Green Deen: What Islam Teaches about Protecting the Planet

Muslims are compelled by their religion to praise the Creator and to care for their community. But what is not widely known is that there are deep and long-standing connections between Islamic teachings and environmentalism. In this groundbreaking book, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin draws on research, scripture, and interviews with Muslim Americans to trace Islam's preoccupation with humankind's collective role as stewards of the Earth. Abdul-Matin points out that the Prophet Muhammad declared that "the Earth is a mosque."Deen means "path" or "way" in Arabic. Abdul-Matin offers dozens of examples of how Muslims can follow, and already are following, a Green Deen in four areas- "waste, watts (energy), water, and food." At last, people of all beliefs can appreciate the gifts and contributions that Islam and Muslims bring to the environmental movement.

“"An important book for everyone! Muslims will be inspired by what their fellow believers are doing to be stewards of the Earth, and all people will gain a more complete and accurate picture of how Islam sees the world." --Imam Siraj Wahaj, Masjid Al-Taqwa, Brooklyn, New York " Green Deen adds new thinking and allies to help solve the persistent social, energy, and infrastructure challenges that we all face as a planet, as nations, and in our own communities, every day." --Majora Carter, founder, The Majora Carter Group, cohost of Sundance Channel's The Green , and host of NPR's The Promised Land "Green Deen connects faith to environment to social justice. It's a guide for all of us trying to save people and the planet." --Rami Nashashibi, Executive Director, Inner-City Muslim Action Network "While there are many belief systems on this planet, few have been as deeply maligned as Islam in recent years. In that context, it is a beautiful and powerful call that Ibrahim Abdul-Matin puts out to his community and to the world, crying out that within Islam are the very tenets which are needed to save the world--for Muslims and non-Muslims. It is an act of faith to be sustainable...that is the essential truth which this book teaches us all." --Adrienne Maree Brown, Executive Director, The Ruckus Society "Ibrahim Abdul-Matin is one of the premier scholars and practitioners joining the green economy to Islam. His work reminds environmentalism of the spirituality in deep ecology and provides a pathway for an economic system to work within a framework of reverence." --Nikki Henderson, Executive Director, People's Grocery "Is this a Muslim book about the environment, an environmental book about Islam, or a poem and a prayer to the unity of all creation? It is all of these and more-- Green Deen is a stunning hybrid creation from an extraordinary and wise new literary voice. Please welcome Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, black American and Muslim, to the pantheon of important environmental writers." --William Upski Wimsatt, founder, League of Young Voters, and author of Please Don't Bomb the Suburbs " Green Deen shows how the authentic religious values and practices of Islam should lead to a wholesome, healthy, and compassionate lifestyle that benefits all living things. Abdul-Matin writes in accessible, intelligent, and motivating language, making this an excellent book for all readers." --Ingrid Mattson, PhD, President, The Islamic Society of North America, and Director, The Duncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary”

“An important book for everyone! Muslims will be inspired by what their fellow believers are doing to be stewards of the Earth, and all people will gain a more complete and accurate picture of how Islam sees the world.”
—Imam Siraj Wahaj, Masjid Al-Taqwa, Brooklyn, New York

“Green Deen adds new thinking and allies to help solve the persistent social, energy, and infrastructure challenges that we all face as a planet, as nations, and in our own communities, every day.”
—Majora Carter, founder, The Majora Carter Group, cohost of Sundance Channel’s The Green, and host of NPR’s The Promised Land

“Green Deen connects faith to environment to social justice. It’s a guide for all of us trying to save people and the planet.”
—Rami Nashashibi, Executive Director, Inner-City Muslim Action Network

“While there are many belief systems on this planet, few have been as deeply maligned as Islam in recent years. In that context, it is a beautiful and powerful call that Ibrahim Abdul-Matin puts out to his community and to the world, crying out that within Islam are the very tenets which are needed to save the world—for Muslims and non-Muslims. It is an act of faith to be sustainable...that is the essential truth which this book teaches us all.”
—Adrienne Maree Brown, Executive Director, The Ruckus Society

“Ibrahim Abdul-Matin is one of the premier scholars and practitioners joining the green economy to Islam. His work reminds environmentalism of the spirituality in deep ecology and provides a pathway for an economic system to work within a framework of reverence.”
—Nikki Henderson, Executive Director, People’s Grocery

“Is this a Muslim book about the environment, an environmental book about Islam, or a poem and a prayer to the unity of all creation? It is all of these and more—Green Deen is a stunning hybrid creation from an extraordinary and wise new literary voice. Please welcome Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, black American and Muslim, to the pantheon of important environmental writers.”
—William Upski Wimsatt, founder, League of Young Voters, and author of Please Don’t Bomb the Suburbs

“Green Deen shows how the authentic religious values and practices of Islam should lead to a wholesome, healthy, and compassionate lifestyle that benefits all living things. Abdul-Matin writes in accessible, intelligent, and motivating language, making this an excellent book for all readers.”
—Ingrid Mattson, PhD, President, The Islamic Society of North America, and
Director, The Duncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary

Ibrahim Abdul-Matin is a policy advisor in the New York City Mayor's Office on issues of long-term planning and sustainability. He is a media personality on NPR's The Takeaway and the brains behind the blog Brooklyn Bedouin.

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