Promoting a more environmentally friendly month of fasting, a Scarborough mosque in Toronto is cutting back its consumption of single-use plastic this Ramadan.
“Finally” was the first thing 21-year-old Zainab Hamed thought when she found out about the initiative, CBC reported.
“When I first heard about it, I thought it’s about time that we introduce something like this,” said Hamed, who has attended the mosque for most of her life.
“You can’t find water bottles on campus,” she said, recalling how she carried her own reusable water bottle since she began her studies three years ago. “So I personally feel like this is something that was overdue.”
Waste Free Ramadan encourages people to bring their own reusable water bottles to the Islamic Institute of Toronto to reduce waste. (Ivan Arsovski/CBC)
The Islamic Institute of Toronto launched Waste Free Ramadan, an initiative that bans plastic water bottles from being used or distributed at the mosque.
During Ramadan, many mosques distribute plastic water bottles to their congregations every day during the night Tarawih prayers. In some cases, this can amount to hundreds of water bottles, as well as plastic cups, plates, and cutlery being used.
Reusable water bottles can be seen as a group of men pray at Islamic Institute of Toronto. (Ivan Arsovski/CBC)
The Islamic Institute of Toronto hosts around 5,000 worshippers on iftar and night prayers on a weekly basis who consume around 25,000 bottles this month according to Fareed Amin, chair of the Islamic Institute of Toronto’s board of directors.
“I think we’re seeing more and more evidence coming to light of the importance of taking action now to address those issues of climate change,” said Amin.
“It’s not only single-use plastic bottles we’re concerned about, but also about serving individuals in biodegradable food containers as well,” said Amin.
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.
In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.
Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to be closer to Allah through prayers, self-restraint, and good deeds.
Earlier this month, mosques across Britain banned the use of plastics during the holy month.
The green Ramadan initiative is not the first among Muslims in the west.
In 2017, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) launched a campaign urging Muslims, mosques and Islamic center to implement practices and policies that are environmentally friendly.
Muslims in the Greater Toronto Area also launched a project called #Waste Free Ramadan to protect their environment in 2017.