7:12 Our second purpose of…21:58 Do not waste…23:43 Every grain of rice…
Civic engagementFrom the masjid's own video, May 13, 2026.

Caring for the earth is an Islamic duty

OBKIC · Abdullahi Jaranow

“Our second purpose of life is the cultivation and preservation of the earth.”

The khateeb, at 7:12

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Because humans are Allah's stewards, caring for and preserving the earth, and avoiding harm and waste, is a core Islamic obligation, not merely a modern environmental preference.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Establishes divine guidance and humanity's stewardship of creation.
  2. Connects Quranic reflection on creation with revelation and environmental responsibility.
  3. Presents avoiding harm as a core Islamic ethical principle.
  4. Explains israf and tabdir through food, water, and resource waste.
  5. Calls households to conserve, reuse, recycle, and keep functioning devices longer.
  6. Closes with prayers for justice, relief, and protection for oppressed people.
Try this week
Assess actions and pursuits for harm to people and the environment.
Remove harmful objects from walkways and avoid needless harm to living things.
Conserve water during wudu and avoid wasting electricity, food, and other resources.
Save leftovers, pick up food respectfully, and reuse or recycle household items.
Keep working phones, gadgets, and devices instead of replacing them unnecessarily.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 91Uses Allah's oaths by created things to teach reflection on creation.
Sahih al-BukhariCited for prohibiting hunting living creatures merely for sport.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Our second purpose of life Is the cultivation And preservation Of the earth”
OBKIC · Skyway, South Seattle, WA
Play from 7:12
“Do not waste electricity Just because you can afford To pay the electric bill Do not waste water Just because you can afford To pay the water bill”
OBKIC · Skyway, South Seattle, WA
Play from 21:58
“Every grain of rice Every bite of bread Is a ni'mah”
OBKIC · Skyway, South Seattle, WA
Play from 23:43
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Allah created people as stewards of the earth and entrusted us to protect it. The imam taught that avoiding harm, waste, and needless destruction is part of faith, not just a response to Earth Day or modern environmental movements. We should conserve water, food, electricity, and other resources, reuse what we have, and avoid replacing working items simply because something newer is available. Caring for creation also means caring about human lives and asking Allah for justice and relief for people facing oppression.

  1. What is one resource our family sometimes wastes, and how could we protect it?
  2. How can we show gratitude for food before it reaches the trash?
  3. What working item could we reuse instead of replacing this year?
Where it was given

The masjid

Omar Bin Al-Khattab Islamic Center12622 Renton Ave S, Seattle, WA 98178KhateebAbdullahi JaranowMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at OBKIC106 khutbahs
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