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Salamun alaykum, 

Earth Week 7^th – 15^th November, 2009
Dahwul Ardh / Earth day on 25^th Dhulqa’ada (14^th November, 2009)

FOUR things to do on this day:

1. Perform ghusl

1. Highly Recommended to fast.

1. Recite the recommended prayers for the day.

1. Reflect on our role as Stewards / Trustees of Earth : our home

Refer to separate email dated 11^th November, 2009.

Some verses from Holy Quran for reflection :

• Inni jaa’ilun fil ardhi khalifah. Behold, your Lord said to the angels: "I am going to place a vicegerent on earth." (Sura al-Baqara 2:30) Thus purpose for creation of man is to be a Steward of  God on this earth : our home
• And it is He Who has made you (His) agents, inheritors of the earth: He has raised you in ranks, some above others: that He may try you by what He has given you..(Sura Al-An’am 6:165)
• Certainly We have established you on the earth, and made in it [various] means of livelihood for you. Little do you thank.” (Sura Al-A’araaf 7:10)
• Then We made you successors in the land after them so that We may see how you act. (Sura Yunus 10:14)
• Corruption has appeared in land and sea because of the doings of the people's hands that He may make them taste something of what they have done, so that they may come back. (Sura Ar-Rum 30:41)

How must we celebrate Dahwul Ardh?

• One must try to "fast" the true fasting by ensuring that every member of one's body is also fasting. He should also feel the pain of hunger and think about the reason why there exists a class in the world that starves while in other parts of the world there is surplus food such that some giant economic countries have to throw food every year to maintain the value of its currency.

• Offering prayers and Du'as recitation with sincerity and attention. These noble devotions are very vital elements to enable the human being come closer to his All-Merciful Creator.

• Our responsibility as Stewards / Trustees of the Earth : We pray to Allah (swt) to enable us utilize this earth for the purpose it was created and we sincerely ask him to uproot the influence of the capitalistic / consumerism whose voluptuous and greedy nature is never satiated, and because of whom the earth is in great crisis.

• To try to understand the contemporary problems of the earth and contribute whatever we can in this auspicious day.

• Making a firm decision and resolve in utilizing this earth as a means for a good and eternally secure Hereafter.

This would really make the celebration an unforgettable occasion, a celebration of true faith and concern, and a celebration of thanking the All-Merciful Creator who created the world- our home for our own good.

How is Dahwu'l Ardh applicable in the present era ?
Internationally pollution, climate change, green house effect, depletion of ozone layer and conservation of the environment has been and is still a focus for discussion and action. Man as Khalifa/ Trustee /Steward on this earth has an obligation to protect / conserve the environment.
We should try to expand our vision, and understand the occasion well: Ponder over this God given blessing the Earth : our home .What is the earth? Why was the earth created? Do we benefit from the earth for the purpose it was created? Are we making the earth a shelter of peace, or an arena of disunity, war, and pollution? What is the remedy for these crisis?

If we try to respond to these fundamental questions and do the necessary, we would have celebrated the occasion as anticipated from us.

Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah

With salaams and duas

Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat

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