When we ponder upon our role of looking after theenvironment as Muslims, the effort weighs just asheavily on our shoulders as it does for any otherobligatory task. Just as our bodies and possessionsare trusts given to us by Allah, so is our very Earth.As Muslims, we will be held accountable on the Dayof Judgment for how we have defended this trustgiven to us by Allah.

For a creation which gives much to us and isessential for our sustenance, our own religionestablishes how to give back to our environment.From Islam came the first environmentalist over1400 years ago, our beloved Prophet Muhammad

A P R I L E D I T I O N N O . 3 S H A ' B A A N + R A M A D A N 1 4 4 2

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By: Farha Ferdous (11th Grade)

GOING GREEN:

(pbuh), who left us countless exampleson how to do so:

Increasing Love The Prophet is the ideal example ofwho we would call a “tree-hugger”today. When we look back to thehistory of the Prophet, we find thathugging a tree was, amazingly, justwhat he had done! A pulpit had beenmade out of date palm for theProphet to deliver the Friday sermonon, but he heard it suddenly cry outloud like a child. The Prophet, in allhis kindness and humility, embracedthe pulpit until it quieted. His displayof affection towards an inanimateobject, which the rest of us would notthink twice about, shows us anessential aspect when it comes toprotecting the environment: byincreasing our love for it first.

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ConservationWe often do not consider the quantity of

water in our daily use. However, the

Prophet was once performing ablution with

his companion Sa’d at a river, and he

questioned Sa’d for his misuse of water.

Sa’d had learned at that moment from the

Prophet that water can even be wasted at a

flowing river where it is bountiful and

endless, and even for an act such as

ablution. With water shortages all over the

world, it would be valuable for us to revisit

the advice our Prophet gave us hundreds of

years ago: the conservation of resources.

PlantingThe Prophet emphasized that even if the

Day of Judgment were to come upon us and

we happened to carry a seed or sapling in

our hand, then we should plant it. This tells

us that even if the end of the world were to

come and destroy everything, it should still

not prevent us from fulfilling our duty of

preserving nature. This command also

promotes a modern method that combats

the excessive carbon dioxide levels in our

Earth’s atmosphere, for planting more trees

captures carbon dioxide from the air.

E A R T H D A Y

When we consider the current state ofthe earth, one of the first things thatcomes to mind is the abundance ofthreatening natural disasters that seekto eradicate our environments. Theyear 2020 has gone down in worldhistory as holding some of thedeadliest natural disasters known tohumanity. In Greece and Turkey, anearthquake killed 117 people.

In Afghanistan, the currents of a flashflood struck down 177 people. HurricaneEta killed at least 150 people in CentralAmerica. Finally, one of the greatestnatural disasters to strike our planet hasbeen the ongoing situation in Australia,in which increasingly ferocious wildfireskilled at least 478 people, whileabsolutely eradicating nearbyecosystems. The National Centers forEnvironmental Information (NCEI), citedthe "billion-dollar events of 2020," ascosting the world more than $95B indamages, without factoring the

By: Sumaiyah Rahman (11th grade)

THE DIVINITY WITHIN ENVIRONMENTALSTEWARDSHIP

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E A R T H D A Y

sheer havoc it has inflicted on nature. In the last 50 years, human beings havedestroyed about 50% of all forest andwoodland due to the increasing marketfor lumber, construction, fuel, or spaceto grow more crops, a great number ofwhich have led to the aforementionedintensity of natural disasters. Scientistsbelieve that there is a 95% probabilitythat human activity has caused anincrease in Earth's temperature, as aresult of human-produced greenhousegases.

Considering these issues calls not justfor reflection on the tonnes of waste weengage in every single day, butdemands that we uphold the mantle ofenvironmental justice, which includes the"fair treatment and meaningfulinvolvement of all people regardless ofwho they are with respect to thedevelopment and preservation ofenvironmental laws, regulations, andpolicies," as defined by the UnitedStates Environmental Protection Agency(EPA).

As Muslims, we have a greaterresponsibility of taking care of theenvironment because of the magnificenttrust Allah (swt) has granted us. Allahstates in the Qur'an:

As the protectors of the Earth, wehave a responsibility to Allah to takecare of the beautiful and enrichingplanet He has gifted us for our needs,and it is absolutely essential that wemaintain and nurture the trust Allahhas granted us. This requires that weconsume less and in healthier, moreefficient ways that can provide anexample for the rest of the world.Everything in the world is in a constantstate of worship, and when we hurt abeing, an entire community ofworshippers is being silenced. Thisproves that it is extremely importantwe maintain the beings around us,because everything is a worshipper ofAllah, as Allah states:

E A R T H D A Y

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—Surah An'aam, Ayah 165

In fact, the Prophet (pbuh) himself wasa pioneer when it came to environmentalpreservation, as he maintained,cultivated, and preserved land andprovided sanctuary for wildlife. Duringhis prophethood, he specificallydesignated unique areas in which water,wildlife, and forestry use would berestricted for the public, or left alonealtogether. Additionally, he prioritizedthe degree of importance towards wasteminimization, human treatment ofanimals, preservation of naturalresources, and the protection of wildlife.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "Ifa Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds,and an animal eats from it, it isregarded as a charitable gift for him,"to underline the emphasis on thepreservation and cultivation of nature,and the reward that results from it.Ultimately, the Prophet set anexemplary example for how we shouldact as maintainers of the environment;he did not see nature as possessions ofhumanity, but as provisions from Allah.As his Ummah, it is our duty to maintainour sacred responsibility.

E A R T H D A Y

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—Surah Hud, Ayah 18

If you are anything like me, turning your camera on during Zoom meetingsrequires more than just a click of your mouse. It requires confidence and areally great start to your day. On the other hand, the thought of my teachertrying to speak in front of a bunch of black boxes is also unsettling.

When quarantine first started, the thought of learning from the comfort of mydining room table with an infinite supply of cold water and popcorn seemedeasy, and quite frankly, a better idea. However, I didn't realize how much of thelearning experience is lost by not seeing my teachers in person and having mypeers at my side (even 6 feet apart). I learned that virtual learning required acourageous decision to click the camera on and commit to being watched(literally every second) by my teachers and peers. This is very different whenyou are learning in person. Zoom is like having the spotlight on you even whenyou aren't camera-ready.

The choice to turn on your camera involves how you look, feel, and for some,what else is going on in your home at that moment. It moves beyond just me. Itinvolves how my parents look and feel and whether my little brother feels likecooperating while I’m reading out loud in class. It involves my neighbor who

V I R T U A L L E A R N I N G

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BY: ZOHRA HENRIQUEZ-RAHIM (7TH grade)

decides to cut down a tree that growsbetween our property and his, honkinghorns, the weather, and the sometimesdreadful internet connection.

There are very real and justifiablereasons for wanting to keep your cameraoff. A very important point to emphasizeis the school rule to turn cameras on. Dr.Torrey Trust, an Associate Professor ofLearning Technology at the University ofMassachusetts Amherst, said, “By requiring them to turn on their video, that’salmost like you walking into their home and teaching without their permission."(New York Times) "What about courtesy and consideration?" you may ask. Well,there is another side to this conversation.

V I R T U A L L E A R N I N G

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Our teachers have struggled with engagement throughout the pandemic just like us.They are expected to wake up early, prepare for class, and may feel just as selfconscious as we do. The spotlight really is on them, as they not only deliver theirlessons to us students, but at times to our parents, grandparents, and any one elsethat is present. Whew! THE PRESSURE! Then to add to the stress, if cameras are off,

they are teaching blank boxes and getting no feedback, no interaction, and noresponses (Crickets!). This also has to do with showing them respect. It is kind oflike when my little brother would close his eyes, stick his fingers in his ears, andsing “la.. . la. . . la,” while I was reprimanding him. Uggh! Frustrating and disrespectful!

V I R T U A L L E A R N I N G

and no one cares if they are having abad day or not. This is probably agood time to thank our teachers. May4, 2021 is Teacher Appreciation Weekand we need to acknowledge what atough job they have. The pandemichasn’t made it easy on anyone. Thankyou for all that you do. The spotlight iscertainly not an easy place to be, butteachers have made it look easy.

So, in the end, while we may not feel like we look our best and chaos may beensuing in our homes or on our blocks, I guess we really need to consider how ourteachers feel. Seriously, there are many more people watching and listening to them

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Assalamu'alaikum everyone,

As all of us have experienced, Ramadan wasamong us and so was the night of Laylatul-Qadr. Laylatul Qadr is often referred to as"the night of power". It was the night Allah(SWT) revealed the Qur'an to the ProphetMuhammad (SAW). The night of LaylatulQadr is among the odd nights of the lastten days of Ramadan. Muslims around theworld pray and make du’a for themselvesand for their families, or do 'Itikaaf to getcloser to Allah.

On this night, Allah (SWT) sends anabundant amount of angels down for ourgood. In the Quran, Surah 97 is Surah Qadr.Allah (SWT) talks about this blessed nightin this Surah.

In Ibn Kathir, we find a saying that sayspraying on the night of Laylatul-Qadr isequal to praying for 1,000 months or 83years. One day, Allah (SWT) told ProphetMuhammad the exact night of Laylatul-Qadr.After hearing the great news, the Prophetwent to tell the Sahabi, but on the way hesaw two men fighting. Allah got very angryand He decided not to share the night withthe Muslims. So when Muhammad (SAW)started to settle the issue with the two men,Allah took the date of Qadr night out of theProphet’s memory. Since we don’t know theexact date of Qadr night, Muslims areencouraged to pray during the last ten nightsto get rewards from Allah, but even thoughwe do not know the exact night of Qadr,Allah gives us signs for which night it is:

By: Sumaia Khan (7th grade)

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L A Y L A T U L Q A D R

Rain or a thunderstorm

The moon looks like a piece

of plate

The sunrise of the next

morning

Signs of the night of

Laylatul-Qadr

Every year on April 7th, World Health Day iscommemorated. This event seeks to bring attention toa national health theme to demonstrate a field offocus for the World Health Organization since itsformation at the First Health Assembly in 1948. Thishas brought to attention critical wellness concernssuch as behavioral health, maternal and childwelfare, and global change over the last 50 years.The day is characterized by events that go beyondthe day itself, and it acts as an occasion to drawpublic attention to these critical facets of globalhealth.

Countries in the Western Pacific have seen strongeconomic development, migration, and

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By: Mahnoor Tahir (11th grade)

As part of a year-long global movement todraw citizens together to create a fairer,better planet, World Health Day 2021 shedslight on health inequities. The movementemphasizes the WHO's belief that "everyhuman being has the right to the highestattainable level of health, regardless ofethnicity, gender, political belief, economic,or social situation." The planet seems to beunfair. Many people struggle to achievetheir maximum health potential because ofwhere they live, function, and play, whileothers excel.

Health inequities, on the other hand, may beavoided by implementing policies thatprioritize strengthening health equality,especially among the most disadvantagedand oppressed communities. COVID-19 hashad a devastating effect in all nations. Butit has been particularly severe in thosepopulations that were already fragile, sincethey are more susceptible to the epidemic,have limited access to adequate health care,and are more likely to suffer negativeeffects as a result of steps taken to combatthe pandemic.

urbanization in recent years. Many people had greater expectations as a result of this,but some were left behind. The COVID-19 pandemic has stunted recent health advances,driven more citizens into hunger and food insecurity, and intensified gender,educational, and health inequalities.

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H E A L T H A W A R E N E S S