DeepSummary
In the first part of this two-part series, Afnan Khairullah and Sofia Gilani, volunteers with Green Muslims, discuss their role in educating fellow Muslims about environmentalism through the lens of their faith, Islam. They share how nature has played a significant role in their lives and how they find a deep connection between Islam and environmental stewardship.
Afnan and Sofia reference various verses from the Quran that encourage protecting the balance in nature, preserving habitats, and being responsible stewards of the earth's resources. They believe that environmentalism is an obligation in Islam and that all creatures are equally important. The Quran teaches humility and discourages excessive materialism and overconsumption.
Green Muslims serves as a source for spiritually-inspired environmental education, action, and reflection within the Muslim community. Afnan focuses on sustainability and environmental programming, while Sofia is the climate action advocate, promoting advocacy and reform. Both aim to involve the Muslim community in environmental advocacy and help people connect their faith with caring for the planet.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Green Muslims aims to connect Muslims to nature and environmental activism through a spiritually-inspired approach rooted in Islamic teachings.
- Key verses from the Quran emphasize protecting the balance in nature, being responsible stewards, preserving habitats, and living with humility and moderation.
- Environmentalism is viewed as an obligation in Islam, with all creatures deserving kindness, compassion and respect.
- Afnan focuses on sustainability programming while Sofia is the climate action advocate, promoting environmental advocacy aligned with Islamic values.
- Their work involves educating both children and adults on the intersection of Islam and caring for the environment.
- Overconsumption, wastefulness and excessive materialism are discouraged based on Islamic principles of moderation and humility.
- Green Muslims serves as a source for Muslim communities to reflect on environmental issues through the lens of their faith.
- Their advocacy aims to have a global impact in protecting the planet, transcending borders.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “We're advocating for this planet, for the entire creation. Any good work we do here, like local in Virginia, can benefit outside of these made up borders, you know?“ by Sofia Gilani
- “It doesn't encourage starving, but eat just enough to sustain you. So it's like one third of your stomach is water, one third of your stomach is air, and one third of your stomach is food. So just enough to sustain you. But not like, oh, man, I'm full. I'm going to get into a food coma.“ by Afnan Khairullah
- “Being able to connect Islam and environmental education does a whole lot, especially starting with kids young and get them in that thought process, but also adults who might not have been thinking about that. And now they can also have their light bulb moments, never too late.“ by Sofia Gilani
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Episode Information
Breaking Green Ceilings
Sapna Mulki
9/6/22
In this first episode of a two part series, we will hear from Afnan Khairullah and Sofia Gilani, who are volunteers with Green Muslims. Green Muslims is an organization that works to connect Muslims everywhere to nature and environmental activism. Their mission is to serve as a source in the Muslim community for spiritually-inspired environmental education, action, and reflection.
Afnan and Sofia share with us about the role nature played in their life and how they are using their religion, Islam, to educate and connect fellow Muslims to nature. They both see their religion closely connected to environmentalism.
According to Afnan and Sofia, all creatures are important, and our responsibility is to treat everything that the Creator has given us with kindness, compassion and respect. It is important to be humble and respectful of others.
Episode Highlights
- Environmentalism in Islam is an obligation.
- Our interpretation of the scriptures and God’s will, may take us down the rabbit hole. Instead of using the resources to live better, we are overusing them.
- We are tested by what God gives us. Do we use this great wealth He gives us to improve other people’s lives, or do we live lavishly?
- We’re advocating for this planet, for the entire creation. Any good work we do here in Virginia, can benefit outside these made-up borders.
- Being able to connect Islam and education does a whole lot. Starting on kids young and get them in that thought process, but also adults who may not have been thinking about that.
- It is important to maintain the balance in our environment by preserving, protecting and not altering our habitats to our convenience.
- We should all ask ourselves what our priorities are. Why are we here? Why are we chasing all this materialism and lifestyles?
Contact information and other Resources:
Afnan is a New Jersey native who moved to Northern Virginia in 2020 to start a career in federal government. She holds a BA in Environmental Studies and a MS in Sustainability Science with a concentration in sustainability leadership. Throughout her life she has been drawn to the outdoors and is happiest hiking, bouldering, or exploring Washington, DC.
Time and again Afnan has found herself drawing parallels with faith and eco stewardship, so working with Green Muslims was a natural fit to address environmental stewardship in the Muslim community while also promoting environmental awareness. She hopes that more people will one day share the same affinity for the well-being of the Earth.
Sofia Gilani (she/hers) is the Climate Action Advocate for Green Muslims. Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Sofia spent much of her youth outdoors with her family & later traveled to her parent’s home countries of Pakistan and Nicaragua. This travel experience shaped her view of an interconnected world that influenced her passion for environmental and social justice. She holds a BS in Environmental Science from George Mason University where she was involved with the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition and Mason Environmental Justice Alliance (MEJA). During her participation with these two organizations she was a collaborator for events to address activist burnout, conflict resolution discussions, prepare for marches, and organize clean-ups. Sofia has a strong passion for education and advocacy that she utilizes in her work with Green Muslims to help involve the Muslim community in environmental advocacy. Professionally, Sofia has worked in environmental compliance for solid waste, as well as construction. In her spare time outside of work and advocacy, Sofia enjoys kayaking, biking, boxing, and hanging out with her cat.
Here's a link to a video that created by Peter Toscano of the Citizens Climate Lobby for the “Religious Communities and the Planetary Crisis” hosted by the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network, the Hartford Seminary, and CT Interfaith Power and Light.
https://www.facebook.com/528075872/videos/10158758547730873/
Breaking Green Ceilings:
Website: https://www.breakinggreenceilings.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breaking_green_ceilings/
Follow Afnan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afn%C3%A1n-khairullah-78aab910a/
USGS: https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/afnan-khairullah
Follow Sofia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreengilani/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegreengilani
Green Muslims: https://www.greenmuslims.org/