I have always been interested in politics. The strategy, the game, and the morals behind it. Because of this, I’ve enjoyed advocating and speaking on behalf of what’s right.
I have also always been a Muslim, Alhumdulillah for that. I grew up memorising the Quran, learning about the Sahaba and how to be a good person. In my mind, these were always separate. I’m a good person because that is the logical thing to be, and I am a Muslim because that is the logical thing for me.
Last year, as I was getting more involved with Climate Strike Canada and activism in general, I was often asked “Why?
Why are you spending your days on calls and staying up late typing documents when there is a high chance nothing will ever change?”
I used to say that this was my chance to do something of value with my time, that I had nothing else to do. I spent a lot of time understanding my beliefs and shaping my religious practices and ethics around it. Over time, I recognized that both sets of my beliefs were in alignment. It pushed me to further my readings and understanding of Islamic policies and spirituality.
I thought a lot about my role in society, even asking why was I even here on earth? Especially, when governments around the world announce disappointing environmental policies, I question “why?”, Islam was able to give me that answer.
I recognize it is my job to preserve the beautiful earth that Allah (SWT) created, and that as people we were put on this earth to build it. So, when He asks me if I did what I am supposed to do, that I helped build the earth, I want to be able to say yes. Even if it didn’t make a lot of change, we at least tried.
Fighting for the Earth made me want to take a better and closer look at it and see what I'm truly fighting for. Marveling at the beauty that was created by Allah (SWT) made me realize how much more worthy He is of worship, and how worthy nature is of protection.
Though Islam was a subconscious motivator for my activism, my activism was a strong and present motivator to my Islam.
For the sake of our livelihood, others, the future, and for the sake of Allah (SWT), we will fight this injustice.
Jana Jandal Alrifai is a 17-year-old Canadian youth whose essay was one of 20 winning entries in a project entitled Our Climate, Our Stories. The project was born out of the desire to educate about the disproportionate impacts that the changing climate has on racially diverse communities. The People Planet Pages Book Club, run by the Books Art Music Collective (BAM Collective), EnviroMuslims and The Community Climate Council launched the creative writing competition for Canadian Black, Indigenous, and youth of color of ages 14 to 29, to share stories and narratives about their lived experiences and personal, cultural, and communal responses to climate change. Read more of these stories at https://www.enviromuslims.ca/our-climate-our-stories/.
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