“I have set out to reform the nation of my grandfather” – Imam Hussain

Imam Hussain clarifies his stance in this one line, he wanted one thing; reformation.

To fulfil this goal, we should use Muharram as a time to focus on self development, change bad habits, and to strengthen our faith. So when we commemorate the events of Karbala, we have to remember it not merely as a historical recount, rather we should relate the valuable lessons to our daily lives.

So last year, we at Ladies as Leaders, created a challenge called Plastic-Free Muharram (and Safar). And its purpose is to do just that. It is an initiative that we created to achieve reform in one of the most pressing issues of our time; saving the environment. So in 2018, we again invite you to take part in this challenge in whatever way you can, all you have to do is make the following pledge:

“I pledge to follow the teachings of Imam Hussain (as), to achieve reform in all that I do. I will try my best during this Muharram and Safar to reduce, reuse, recycle and refuse plastic items whenever I can.”

By doing so, you have joined the army of Hussain who set out to seek reform, and dissociated from Yazid’s army who represent backwardness and ignorance.

Taking care of the planet is a responsibility of us all, echoing Ladies as Leaders’ slogan which is also a hadith of the Prophet (pbuh): “Everyone is a leader and everyone is responsible of whom they lead”.

This beautiful planet is one of the greatest (both hypothetically and physically) of gifts  from Allah (swt), the least we can do is to protect it. It produces clean water for us to drink, fresh air to invigorate our bodies and trees and plants of many kinds. Allah states in the Holy Qur’an:

وَالْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَاهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ بَهِيجٍ

And the earth – We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind (Qur’an 50:7)

Here are a few ways to help you have a plastic-free Muharram and Safar:
– Educate yourself about the environmental destruction caused by plastic use. This will motivate you to see these lifestyle changes as a necessity rather than a burden

– Take a reusable water bottle with you wherever you go (including shopping, majalis etc)

– Refuse disposable coffee cups – bring your own

– Don’t throw anything away mindlessly – try to think if you can use it for anything else

– Recycle when possible

– Keep reusable shopping bags in the car to use whenever shopping (stop buying the reusable plastic bags as much as possible; that is now wasting both money and plastic)

– Bring your own containers when having takeaway/leftovers from a restaurant

– Don’t use plastic straws or cutlery

– Use glass containers with lids/paper bags rather than cling wrap

– Line the rubbish bin with newspaper

– Opt for products packaged in cardboard

– Compost food waste

…. And so many more!

Always remember, Hussain’s message is the message of truth against falsehood, right against wrong, and good against bad. Therefore, if you are doing anything truthful, right or good, you are on his army and helping to defeat all that is wrong in the world.

Just like we did last year, we invite you all to participate in this challenge. It may not be easy at first, but it also can become second nature if you pursue these tips until they become daily habits.  For any questions, queries or further advice, please email ladiesasleaders@hotmail.com or go tofacebook.com/ladiesasleaders.

Good Luck!