The Green Hajj

By: Kafil Yamin

300.000 Indonesian Muslims, along with around 3 million pilgrims, return from Mecca annually and leave behind 100 million plastic bottles. Unless immediate measures are taken, the holy land will soon transform into a waste land. The figure, published by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation [ARC], does not include mounting waste from takeout foods and other goods during the 30-day hajj season. This daunting situation has caused a major headache among Muslim academics for the prospects of the holy land. “Islam venerates cleanliness in all aspects of life. This situation in Mecca is a great cause for our concern,” said Dr. K.H. Ma’ruf Amin , chairman of the Indonesia Ulema Council [MUI]. Muslims leaders and academics then put forward the so-called green hajj scheme.