Content uploaded by Dr. Muhammad Obaidullah
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Dr. Muhammad Obaidullah on Nov 14, 2019
Content may be subject to copyright.
Eco-Friendly Mosque: A Concept to Reality
Dr. Muhammad Obaidullah
Let us first make it clear and understandable the term “Eco-friendly Mosque”. Eco-friendly,
according to the dictionary, refers to state a condition that is not harmful for the environment.
Hence, the concept of “eco-friendly mosque” would be abstracted as a mosque and its
atmosphere are not harmful for the environment but promotes ecology, protects environment
towards ensuring sustainability. This is the timely-need concept that Must be implemented in the
present environmental situation of the world.
As we all know that Mosque is a place where most of the Muslims are engaged in every day for
praying their obligatory daily-prayers and especially Jumu’ah prayer on Friday and in other
religious festivals and occasions as well. In Bangladesh, there are approximately 2500399
mosques. Most of the mosques are built without proper design and strategic plans not only in the
rural area but also urban area. One can observe even in the Dhaka city, there are many mosques
and their atmosphere are not suitable and healthier for the worshipers and for the environment as
well because of their locations, designs, architectural plans and so on. On the summer time, it is
quite difficult to stay fairly long time in the mosque for not having sufficient pure air. Although,
the city’s mosques have been decorating with modern technology and using scientific inventions
(Light, Air-Condition, Fan, Hitter, sound system etc.) for making the place more comfortable and
peaceful, but it, in most of the cases, harms to the worshipers’ health and the ecological
environment. It increases expenses, consumes the electricity more, builds a locked-house
environment for the worshipers. It is really disheartening to observe that such mosques need to
use electrical lights in the day-time prayer; Zuhur and Asr prayers because of its infrastructure
and architectural design although there is sufficient space around the mosque complex. The main
reason behind this situation is lack of plan and weak architectural design. Therefore, the concern
authority must look after the issue be taken seriously in consideration for the new mosques’
buildings in future. The responsibility specially goes to the state government.
As we all know that the mosque plays a significant role in the Muslims life and in their
community, it should be designed and run for utilizing the maximum benefit of it for the
humanity through ensuring sustainable eco-friendly environment. It should be kept in our mind
that the Islamic civilization has been built based on the rejection of waste as an under-estimation
of Allah’s blessings. The Qur’an states, “But waste not by excess: for Allah loveth not the
wasters.” (Surah al-An’am, 6:141) Therefore, the sunlight, natural air and other natural resources
must not be misused and wasted as well.
To implement the concept of eco-friendly mosque in the present situation of our country and in
the world as well, we can take the following initiatives:
1. The architectural plan of a new mosque should be designed by the professional
architecture and approved by the concern authority as it ensures the eco-friendly
environment for not only the worshipers but also the neighbors. It, thus, would be truly
inclusive, sustainable, safe, secure and respectful of the neighbourhood.”
2. Mosque’s roof, wide doors and windows must be designed to ensure the natural light in
the day-time for reducing uses of electricity and other power sources. Solar panel can be
used in the mosque for reducing uses of electricity. The design would be intent to achieve
low carbon emissions.
3. Gardening is a must to ensure the eco-friendly environment. The roof of the mosque
complex, front space, window’s outside space and in other places must be planted of
various suitable and useful trees. It will not only create a beautiful environment but also
enjoins and presents the Islamic concept of gardening in Jannat. Allah says: “As for those
who obey Allah and His Messenger, We will admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing
under them, remaining in them timelessly, forever. That is the Great Victory.” (Al-Qur’an,
Surah Ali Imran, 3:13 see also: Surah al-Kahaf, 107-108) This would also be a practicing
sunnah as well. He (pbuh) said, “There is no Muslim who plants a tree or sows a field for
a human, bird, or animal eats from it, but it shall be reckoned as charity from him.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim].
4. The front space of a mosque and its garden, thus, would be a cultural bridge for not only
the Muslims but also for all other communities in the society. It will surely create an
opportunity to convey the beautiful message of Islam to others.
5. The building should be designed for harvesting the rain water that can be used in various
purposes as the crises of pure water is one of the most dangerous problems in the country.
It, thus, would be sued for mainly drinking, irrigated the garden, using for ablution and
such other possible purposes as well.
6. The sound system should also be equipped by the modern technology, thus, every person
in any place of the mosque can listen the speech of the Imam clearly and peacefully.
The purpose of this eco-friendly mosque concept is to promote the truly ecologically-responsible
mosque in all around the country and the world as well. It also intents to provide a natural
peaceful place for worshiping Allah through a true devotion, acquiescent mind and heavenly
environment conceptualized in the Qur’an and Sunnah. The concept is not new to the Muslim
civilization as our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught us first through constructing His holy
mosque in Medina. However, we are in the present world not careful about it. Therefore, it is one
of our duties to encourage worshipers world-wide to take up their environmental responsibilities
through providing a practical eco-friendly environment in the mosque. The mosque, thus, would
be a peaceful place for devoting worshipers’ minds to Allah for achieving His pleasure and for
showing the beauty of Islam to the world. The approach must be, therefore, dawatic to convey
the message of Islam to Others.
It is a kind information for the readers that, in Europe, the first eco-mosque has been built in
Oxford, UK and opened it for the worshipers in last Ramadan in May 2019.
The writer is a scholar in Islamic studies and researcher on Islamic views on contemporary
issues.