One evening in early March, Nina Ansari frowns as she picks up an untouched plate of rice left on the floor of the masjid she attends near her home in Stone Mountain. “Would anyone like to take this?” she asks a group of women standing nearby. When no one responds, she picks it up. Her hands are already full of the pizza and curry leftovers that her kids didn’t finish. If she doesn’t take the rice home, it will be thrown out. “There’s a lot of waste that happens during Ramadan,” says Nina, 38, who grew up in Georgia.Â
During the Muslim holy month — a time of spiritual rejuvenation through increased prayer and daylight fasting — masjids may serve hundreds of visitors for iftar, the sunset meal that marks the breaking of the fast. Some also serve a meal in the predawn hours, suhoor, before congregants start their fast.Â
That all can add up to a lot of trash, though. At mosques in Atlanta and elsewhere, it’s not uncommon to find garbage cans packed to the top by the end of the night, with some plates and plastic water bottles still half full.Â
“It’s just not acceptable for us,” says Nina. “My family is conscious of water and food conservation. We eat leftovers — we are not wasting or being snooty about wasting.”Â
She’s not the only one concerned about the problem. This year, more than two dozen Atlanta-area masjids or Islamic groups are planning environmentally friendly “zero-waste iftars,” aiming to cut down on the amount of discarded food, disposable plates, and water bottles. Food waste is a global and national dilemma — in the U.S., almost 40 percent of the food supply ends up in the landfill. But the trash generated during the holy month directly conflicts with a religious mandate to not be wasteful, says Marium Masud, who attends Marietta’s Masjid Al Furqan West Cobb Islamic Center: “We are called to be stewards of the Earth. There is a saying from the Prophet Muhammad that all of the Earth is a masjid. So it’s up to us to keep it clean, just like we keep our masjids clean.”
Masud is part of a “green team” of 17 volunteers that Al Furqan established to help tackle the problem. This past year, Al Furqan’s green team focused on one thing: banning plastic water bottles. In the past, the masjid threw away nearly 300 plastic bottles every night — but this year, hardly any. To prepare for Ramadan, the team added water filling stations, brought in reusable five-gallon water bottles, and had their Cub Scout packs sell recycled aluminum bottles to community members for $10 each. They also accepted donations to give out water bottles for free to anyone who couldn’t afford them.Â
On March 19, Al Furqan — where 200 to 250 people come for iftars each weeknight — will host its first “zero-waste iftar” in partnership with Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, or GIPL, a nonprofit that works with religious groups on environmental justice. The organization provides training, workshops, and grants for reusable or compostable plates and cutlery. At the end of the iftar dinner, GIPL also covers the cost of sending the excess to the Atlanta nonprofit CHaRM, which composts food waste and processes hard-to-recycle items.
Al Furqan’s zero-waste iftar is just one of 24 zero-waste iftars planned across Atlanta-area Islamic centers this Ramadan. At least 15 now have dedicated green teams. That’s a big increase from 2023, when there was only one masjid with a GIPL-certified green team: Roswell Community Masjid, or RCM. RCM, which hosts weekly zero-waste iftar dinners every Saturday, signed a contract with Atlanta-based Goodr in mid-January to handle its composting and provide food waste recovery services year-round.
Monitoring trash
At Masjid Fatimah in Stone Mountain, Mohammed Ata Ur Rasheed helps direct trash traffic during Ramadan. He sits in a folding chair for hours each night telling male congregants where to put the recycling, trash, and compost. About 150 people attend their iftar dinners each night.Â
“People waste so much food. There are half-eaten plates. Sometimes the entire plate. And because they don’t want me to see what they’re throwing away, they take another plate to cover it,” Rasheed says. “I see you! Sometimes I tell them, when you’re grabbing food, get a smaller portion. The food is there. Let’s not be wasteful.”
In the past two days, Mohammed Ata Ur Rasheed, a member of Masjid Fatimah in Stone Mountain, has collected a significant amount of bread that would have otherwise been thrown away. People at the masjid did not like the bread and were trying to dispose of it, leading to a waste of food. To combat this issue, Masjid Fatimah has implemented a system where volunteers portion out plates before handing them out to attendees. This helps prevent food waste as attendees tend to pile food on their own plates, especially after fasting all day long.
Reducing waste not only aligns with religious principles but also has a financial incentive. Rasheed estimates that Masjid Fatimah has saved nearly $1,000 by reducing the amount of excess trash that needs to be picked up by Gwinnett County. Instead of five bags of trash every night, there is now only one.
Masjid Fatimah is taking additional steps to reduce waste, such as encouraging attendees to label their plastic water bottles with their initials and crush them after use to save space in the trash. Rasheed, a biologist at the CDC, spends two hours a day tending to his backyard permaculture setup, which provides his family with hundreds of pounds of produce each year. He also feeds his four chickens and red wiggler worms with compostable waste collected from the masjid.
In addition to individual efforts like Rasheed’s, there is a growing movement within Muslim communities to address waste and promote sustainability. Ayesha Abid, the program coordinator for Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, has been working to increase the number of Muslim organizations embracing recycling and reducing energy use and waste. She estimates that there are about 150 “green teams” across all religious houses of worship in Georgia.
One example is the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam in East Atlanta, which is composting for the first time this year and received a grant for its zero-waste iftar. Other masjids, such as East Cobb Islamic Center, Al Furqan West Cobb Islamic Center, and Roswell Community Masjid, are taking steps to eliminate single-use plastic bottles and encourage attendees to bring their own containers for leftovers.
Abid emphasizes the importance of community involvement in sustainability efforts, noting that it doesn’t have to be expensive to implement composting or recycling programs. By working together and encouraging volunteers to step up, masjids can make a significant impact in reducing waste and promoting environmental stewardship. Ramadan, a time of reflection and spiritual growth, presents an opportunity for Muslims to embrace their role as ‘khalifas’ or stewards of the Earth and make a positive impact on their communities and the environment. The Importance of Mental Health in Today’s Society
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness and understanding of the importance of mental health in today’s society. With increasing levels of stress, anxiety, and depression being reported, it is becoming more evident that mental health is just as important as physical health. In fact, mental health and physical health are closely linked, with one often affecting the other.
One of the key reasons why mental health is so important is because it affects our overall well-being and quality of life. When we are struggling with mental health issues, it can impact every aspect of our lives, from our relationships and work performance to our physical health. Mental health problems can lead to increased levels of stress, which can in turn lead to physical health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity.
Furthermore, mental health issues can also have a significant impact on our ability to function on a day-to-day basis. People who are experiencing mental health problems may struggle to focus, make decisions, or even get out of bed in the morning. This can have a profound effect on their work and personal lives, leading to decreased productivity and social isolation.
Another reason why mental health is so important is because it can affect our relationships with others. When we are struggling with mental health issues, it can be difficult to connect with others and form meaningful relationships. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can further exacerbate mental health problems.
Fortunately, there is a growing recognition of the importance of mental health in today’s society, and efforts are being made to address this issue. Mental health awareness campaigns are being launched to educate the public about the importance of mental health and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. In addition, more resources are being allocated to mental health services, making it easier for individuals to access the help and support they need.
It is clear that mental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being and should not be overlooked. By prioritizing mental health and seeking help when needed, we can improve our quality of life and create a more supportive and understanding society for all.
