Alhamdulillah for the return of the blessing of Hajj! Let us make this year’s pilgrimage an opportunity for a new start, a sustainable and a more just life, and a chance to adopt green eco-friendly habits.
This year, Hajj is accessible again to Muslims from around the world to take on this journey, and experience this blessing after the restrictions to attend in 2021. Our Ummah, and more specifically this year’s Hajj pilgrims, have an amazing opportunity to reflect on the lessons learned during the past couple of years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the inequalities that were exposed. It is also important to bear in mind that over the years to come, climate change and heat waves will be making this pilgrimage less and less comfortable, and the numbers of sun strokes, heat exhaustions, and medical emergencies during the Hajj and Umrah will rise. This should be recognised as a sign for us to act our responsibility as Muslims toward the climate and the environment. It is our responsibility to unite as an Ummah to limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees over pre-industrial levels. It is our duty as Muslims entrusted upon this world to protect our Hajj, Our Umrah, Our Ummah, and our world from the effects of temperature rise.
10 Tips for an Eco-friendly 2022 Hajj Journey
This is our chance to show our gratitude toward the goodness in our lives which arises from the people and environment that God created. One way to show is by adopting better and greener pilgrimage practices that might sustain after the hajj.
We present to you our 10 tips for an Eco-friendly 2022 Hajj Journey
Water
“ Do not waste water even if you were at a running stream “
– Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Sunan Ibn Majah 425
1- Refill and reuse non-plastic water bottles
2- Use a minimum quantity of water for ablution, bath, and personal care
3- Report any water leakages to the Authority.
Solid Waste
Those who waste are the brothers of Satan, and Satan is most unthankful to His Lord. {Il-Israa, Verse 27)
4- Avoid the use of plastic shopping bags, carry tote bags instead
5- Manage your consumption: buy your need of local food, avoid surplus food
6- Buy only needed and eco-friendly products
7- Avoid littering, segregate all your waste, and dispose of it at designated locations.
Energy
8- Avoid using electrical appliances on standby.
9- Avoid lit lights in empty rooms.
Transportation
10- Use group transportation facilities
Find out more about our tips and general guidelines for a green Hajj by downloading “The Green Hajj and Umrah Guide”
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