The entire planet is a masjid - a place of prayer

While I live near Los Angeles, I’m Indonesian. “Ya” is how we say “Yes!”

Say “ya” and register for the 1 September Faiths 4 Climate Justice Action Training.

When I was growing up in Indonesia, I found solace and inspiration in the natural beauty of my country’s mega-biodiversity. I loved our orangutans (this means “man of the forest” in my language), birds, and Borneo elephants.

This was what made me say “ya” to Islam. For Muslims, the entire planet is a place of prayer, a masjid. In the Islamic faith, there is a clear call for action to protect the environment and to work against climate change. In the Holy Qur’an, we are called to recognize that Allah established the natural world in a life-sustaining balance which we should both respect and protect. The Qur’an also recognizes that people are responsible for all forms of human wrongdoings - including that which affects the land, the sea, and the air. As people of faith, we need to integrate these values into our society and daily life.

World leaders are meeting this November for global climate negotiations. They are not doing nearly enough to protect the planet. Neither are the fossil fuel industry, the deforestation and coal corporations that are destroying Indonesia, and the banks that keep giving them money.  

These dangers I saw - for my fellow Muslims and for the climate - spurred me to become a religious climate activist. I began by helping with green rebuilding efforts after a terrible earthquake.

Grassroots religious groups around the globe are a huge part of the solution. This October 17-18, at Faiths 4 Climate Justice, we’ll organize actions around the globe to create equity and a safer world both today and for future generations. 1 September is our next prep call where we’ll share stories, tools and resources with each other and hear from some awesome grassroots leaders. If you’re ready to take action, you can register here.

Together in our diversity, we are strong. Large scale, distributed public action is the way that we can make our shared vision of climate justice a reality and ensure a just, sustainable future for people and planet.

Will you join me on 1 September?

Please, say “ya.”

Salaam (Peace),

Nana Firman, Senior Ambassador