From the Editorial Team of “The Green Leaf”

Posted on April 1, 2021April 3, 2021 by CMGT in CMGT News, Editorial

Greetings and Salaam to Everyone!

We at the Chicago Muslims Green Team (CMGT) are looking forward to two special celebrations during the month of April: Ramadan and Earth Day. As many members of the team prepare for the 29-30 day fast of Ramadan, we are mindful of the Islamic teachings that encourage us to reduce waste and live the value of Earth stewardship:

“He is the one who made you Khalifahs (vicegerents, stewards, guardians)
of the Earth.” (Surah Al-An’am, 6:165)

This year, Earth Day falls on April 22, nearly one week into Ramadan. For the past two years, Green Ramadan has been an integral part of CMGT’s educational efforts to reduce waste and promote a sustainable lifestyle. Our signature event, Zero Waste Iftar helps to educate the Muslim community about recycling, composting, and food waste while encouraging the community to host events in an environmentally-friendly way. Last year, because of the pandemic, we were able to extend our reach beyond local mosques by connecting online with national and international partners to share ideas and approaches that combat the environmental degradation of our planet. This year, we are working with a new partner, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) to promote Green Ramadan through initiatives like “Zero Waste Iftars” and “Shop Free Eid.” Like the first Earth Day in 1970, it is our hope these initiatives will become a regular part of Ramadan celebrations across the world! During April, CMGT will continue to gather materials to support our current Jiran Project: PLARN SLEEPING MATS to help neighbors who are facing the challenges of houselessness in Chicago and other metropolitan areas. Please help us to reach our goal of providing 100 plarn (plastic yarn) sleeping mats to our neighbors. You can see our website for more information as well as upcoming distribution dates in early May.

We wish you a beautiful spring, and remember to be light on Earth by being mindful, using environmentally-friendly products and practices. Ramadan Mubarak! May you have a blessed Ramadan, and enjoy the blessings of this holy month.

– Editorial Team of The Green Leaf, Vol. 1, No. 3 – April 2021 Issue

Heartiest congratulations to Hola Islam and Karyma Ríos!

Posted on April 1, 2021April 2, 2021 by CMGT in Green Khalifa of the Month

Karyma Ríos is a Mexican revert. She was born and raised in Mexico City, and moved to Chicago four years ago and embraced Islam. She is a Marketing Specialist who graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and is now studying for a Business and Digital Multimedia Certificate. While studying for the certificate, she has also started her Master’s in Islamic Studies at Ribaat Academic Institute and International Open University Bridge to become a certified scholar and teach in Spanish. When she is not working and studying, she loves traveling and learning languages like English, Arabic, Portuguese, Urdu, German, and Mandarin.

In October 2019, Karyma founded Hola Islam with sister Valeria Torres, a Da’wah project with the aim to share the message of Allah ﷻ from the Qur’an and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet ﷺ in Spanish. Alhamdulillah, Hola Islam has connected to more than 2,000 Muslims around the world through social media channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Hola Islam has reached people of ages 18 to 60 years old from Mexico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Chile, Venezuela, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Spain, the USA, and more.

They offer online educational workshops like “I Want to Be a Productive Muslim”, “Nutrition”, “How to Pray”, “Islamic Videos in Spanish”, as well as Ramadan programs, Hijabi Power Podcast, and one-to-one help for new brothers and sisters who started this beautiful journey of discovering Islam. Nowadays, the Hola Islam team consists of Karyma Rios and Asif Shaikh in Chicago, Valeria Torres in Mexico City, and Hafiz Rashid in Bangladesh.

In addition to the workshops and programs Hola Islam hosts, they collaborate with brothers and sisters locally and globally. One ongoing collaboration is with Rebecca Aboquaoud from Muslimahs of Chicago in the Halaqah Book Club two Fridays a month at the Islamic Community Center of Illinois. They also offer the weekly class “My Belief” with Anse Khadija Hobbas from Uruguay where sisters from Latinoamerica join and talk about the Pillars of Faith in Islam. Moreover, Hola Islam is part of Alianza International de Mujeres Musulmanas, a network page of Hispanic businesses, organizations, groups, and teachers. Together, they all have worked on the ‘abaya and hijab drive campaign, raising funds and sending donated clothes to Mexico, Chile, and Colombia for sisters. They also have reached more than 1,000 sisters through educational programs to educate the community such as “Discovering Hijab”, “Women in Islam”, and “Women Empowerment” through Instagram and Facebook Live sessions.

Starting April 2nd, 2021, Hola Islam will start the workshop: “Nur in Your Heart”, a 10-day preparation for Ramadan through purifying the heart with Coach Kareema Albatah, who is from the Dominican Republic and now living in NYC. Finally, for this coming blessed month of Ramadan, they are launching their first printed Ramadan journal notebook. With every purchase of the journal, people can help the Hispanic community and make the most out of this special month.

Alongside the collaborations mentioned, Hola Islam stays connected with different local organizations in Chicago and worldwide online organizations like Ojala Foundation, IslaminSpanish, Esencia de Mujer, Latinas in Islam, Muslimahs of Chicago, The Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, Slay Collective, Why Islam? and America’s Islamic Radio.

An Evergreen Ramadan

Posted on June 24, 2020December 29, 2020 by Caroline Williams in Blog Post

Caroline started her green house on the second day of Eid, May 24, 2020. She considers herself a zero experience gardener and challenged herself to start planting seeds and food scraps during the Green Ramadan. She begun germinating tomato and bell pepper seeds indoor. She used toilet paper rolls to grow the seedlings. She also planted garlic, shallots, and milkweed seeds she got from Save Our Monarchs event. To her surprise, all the seeds grew well and fast. She felt like, nature was really nice to her.

One day, she went to her local grocery store and saw a green house displayed for sale. She took a picture and showed it to her husband. To her surprise again, he told her to get the green house right away, on that same day. About a week later, on the second day of Eid, the green house was assembled.

The first day of Green House on the second Eid 2020

She had no clue how to deal with a green house especially in Chicago with extreme temperature in summer and winter. She started learning things online. Just in a month, she is already facing three challenges; mosquitoes, too much sunshine, and the plastic cover was being ripped apart due to strong wind. She went online to find solutions for all the problems.

Today is one month anniversary of her green house. It becomes a sanctuary for her from all the craziness in the world during COVID19 pandemic and political crisis in the country. She is happy to see her plants grow well.

Until today, she is still in learning mode. She does not have a high expectation in regard to the yields. She really enjoys the opportunity to recycle her “junks” into whatever items needed for the green house or for the plants. For example, she recycles used wire hangers to create tomato cage, hooks to hang things, and to secure the green house to the ground.

Her current three principles to maintain her green house and enjoy her new adventure in gardening are (1) low expectations (2) low cost (3) maximum creativity. She is grateful that the green house makes her feels like this year Green Ramadan is her evergreen Ramadan.