Post Woolwich: WIN Statement: 'The Essential Need for an Islamic Nonviolence'

"Today's world is traveling in some strange direction. You see that the world is going toward destruction and violence. And the specialty of violence is to create hatred among people and to create fear. I am a believer in nonviolence and I say that no peace or tranquility will descend upon the people of the world until nonviolence is practiced, because nonviolence is love and it stirs courage in people."
Abdul Ghaffar Khan (a.k.a. Badshah Khan: 'Nonviolent Soldier of Islam')

"But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs."
(Qur' an 42:43)

As an organisation guided by core Islamic principles, we acknowledge that there have been disturbing acts of violence which have taken place, that have been voiced, explicitly or otherwise, to be under the umbrella of Islam. The recent killing in Woolwich, London is one such act.

While we believe these acts to be contrary to Islamic teachings, and planned and carried out by individuals or groups that do not represent the vast majority of Muslims - in our view nonetheless, it is clear that there is an essential need for a conscious, nonviolent movement in the Muslim world that captures dissatisfaction, frustration and anger that may be present. Such a movement would support the transformation of such feelings into energy  that can be channelled into actions that heal, rather than fracture - actions that are ultimately motivated by love for all, as opposed to, at the other extreme, by hatred and vengeance.

Simultaneously, real peace is built on the foundation of justice for all, and the healing of wounds. In this spirit, there is a collective responsibility, and qualities such as fairness, non-exploitation of humans and the wider natural order, coupled with self-determination, lie at its heart.

Wisdom In Nature condemns the attack that took place in Woolwich last week, and we keep Drummer Lee Rigby's family and loved ones in our heart and prayers.  Pain is never isolated, especially in a globalised world. Pain is ultimately shared, just as we ultimately are all as one.

In this spirit of unity and compassion, WIN is open to, and invites collaboration with other parties wishing to raise awareness of the tradition of nonviolence in Islam, and within our respective capacities, to co-learn and co-develop holistic programs in this key area.

Abdul Ghaffar Khan

With Islamic contemporary history having figures of nonviolence, perhaps most notably and best documented, being Abdul Ghaffar Khan (a.k.a. Badshah Khan: see photo) [1] who in the last century raised an 'army' of 100, 000 'soldiers' of active nonviolence, we thus have inspiration and material in our own tradition, as well as material and inspiration from that of others - indeed all authentic traditions point to the same essential Truth.

From near the beginnings of WIN, we have felt the need to give importance to 'process' i.e. the belief that how we achieve our goals is as important as the goal itself. Our process-oriented approach remains integral to our work, and an active nonviolence is central to our core strand of 'Engaged Surrender'[2], which underlies our activities.


Closely related to this is the need to create spaces that invite authentic listening to a diverse range of voices, including those of the marginalised who may not otherwise easily get heard. The current state of the world re-affirms to us the immense importance these principles hold, and the need to stay firmly and explicitly with them.  At its best, it is easier said than done. Yet, it is our prayer that we can develop and actualise this concept further, embodying it further ourselves, and with the wider community.

If you have any questions, please get in touch. 

Wisdom In Nature

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Tel. 0845 456 3960 (local rate)
Web: www.wisdominnature.org.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/wisdominnature
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wisdominnature

Notes: 

 

[1] Abdul Ghaffar Khan (a.k.a. Badshah Khan), a friend of Gandhi, was a Muslim Pathan who in the 20th century lived by principles of active non-violence, rooted in Islam. Badshah Khan raised a non-violent army of 100, 000 Khudai Khidmatgar ("Servants of God") that resisted British rule over India.

[2] Engaged Surrender is one of Wisdom In Nature's core strands. i.e. WIN's work is underpinned by a nonviolent, process-oriented activism, expressed through a contemplative dimension within the framework of Islam (Surrender to the Divine). More info about Engaged Surrender and WIN's core strands can be found by clicking here.

[3] Wisdom In Nature (WIN) was originally called LINE (London Islamic Network for the Environment). WIN offers workshops and training in Islamic ecology, Permaculture and Facilitation Skills, and engages in a transformative approach. It is open to people of all faiths and beliefs, and is based in the UK. More info: www.wisdominnature.org.uk

 

GM and the Ummah: Should Muslims be eating genetically modified (GM) food?

When readiness of a meal coincides with the time for salah (compulsory ritual prayer), the eating of the meal comes first:

Narrated Nafi': Ibn 'Umar said, "Allah's Apostle (SAW) said, 'If the supper is served for anyone of you and the Iqama is pronounced, start with the supper and don't be in haste till you finish it." If food was served for Ibn 'Umar and Iqama was pronounced, he never came to the prayer till he finished it (i.e. food) in spite of the fact that he heard the recitation (of the Qur'an) by the Imam (in the prayer). Narrated Ibn 'Umar: The Prophet (SAW) said, "If anyone of you is having his meals, he should not hurry up till he is satisfied even if the prayer has been started." (Bukhari Book 11, Hadith 642)

With this in mind, I invite you to reflect upon the importance of eating Allah’s gift of food in its best condition. Specifically, I ask you to consider that there may be something wrong with foods that are genetically modified (GM).

Whenever Allah SWT applies the description 'halal’ (lawful; legal) to food in the Qur’an, He also uses the description ‘tayyib’, meaning ‘pure’ or ‘good’. As Muslims, we need to know about the purity of our food. This includes GM food.

"Allah created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions): verily in that is a Sign for those who believe." The Qur'an (29:44)

Does GM corrupt Allah SWT's 'true proportions'? To begin addressing this question, let us (briefly) consider what the process of making GM crops entails and what this means for the earth …

To genetically modify the cells of a plant, a gene is usually taken from another plant or other organism and inserted into the plant. All of the plant's cells are then affected by the new gene and take on its characteristics. This includes the reproductive cells, meaning that subsequent generations will inherently carry the GM trait. The inserted gene will be chosen for a particular characteristic, but the insertion process can also lead to impacts on neighbouring genes.

GM can lead to changes that go beyond those that can occur through traditional cross breeding. When GM crops are grown in open land, the spread of GM from them cannot be contained since plants are pollenated by wind and insects. We must question whether impacts upon the food chain and the environment surrounding GM crops can be comprehensively predicted or controlled. These impacts include effects upon the people who eat the products of animals fed with GM crops, for example meat, dairy products or eggs.

As Muslims, we need to consider whether or not the open growing of GM crops, that lead to changes that cannot be contained, transgresses the balance in Allah SWT's creation.

“The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed;
And the herbs and the trees – both (alike) bow in adoration.
And the Firmanent has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance (of Justice),
In order that ye may not transgress (due) balance.”
The Qur'an (55:5-8)

Do we know whether or not GM food products are tayyib?

“Eat and drink of the sustenance provided by Allah, and do no evil nor mischief on the (face of the) earth.”
The Qur'an (2:60)

The more that GM crops are grown in the environment, the more crops around them can become (and already have become) contaminated through wind and insect pollenation. If GM crops are modified with cells from unlawful organisms, will we be able to eat them? Will we even know whether or not our food contains GM? In our endeavours to eat food in the best and most wholesome condition, don’t we need to consider the entire food production process as well as taking care over the slaughtering of meat, the cooking of meals and the serving?

“It is He Who hath made you (His) agents, inheritors of the earth.” (Other translations of agents include 'viceroys' and 'successors')
The Qur'an (6:165)

As an agent of the earth, appointed by Allah SWT, have you made an informed decision about GM food yet?

“So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.” (Other translations of Allah SWT's fitrah include 'original' and 'nature')
The Qur'an (30:30)

We choose, every moment, to make intentions, provisions and actions as Muslims. As Muslims, we must uphold Allah's balance in the earth, and avoid spreading mischief. I ask you to make a decision about how you, as a Muslim in this interconnected earth, need to behave regarding GM foods.

Jabir reported that Allah's Messenger (may Peace be upon him) commanded the licking of fingers and the dish, saying: “You do not know in what portion the blessing lies."
(Sahih Muslim Book 23, Hadith 5043)

I pray that you will not neglect any small actions that would deny you Allah SWT’s blessings through His gift of food, including the blessings of truth, purity and goodness. May you succeed in achieving the best conditions for every morsel of food that you serve and eat.

Useful webpages:

GM and Islam by Wisdom in Nature
http://www.wisdominnature.org.uk/Resources/GM/gmintro.htm

GM Watch
http://www.gmwatch.org/

Non GMO Project
http://www.nongmoproject.org/

Food Sovereignty
http://www.foodsovereignty.org

Organic halal food to buy (UK)
http://willowbrookorganic.org
http://www.organic-halal-meat.com

Beyond Halal
http://beyondhalal.com/

This article was published in SISTERS Magazine in April 2013 http://www.sisters-magazine.com/

The tools we use to achieve the ends we seek

The concerns voiced in this post have been disturbing me for a long time, but it took me a while to articulate them here - probably because of the somewhat contradictory nature of doing so.  I've been thinking about the means we use to achieve the end desired - social justice, ecological health, better health and well-being for people and planet in the form of wholeness, not one of these goals at the expense of others.  They are, after all, interconnected.  In recent years, the internet, and in particular social media has become a nearly essential tool to this end.  And although there are examples of cooperative social media structures, these have not attained the mass usage necessary that have rendered big-business run entities such as Facebook nearly essential for individuals and organizations to communicate and share information.  Unfortunately, big businesses are not conducive to the end desired for those who seek a more peaceful and whole world; they undermine this, even if simultaneously engaging in 'corporate social/environmental responsibility' activities.  

A recent case illustrates the point.   Facebook's founder, Mark Zuckerberg, was one of several technology giants that recently started a political organization called FWD.us, which focuses on progressive immigration reform in the United States.   Its tagline is "moving the knowledge economy forward", and other technology leaders involved with it hail from Dropbox, Linkedin, and Microsoft.   While pushing for pro-immigration reform, FWD.us has financially supported two groups airing television ads of lawmakers who opposive healthcare reform, support drilling in the Arctic, and support the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.  Tar sands development in Canada is what James Hansen, NASA scientist, has said would mean "game over for the climate".    The actions of FWD.us have resulted in a boycott of Facebook by a coalition of environmental, immigration, and progressive change groups; to their credit, they reject the strategy of pursuing support for one issue at the expense of others.   But back to the underlying problem - these companies make have made enormous profits through mass use of their products or services, and like all big businesses, use their power to influence policy via lobbying groups.    Sometimes, as with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, their philanthropic organizations invest in other corporations such as Monsanto and Cargill, while also promoting schemes undermining social and/or ecological justice - e.g. GM crops in Africa. 

There is also a dark side to internet use in general.  The ever-increasing amounts of information, communication, and entertainment that exist in cyberspace rely on data centers or 'server farms' that use vast amounts of electrical power.   As the New York Times reports, "The inefficient use of power is largely driven by a symbiotic relationship between users who demand an instantaneous response to the click of a mouse and companies that put their business at risk if they fail to meet that expectation."   Or, as stated by a technology expert quoted in the same article, “We’re what’s causing the problem.”   

The questions that run through my mind are:   What is our role in causing some of these problems?  Or is it that corporations create demand and feed it?   Should we resign ourselves to the notion that there is no way to pursue our goals without corporate conduits?  Or is there another way?

So returning to why it took me so long to voice these concerns; here I am sharing this on a blog on the internet.   I've realized It's worth sharing these thoughts, and that's the reason WIN and countless other organizations and individuals use the internet and social media - to reach and connect with people.  However, I feel that it is important to acknowledge that all the stuff that we share and store online has costs- much more than the ones raised here.  Only through awareness can solutions emerge.

Workday on Permaculture Plot (Surrey): Mon 27th May 2013 - In Solidarity with 'Worldwide March against Monsanto'

Wisdom In Nature invites you to:

ALLOTMENT WORKDAY ON PERMACULTURE PLOT (SURREY) - In Solidarity with 'Worldwide March against Monsanto'

Registration info below>>

Date: ***Change of Date*** (due to illness)  to Monday 27th May (i.e. Monday of Bank holiday weekend - it was originally planned for the 25th)
Time: 12pm-3pm.
Location: Reigate, Surrey. (Just outside M25, a couple of miles from Reigate train station. Reigate is within an hour from London on the train. Car parking available).

This is a volunteering day on a Saturday in Reigate (an hour's train ride from London). The plot is relatively new and in its beginnings as a permaculture project. The day would be of particular interest to anyone who would like to spend a few hours working on the land, and would like to see some permaculture principles being tried out on a land-based project.

Open to people of all faiths and beliefs, and all gardening abilities. No experience is necessary.  

This workday was originally planned on the same day as the 'Worldwide March against Monsanto', with hundreds of protests being planned across the world. More info: http://tinyurl.com/cz9z25v The workday is being held in solidarity with these protests (even though the date of the workday has changed to Monday 27th May).

On Islam & GM: http://wisdominnature.org.uk/Resources/GM/gmintro.htm 

I'm interested - What to do?

To find out more/register your interest:  email us on: volunteer[AT]wisdominnature.org.uk with your full name and contact number. Once registered, we will then send you email updates in the lead-up.

If you would like to speak with us, call 0845 456 3960 (local rate).   

If we have alot of interest, we may have to put a hold on further registrations.

 
Things to bring

Gardening gloves (if you have any, but not essential)
Rough footwear.
Waterproofs in case.
A packed lunch.
Fluids & perhaps a hot drink in a flask for yourself

WIN website: www.wisdominnature.org.uk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/wisdominnature
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wisdominnature
Tel. 0845 456 3960 (local rate)

Peace News Summer Camp 2013: Taking a Lead from the Global South, 25-29July, Norfolk

 Here's info about a progressive annual camp organised by our friends at Peace News (Note: It is during Ramadan)....

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PEACE NEWS SUMMER CAMP 2013: TAKING A LEAD FROM THE GLOBAL SOUTH

Thurs 25 July - Mon 29 July 2013, near Diss, Norfolk

Book your tickets online here: http://tinyurl.com/pnsummercamp2013tickets

This year’s camp is organised by activists of colour/people with a global majority heritage. We invite you to join us and others from across the broad spectrum of the peace movement and radical activism for five days of workshops, entertainment and network building!

Taking a Lead From the Global South will be a core strand of the workshop programme, which will include:

- Standing our ground: Peace Communities nonviolently taking back their land in Colombia
- Between NATO, the warlords and the Taliban: Peace activism in Afghanistan
- Finger on the trigger: Western nuclear terrorism since 1945
- Demonising Muslims: Why Islamophobia is more popular than ever
- After Chavez: Social movements in Venezuela
- Turning the world upside down: Global feminisms
- Deschooling society: A Black perspective
- A culture of resistance: The story of Pan-Africanism

ABOUT THE CAMP
When: 25 – 29 July 2013
Where: Near Diss, Norfolk

Peace News Summer Camp is an annual five-day, family-friendly event that attempts to embody many of the characteristics of the future society towards which we’re working – inclusive, democratic, participatory, renewably-powered and environmentally sustainable. It’s an opportunity for a broad spectrum of activists working for radical social change to come together and develop our goals, priorities, knowledge, strategy, skills and networks in support of our different movements, be they anti-capitalist, anti-cuts, anti-racist, anti-war, counter-militarist, disability, environmental, feminist, LGBTQ, or other movements for liberation.

There will be workshops and discussions, practical skills sessions, delicious vegan food, music, film, and participatory entertainment, a bar, a campfire, and activities and facilities for kids and families.

The theme for this year’s camp is TAKING A LEAD FROM THE GLOBAL SOUTH. We’ll be creating opportunities to:

- celebrate what movements in the Global South have contributed to movements in the UK
- discover what movements in the North can learn from those in the Global South
- make global connections between local struggles
- think about what it means to build real solidarity with activists in the Global South

BLACK LEADERSHIP

For this fifth Peace News Summer Camp, for the first time the organising committee are all of global majority heritage. This is an expression of the commitment of Peace News, and of the Summer Camp, to work against racism, and to give an opportunity for new ideas and voices to enter. The new organising collective has added these dimensions to the agenda of the camp:

- celebrating what global majority activists have accomplished in struggles for social change around the world
- helping us better understand and overcome the racism of the societies in which we live
- helping us to understand the connections between racism and other forms of oppression, including those based on disability, class, gender, sexuality and age
- giving us an opportunity to learn more about how racism is affecting our struggles and ourselves and to think about how we can move forward in rooting it out

Peace News Summer Camp is an inclusive event, open to everyone who’s been before, and to everyone else – from all racial and cultural backgrounds – who would like to explore radical ideas and share social change skills.

TICKETS & FOOD

The camp costs £20-£70 depending upon income (for those over 14). Payment can be made by cheque, online or by phone:
- online purchases here [http://peacenews.info/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=6]
- 0207 278 3344 for purchases by phone
- Send cheques (payable to “Peace News” to Peace News, 5 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DY), explaining how many tickets you’re purchasing and at which rates

Food (3 meals a day and drinks) will cost £6-£11 a day for over-14s, depending on income, and should be ordered before the camp starts. Individuals meals will be available to buy at the camp. Food tickets will be available from late April. 

Deepening Facilitation: Report Back on 'Facilitating Change' Week in Wales

 

A Photo from a previous visit to a nearby area in Wales

 

We the People, We the material 

It's been about a month since I returned from a challenging, yet exhilarating week in rural Wales. There were about 25 of us - most of us were from the UK, and some from other parts of Europe. When people come together, I am excited about the possibilities that exist, and the extent to which those possibilities are tapped depends, in part, on how the group is facilitated. 

At this gathering, called 'Facilitating Change' we had come to explore deeper, more inclusive ways to facilitate groups. It felt like a landmark event, whose ripples are yet to be widely felt. It was organised by Seeds for Change, Rhizome, and Tripod. 

Everyone participating had some experience in facilitating groups. Some participants also had experience in training others to facilitate. However, perhaps the most profound difference between this gathering and other facilitation training I have been on, was not the level of experience of participants - even though the level here was high - but that at this gathering we focussed almost entirely on the relationships between our selves: WE were the material! - living together, eating together, facilitating together, reflecting on our and each other's patterns, and participating together - for a whole week.

The Magnifying Glass: Mainstream, Margins, and more..

 

A central focus during this rich time we spent together was reflecting on mainstreams and margins within groups, focussing not on groups out there, but on our group that had gathered for the week. What are the mainstream values, attitudes and behaviours, for example, in our group? And which values, attitudes, and behaviours are being marginalised... perhaps unconsciously? 

Related to this, we explored rank, power and privilege, developing awareness of our own rank in the group, how we used our power, or allowed others to step into theirs. I am speaking here from my own understanding.

There was no set formula, and a range of approaches were used to experientially explore the concepts: from 'Process Work', to 'Forum theatre', to Joanna Macy's 'The Work that Reconnects', to the various methods more commonly used in the tool-kit of grassroot facilitators, whether small group work, paired work or exercises within the larger group. Some sessions hit the mark more than others. But each offered much learning. The variety made it both interesting, and for me, very effective.

  

Participants become the facilitators
 

The sessions on the first day-and-a-half were facilitated by the organisers. Thereafter, much of the facilitation was passed to us, the participants, and we would facilitate in pairs. After the previous session had ended, there would be space for some feedback to the pair who had facilitated it. The group as a whole would then consider where we are at now: "What is the diagnosis?", What is emerging right now? And what is being silenced? 

These kinds of questions would help inform us, and in particular the next pair, stimulating us to reflect on what approaches and exercises might further the group now. The next pair were chosen by picking two names from an envelope - this was a time when I think we all felt quite anxious - in particular because the pair would then have just half an hour, or so, to prepare their session!

Diving Deeper into the Process

Whether you were facilitating, or participating, the week was challenging! The process was 'alive' throughout - our attention was frequently directed towards considering where the group was at in any given time, and what was needed to take the group (i.e us!) further. 

Conflict was drawn out. Not all significant conflict. Differences were acknowledged. Not all significant differences either - we were far from 100% successful  - but the important thing for me was that it became more ok to express within the group things that would usually be more difficult - not that it became easy either! 

One helpful approach used at least a couple of times after something especially difficult had happened, was some kind of re-enactment - a few people playing different roles, helping to bring up different themes or emotions that had been acutely felt, even if not expressed. This often carried with it a quality of humour, which softened the tension, and made communication easier. It was wonderful to witness this, and for me, this helped to bridge differences and draw me closer to other participants. 


The week also created a context that supported greater awareness of my own pain and patterns, helped strip away some of my social mask - and related to that - deepened my relationship with others. Out of this experience, I am more aware how easy it can be for action groups to just travel on the surface, going through the motions. I want to dive deeper. I want to glide underwater, into the unknown, and experience the depths, the richness that is there. And I want to support others to be able to do the same.

While there was plenty of time spent in the company of one another, whether during formal sessions or during the evening, I felt it important to have some time alone. My spiritual practises that I immersed myself into several times a day were really helpful to me, helping to reduce some of the mental noise and process some of the emotions that were arising. 

I also felt that a few more exercises of a meditative or contemplative nature within the formal workshops would have been really helpful. There were certainly strong emotions that arose for many of us, and practises that expanded the 'inner container' that held 'emotional content' would, I think, have really helped our individual and collective processing of that content.

The Question of Resistance

So, was nobody in the group resisting the process? The answer is that there was plenty of resistance. Particularly at the beginning. We were being pushed to go deeper, to be real, to stop being polite that would otherwise hold us back from talking about the difficult stuff. This resistance tried to defend its ground, but eventually - after some pain - things began to open up.   

There were also the later stages of the week. In retrospect, I sense that I became a little complacent during these even though I never stopped journeying. However, I have wondered if I could have voiced a little more that I was feeling within, during the later stages, and which might thus add fuel for more growth. Or maybe I intuitively felt there was enough already being processed: too much fuel can also smother a fire. I'll be reflecting more on this.

Some Personal Insights

Some personal insights that became more real for me during the week were as follows:

-Within a groups, it can be fine to ditch the agenda (or to be prepared to).
-The fastest journey is not necessarily the seemingly shortest route.
-Emotions hold wisdom, and wisdom informs.

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For anyone who is interested, below is some of the pre-gathering reading that went round.... 

 

"We wanted to give you a bit of background, to give you a an idea where this project has come from and to help you get into a state of mind which will help us have a productive week together. Hopefully you'll get a wee bit of time away from your busy lives, while travelling if not before, to reflect on why you were attracted to come to this event, your hopes and expectations…

This was a project that was dreamed up a few years ago that we've been working hard on ever since. It came out of noticing that despite the great increase in the use of facilitation in the grassroots social change and campaigning scenes in the UK, in part through the Training for Action trainings in advance of the Scottish G8 and through the Camp for Climate Action, we still participate in some really bad meetings! So despite this increased capacity, both of facilitators formal and informal, and of general meeting skills, what happened? Why are meetings sometimes drawn out and overly painful? How come facilitators from time to time fail to support fairness and creativity in our processes?

Well, this set us thinking (when we say us, we mean a loose set of experienced activist-facilitators from different places). Was the problem that we'd focussed too much on certain skills without allowing our intuition to develop? Are there secrets out there in different cultures and approaches that we've 'missed? What are the attitudes or understandings that are lacking, or is it something else? What is the place of values in all this? Are there values behind good facilitation? Is good facilitation about helping a group uncover their values and work to them?

We're sure you've got more questions too, and some answers. And it's in this spirit that we're all getting together. It is not just about learning new tools and exercises, though I'm sure we'll all learn some along the way, maybe even develop new ones. Its about working out how we can develop the state of mind and express the values that underpin our practice as intuitive facilitators. It's a chance for all the great people who are taking part to bang our heads together, to think, to dream, to feel, and to see what we come up with and where we get to; and wherever we do get to, it'll be a start. Hopefully together we will advance how grassroots facilitation is practiced, for ourselves, for other facilitators, and for all we work with."

Ameen,

Love, Muzammal
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WIN's workshops: click here

Video of WIN talks: Interconnectedness & Relationship: Basis for an Islamic Ecology

Earlier this month, WIN Reps Shumaisa Khan and Muzammal Hussain spoke at an Inclusive Mosque Initiative event. 

The topic was: 'Interconnectedness and Relationship: Basis for an Islamic Ecology'. 

The talks were followed by a discussion.

Areas covered included: Nature as a teacher, Permaculture, Interconnectedness between campaigns/issues, Economy, Islamic ecological concepts, technology, intentional communities, and the challenge of deeper group work.

You can watch the full video below:

Event: Interconnectedness & Relationship: Basis for an Islamic Ecology: Sun 3rd March 2013, London

We are very happy to be speaking at this exciting event hosted by the Inclusive Mosque Initiative.

 

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The Inclusive Mosque Initiative invites you to:

 

INTERCONNECTEDNESS & RELATIONSHIP: BASIS FOR AN ISLAMIC ECOLOGY

 

Date: Sunday 3rd March 2013
Time: 2pm-4pm

Venue: St Johns Church, 73 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8TY; Map: Click here

 

With Shumaisa Khan & Muzammal Hussain of 'Wisdom in Nature'

Talks followed by question/answer session.

 

Registation is requested with a suggested donation of £5 on the day, if you can afford more then please feel free to do so. This covers the venue and speakers costs.  

 

Registration link is here: http://www.inclusivemosqueinitiative.org/registration-2.htm

 

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/199320436878536/

Permaculture: Growing Food in a Small Space

Just 10 years ago, 'permaculture', was a term known to just a tiny minority of people. Today, the term is known much more widely, with more and more people getting trained up in this remarkable approach of designing sustainable systems and applying it in their own lives and communities. 

While I initially heard of permaculture in the late '90's, it wasn't for another 10 years (i.e. in 2008), that I took any formal training in it - a weekend course run by Naturewise that both inspired me and made me thirsty for more...

The following year, I applied to get onto Earth Activist Training  - a two week residential intensive, while camping at Landmatters eco-community in Devon, that weaves together a full Permaculture Design Course (PDC) with sustainable activism and spirituality. One of the powerful ingredients of this course was the presence of some experienced activists in the direct action movement in the UK. It was a privilege to have been on it and I describe it a little within this post here. 


When I returned from the EAT course, one of the first projects I completed was converting a small area of land in our garden into a productive growing space. 



In the Beginning: Start with Observation..
  
One thing we permaculturisits like to do before designing a system is to observe it - and an aspect of observation involves recognising potential 'threats' or 'constraints' to the site. Through creative design, we might then consider how to work around (or within) those constraints. This cute creature seen basking in the sun lived above us. She enjoyed certain activities on our small piece of land. Although she probably didn't realise it herself, her digging holes to relieve herself was seen as a bit of a 'constraint' in getting some things growing on the land! So, I wanted to find a way around this...

To work around her behaviour, (or intrinsic characteristic), I decided to protect the site with netting. This actually had the added beneficial effect of preventing snails from getting to the veggies! I also put a layer of compost onto the soil, which you can see in the photo, the idea being to increase soil fertility and further cover any existing cat poop. Some of the compost was bought, and some was worm compost that we produce from organic kitchen waste.


Additonally, I chose to work on the site without digging, which would otherwise  disturb the soil layers and microbiology, and would bring weed seeds to the surface. This would inevitably increase the need to dig in the future, setting up a viscious cycle. Instead I would hoe out any weeds at the surface,and let them lie on the soil. Letting the weeds rest on the soil in this way  better mirrors principles in nature, and allows the weeds to breakdown where they directly feed the land.



 
Permaculture Principle: Make the least change for the greatest effect

I then covered the compost with a layer of straw. This was for a couple of reasons: firstly, to help prevent the compost drying out, and secondly to reduce the chances of any weed seeds that may be present near the soil surface from germinating.






Maximise growing space by 'Stacking'

Rather than making expensive interventions with potentially harmful consequences, permaculture is more about maximising the relationship between existing resources - this means working with what is already there in a harmonious way. Thus, using a permaculture principle called 'stacking', taller plants can be grown close to shorter ones - the taller ones are positioned furthest from the sun, and the smaller ones closer to it. This minimises competition for sunlight and means greater overall yields for the same area. 

This particular form of stacking is called 'vertical stacking'. We can also stack in time e.g. by growing crops that occupy the same space in different seasons so the land is productive throughout the year; or if we share the same living space with someone else but use  it at different times of the day. (Permaculture can help design social systems as well as gardens! Indeed it can help integrate the two!) In the photo, the tall plant against the back south-facing wall is a beautiful climbing french bean, called Blauhilde. Yet, even though it is at the back, it still gets plenty of sunlight by nature of its height. There's also a few tomato and perpetual spinach plants in the photo, as well as Rosemary.  So, lots of diversity in a small space.

 Here's a few of the purple french beans being harvested. The plant is high yielding and the beans are delicious! They also have this unusual characteristic that while purple when raw, they turn green when cooked! The plant also has wonderful tiny purple flowers that you can see more easily by enlarging the photo.  





Here is a close up of a perpetual spinach plant (protected by netting). What I love about perpetual spinach is, you plant it once and it provides yield for months on end. I'm surprised more people don't grow it. Even with just a few plants we  often had more than we could eat, and would often enjoy sharing the harvest with our neighbour.






 

Also planted were broad beans. These were actually harvested before the other crops. 

Permaculture Pricniple: The Problem is the Solution


 

In this picture are potatoes being chitted indoors to get them started early, before planting them in the soil outdoors. This particular variety came from Seedy Sunday.

There is a permaculture principle that 'the problem is the solution'. To make good use of space, I managed to secure some unwanted used tyres (the 'problem') from a local store, and used them to grow the potatoes (i.e the solution!).

As the potato plants grew, I would put another tyre on top of the existing ones, added some compost and topsoil, and thus made greater use of vertical space. This meant getting a greater yield for the same land surface area. 
  

Here's a sample of the harvest of potatoes. 

 

So that's a brief outline of a few permaculture principles that can be used by anyone, to grow food even in a small urban space. 

Permaculture Workshops

If you feel permaculture could be useful for your group and are interested in a workshop with Wisdom In Nature, click here for more information.



Further Reading 

 Here's a short selection of books that I've found useful and inspiring alongside course that I've attended...

The Permaculture Way / Also, The Permaculture Garden: Both by Graham Bell  
Two very readable books by the same author. Both are useful in their own right.

Permaculture: A Beginners Guide, By Graham Burnett
A wonderful little book provides an excellent introduction to the permaculture approach.

The One Straw Revolution: By Masanobu Fukuoka 
Not explicitly about permaculture but an inspiration to many permaculture practitioners.

The Earth Care Manual: By Patrick Whitefield

Comprehensive, and very well written. For Britain and other Temperate Climates.

Muzammal Hussain

Islamic Group: Away from GM Crops - Towards Holistic Approaches Aligned with Core Islamic Principles

 WIN's Position on GM Food 

Away from GM Crops -
Towards holistic approaches aligned with core Islamic Principles 

  

"At WIN, through our research, discussions and reflections, we believe that the release of GM organisms into the wider ecology should, from an Islamic perspective, be opposed.

 

Furthermore, we believe that there are approaches - such as permaculture, organic farming and agroforestry - that have fewer risks, are based on a greater recognition of the interconnectedness of life, and which instead of undermining relationships, draw on principles that nurture them. They thus are more in alignment with core principles from the spiritual traditions including Islam. 

We ask Muslim communities around the world to wake up to the fact that industrial farming practices, of which GM is a part, do not fit with core Islamic values. In the same light, we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that GM crops are fed to animals destined for halal slaughter. 

If the 'halal' stamp is incapable of defining what is Islamic, we must move beyond the false comfort zone the term 'halal' has provided, for it is now beyond any doubt that a more authentic 'Islam' needs to emerge, one that is alive to the challenges of our time, yet remains in union with the spirit of this beautiful tradition.

Also, we believe that as we move away from large scale industrial farming towards smaller scale decentralised food production, this would not only be more compatible with a sustainable, life supporting future, but would also lead to greater empowerment. Such a move will also draw people, land, livelihood and traditional local knowledge together, enriching biodiversity and nurturing community.

Witnessing the small, but growing numbers of Muslims working at the grassroots with fellow citizens of the world to create a new, more wholesome paradigm gives us much hope.

We have produced the GM section on our website in a style that we hope is readable, while outlining key background information to help readers appreciate the reasoning and principles leading us to take the clear position we have.

We received no funding for this project, and the production of this part of the website was completed entirely through voluntary efforts.

Wisdom In Nature is open to collaboration and partnerships with like-minded people, networks and organisations. Applications for volunteering are also welcome. Please get in touch!"

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