, Green Deen: What Islam Teaches about Protecting the Planet. I recall researching the devastating effects of single-use coffee mugs and feeling overwhelmed at the sheer amount of actions needed to protect our environment. As I read Abdul-Matin’s book, I was overcome by a sense of peace and hope.
Abdul-Matin begins his novel by sharing that Islam is a Deen, which means a religion, a path, and a way of life. The premise of his book is that the Earth is a mosque, and we need to protect it and take care of it. Through his experiences as a policy advisor and as a Muslim, he shares unique insights within the four sections of the book: Waste, Watts, Water, and Food. While there are certainly connections to Islam throughout each section, he also shares knowledge and advice that are applicable to all readers without delving into their spirituality.
Society’s mass consumption stood out greatly within the Waste section. The unique history behind Watts, or Energy, was eye-opening for me. As were Abdul-Matin’s insights into Water and Food. He utilizes a personable way to connect with readers to share his knowledge about the practices and policies that have led to our current environment, along with what it means to be socially responsible as a company and as a consumer. Through empowering the reader by sharing the effects of the power of our choices to shape our world, he inspires readers to take positive steps to protect and nurture our environment.
As Abdul-Matin writes, “The Earth is a mosque.” Through taking the steps to treat the Earth as a place of worship, as a place that is our refuge, and a place where we can both learn and rest, we can move towards protecting our environment for both ourselves and future generations. This book is a fascinating read on the current state of our environment, how it came to be this way, and how we can work to protect and nurture our planet.