Islamic Relief UK shows the love for the earth

As part of the campaign, Islamic Relief UK volunteers had a stall outside the charity’s London office on Lower Marsh, where they asked passers-by to share their thoughts about what they love about the planet, and gave out free gifts including environmentally-friendly soap.

Inspired by Prophet Muhammad’s hadith (saying): “The Earth is green and beautiful, and God has appointed you his stewards over it.”, the charity is calling on the UK Muslim community to help raise awareness of climate change by talking about Allah’s creation and sharing everything they love about the planet.

Supporters are also encouraged to reach out to their MPs to urge the government to take further action and raise awareness on social media platforms under the hashtags #LoveAllahsCreation and #ShowTheLove.

There are over 130 members of the Climate Coalition including Islamic Relief UK and many of these organisations are taking part in ‘Show the Love’ across the UK until 24 February.

Hundreds of thousands of people – from musicians to football clubs, community groups to businesses, astronauts to schoolchildren, teachers and faith leaders – are expected to take part in the campaign to highlight the issue of climate change and get people to engage in a meaningful discussion on protecting the planet.

Maria Zafar, Islamic Relief UK Campaigns Coordinator said:

From Africa to Asia, we’re supporting communities to become better prepared to live with extreme weather and a changing climate. We often take for granted what we love the most.

As a Muslim, climate action is a central tenant of my faith. The Holy Quran states that we are stewards of the earth which means that it is our religious obligation to protect and preserve the earth and working at Islamic Relief we are advocating for just that. We are asking our supporters to show their love for Allah’s creation by making gradual changes to their lifestyle, such as cutting down on meat, car use or flying, to be more eco-friendly. Together with the Climate Coalition we are also demanding that the government puts more funding and resource to combat climate change. This will help bring about positive change and, could potentially, save hundreds of thousands of lives. If we don’t act now, the damage will be irreversible.

Climate change is devastating communities across the world, causing natural disasters such as floods, droughts and tropical storms which are becoming more frequent and severe. The people paying the heaviest price are the world’s poorest communities, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

ENDS

For more information and interviews, please contact Sultan Ahmed on 020 7593 3217; or 07471 033 566; or email:[email protected]

Notes to Editors:

• Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired, development and humanitarian agency working to transform and save the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in over 40 countries. Islamic Relief assists people according to need and does not discriminate in any way.
• Set up in Birmingham in 1984 by a group of volunteers, we have assisted over 117 million people all over the world. We’re saving lives and empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty in over 40 countries – from Bangladesh to Bosnia, Pakistan to Palestine, Kenya to Kosovo.  Islamic Relief is on the ground in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places – including Syria and Yemen – strengthening the most marginalised communities to withstand conflict and natural disasters and to build a brighter future. We also support vulnerable people in the UK in partnership with local charities and organisations.
• People can reach out to their MPs to urge the government to take further on climate change here https://action.islamic-relief.org.uk/page/27556/action/1
• Islamic Relief is one of over 130 members of The Climate Coalition, which is the UK’s largest group of people dedicated to taking action against climate change.
• Islamic Relief is inspired by Islamic teachings to recognise climate change as one of the greatest moral, social and environmental issues facing humanity today. Islamic Relief supports communities to enhance their resilience by prioritising the development of climate change adaption and disaster risk reduction work in communities that are vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
• Islamic Relief UK is a founding member of Muslim Climate Action and both are supporting a new generation of climate activists to call for change through public mobilisation. Islamic Relief also partnered with eight leading Muslim scholars around the world to initiate the first ‘International Islamic Declaration on Climate Change’.
• Islamic Relief work with farming communities overseas to diversify their livelihoods and combine their deep knowledge of the land with high-tech solutions to the changing climate. In Kenya, Islamic Relief implemented innovative solar drip irrigation systems to improve yields and reduce costs for farmers. In Bangladesh, Islamic Relief is also providing local farmers with seeds that are drought resistant, as well as seeds that develop into salt-tolerant plants, which aren’t ruined by floodwater.
• Images can be found here (please credit Islamic Relief UK): https://we.tl/t-TGCzWOe0LV