How to have an eco-friendly Ramadan

In this guest blog for Faith for the Climate, Kamran Shezad, Executive Director at the Bahu Trust reflects on his guide to an eco-conscious Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting which in 2026 falls in February.

A mother and son visiting a melon garden in a glass house in Bogor, Indonesia. Pic: Pramod Kanakath / Climate Visuals Countdown

Many faith traditions teach that the Earth is a precious trust, created in perfect balance so that life can flourish. This is beautifully described in the Qur’an, the central religious text in Islam, where the Chapter of Mercy (Surah Ar-Rahman) lists the countless blessings humanity enjoys: the sun and moon, fields and fruits, oceans and animals, and the eco systems that sustain all living things. The chapter repeatedly asks, ‘Which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?’ – a reminder to recognise and appreciate these gifts.

Surah Ar-Rahman also speaks of a carefully designed balance within creation and warns against disturbing it. This balance is not merely symbolic – it encompasses the cycles of water, air, soil and climate that make life on Earth possible. When humans disrupt these systems, the consequences ripple outward, harming environments, species, and ultimately ourselves.

Today, our collective habits are pushing this balance to its limits. Overconsumption of food, water, energy and raw materials is accelerating climate change, degrading ecosystems, and straining the Earth’s natural life-support systems. The result is a growing scarcity of resources essential to human health and wellbeing.

Lessons from Ramadan

Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, offers powerful lessons in gratitude, restraint and empathy. It is a time when Muslims deepen their spiritual focus, engage in prayer, reflect on their behaviour, and support those in need. By abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours, worshippers experience both humility and appreciation for basic blessings that are often taken for granted.

This month also serves as a practical laboratory for habit-building. The rhythm of Ramadan – structured routines, intentional eating and not eating, increased charity, and conscious consumption – creates an environment where positive changes can take root. Whether it’s reducing waste, conserving water, limiting unnecessary purchases, or practicing gratitude, these habits need not end when the month concludes. The true spirit of Ramadan is to carry these values into daily life long after the fasting days are over, gradually shaping a more mindful and sustainable lifestyle throughout the year.

Yet, like major sacred seasons around the world, Ramadan today faces the pressures of consumer culture. Instead of reflection and moderation, the focus can easily shift toward shopping, lavish meals for iftar (the breaking of the fast at sunset), and social gatherings that encourage consumerism. Ironically, waste often increases during a month meant to cultivate simplicity and self-discipline.

Islamic teachings emphasise that fasting is not just a physical act, it is a mindful practice. A well-known saying by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) warns us against not gaining anything if the deeper ethical and spiritual lessons of fasting are ignored:

‘How many fasting people are there whose fasts consist of nothing hunger and thirst?’

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Among those lessons is the importance of caring for the Earth and treating its resources responsibly.

Kamran and Canon Giles Goddard, chair of Faith for the Climate, at the Restore Nature Now mobilisation, 22 June 2024. Pic: Shanon Shah

A Guide to an Eco-Conscious Ramadan

Over the last few years, more Muslim communities have begun exploring what an environmentally friendly Ramadan could look like in practice. My eco-friendly Ramadan guide is my contribution to this growing effort, offering practical steps toward reducing waste, conserving resources and strengthening the spiritual values of gratitude and moderation.

While grounded in Islamic teachings, many of the ideas in this guide are universal and relevant to anyone who cares about planet-friendly living and sustainability.

The guide explores topics such as:

  • Mindful food preparation & reducing waste
  • Water and energy conservation
  • Sustainable transportation
  • Ethical consumption practices
  • Charitable giving
  • Responsible hosting
  • Spiritual simplicity
  • The power of prayer
  • The lifestyle of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as an example of minimalism and moderation

The response to the guide has been encouraging. Many people who have used the guide or attended eco-friendly iftar events have shared that these experiences helped them reconnect with the essence of Ramadan. Crucially, the guide is not simply a list of rules or restrictions. Readers have told me that it feels considerate rather than prescriptive, offering gentle prompts and empowering suggestions. Instead of feeling lectured or judged, they have felt inspired to rethink their habits and make meaningful changes in line with the spiritual essence of the month.

With the support of Greenpeace’s Ummah for Earth initiative, the guide has reached an even broader audience. It has been translated into Arabic, Italian, Bahasa Indonesia, and Bahasa Melayu and shared widely across multiple regions in the Muslim world through the Ummah for Earth network. This has helped spark conversations in diverse communities, each adapting the principles of the guide to their own cultural contexts while staying grounded in the shared Islamic values of stewardship and balance.

Community response

My own mosque, the Bahu Trust, is an example of how real change can unfold gradually within a community. Over the past ten years, the mosque has been on a journey of transformation, one that began with a simple intention to reduce plastic during communal iftars. It hasn’t been an easy process – shifting from familiar practices to more sustainable ones has involved financial considerations and cultural adjustments. Yet what started as a ‘plastic-free iftar’ has steadily expanded into a more holistic environmental approach that includes waste management, healthier food choices, sustainable transport, and thoughtful water conservation.

This slow and steady transition has been driven not only by the mosque management but by the community itself. As worshippers witnessed change in practice, conversations began to emerge – volunteers offered to wash dishes rather than rely on disposable cutlery, families suggested healthier communal iftar options, and others contributed ideas for reducing waste and improving recycling. It has shown that small shifts can spark wider participation, especially when people are invited rather than instructed to take part.

This year, interest in promoting an eco-friendly Ramadan has stretched beyond the mosque. Unity FM, a Birmingham-based radio station, will be dedicating a programme to the concept; a local secondary school is hosting an interfaith eco-iftar; and Islamic Help, an international NGO, is incorporating the campaign into its fundraising efforts to plant a large-scale forest in Pakistan.

What has become clear is that these eco-friendly practices can bring people together, create shared purpose and add joy to the Ramadan experience. Whether through collective cooking, volunteering, or simply rethinking how we host one another, going green becomes a source of connection. In this way, caring for the Earth becomes another way of caring for each other.

You can download the guide and learn more about experiencing a spiritually aligned eco-conscious Ramadan here.

Hear Kamran speak at our special interfaith panel on Tu Bishvat, Lent and Ramadan on Wednesday, 4 February – register here.

2 February 2026