Environmental sustainability is important in Islam. Thus, preserving the environment is grounded in honoring the relationship between oneself, Allah, and Allah’s creation.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“It is He who has appointed you vicegerent on the Earth …” (Qur’an, 6:165)

In light of the above, members of the Milwaukee Muslim communities joined hands with Mormon communities on Saturday to mark National Day of Service, clean the neighborhood, and spread positivity.

The cleanup event, held on Saturday, was attended by members of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee as well as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“A lot of the Muslim community, during the time of 9/11, can feel secluded or stereotyped or like they have to be extra careful about what they do or say,” Lena Abukhamireh, a recent Marquette University graduate, told Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

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It’s meaningful that LDS and Muslim communities are showing up hand in hand to “shed positive light,” she said. 

Joining Hands

Muslim Volunteer Wants to Inspire Others to Keep His Town Clean

Othman Atta, director of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, said the idea was born at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, where his daughter works alongside Chris Nussbaum, an emergency medicine doctor and the president of the Mormon church.

Atta’s daughter put the two faith leaders in touch, and soon they got the nonprofit Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful involved. 

The Muslim community in Milwaukee is estimated at 10,000 to 15,000 people. Meanwhile, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints counts about 5,000 members split across two Milwaukee stakes.

This marks the first time the two religious organizations have worked together. However, it is not the first for Muslims to lead similar initiatives to clean-up their community.

A Muslim group called “Bearded Broz” took on cleaning up the streets earlier in Birmingham.

In Aberdeen, an Islamic charity successfully turned a derelict area into a modern football center last May to provide improved facilities for athletes across the region.