In November 2024, I relocated to Indonesia, Pekanbaru City, to pursue my postgraduate studies. The experience has been beautiful – Indonesians are incredibly kind people. My prayer is for everyone to experience the warmth and kindness of Indonesians at least once in their lifetime.

My first encounter with Pekanbaru’s weather was a cloudy day with surprisingly hot temperatures, which was quite different from what I was accustomed to back home.

As the days went on, I noticed the weather remained intensely hot even during rainy days – the temperatures stayed uncomfortably high. Air conditioning became necessary regardless of whether it was sunny or raining.

These persistently high temperatures, even during what should have been cooler rainy weather, served as a wake-up call for me that something was seriously wrong.

I talked to local residents to understand why our region experiences such extreme heat. The answer was clear: mining activities and heavy manufacturing in the area were the primary contributors.

I realized there was no way for me, as an individual, to change the large-scale industrial activities that were causing the region’s extreme weather.

So I asked myself: “How am I personally contributing to hot weather, and how can I stop – or at least reduce – my individual contribution to this climate crisis?”

That question launched my journey towards sustainable living. What truly moved my heart was the realization that being conscious of how I interact with the environment and adopting sustainable practices is actually an act of worship.

This understanding inspired me to start Muslim for Sustainability – an initiative dedicated to inspiring Muslims globally to embrace environmental stewardship and sustainability, so that we can fulfill our divine role as earth’s caretakers, as entrusted to us by Allah Almighty.

This is my personal story and the heart behind Muslim for Sustainability. A global movement reminding  Muslims that caring for the Earth is an act of worship and obedience to Allah. Through this initiative, I hope to reach Muslims around the world, encouraging them to see environmental consciousness as a fundamental part of our faith and responsibility to Allah.

Written by Lailah Abbas, Founder Muslims for Sustainability