Youth Leadership: Environmental Justice
Fall 2025
RabaTEENS is a nurturing space for deep and meaningful Islamic spiritual mentorship with compassionate and caring mentors. We design fun, creative, and positive educational experiences to help teens grow confidently and comfortably into their faith.
Have you heard of spiritual environmentalism?
These two topics are rarely connected — but what if we were to view sustainability, conservation, and environmental protection through the lens of our role as khalifah (stewards of the Earth)?
In this five-week course, Muslim teen girls will explore the connection and bridge the gap between faith and environmental care. We’ll reflect on how resources around us like earth and water are not only important to nourish us, but are blessings from Allah that can help deepen our faith. By reflecting on Allah’s ﷻ Names and provisions, relevant Quranic verses, and hadith, students will learn how caring for the environment can strengthen faith and deepen gratitude.
Inspired by the 90’s cartoon Captain Planet and the Planeteers, students will examine modern threats to five key resources — water, land, energy, air, and heart — and discover ways to protect them while incorporating Islamic themes of khilafah, gratitude, and responsibility. Through discussions on these topics, as well as present-day Muslim and youth-led environmental initiatives, this class aims to inspire students to become conscious, active “Green Muslims.”
Week 1: Water
We’ll begin with the resource that covers most of our planet — water. Students will explore the causes of water pollution, such as the Pacific Ocean garbage patch, and current efforts to address it. From a spiritual lens, we’ll link water to tahara (purity) and discuss why access to clean water is vital for Muslims. We’ll reflect on relevant Quranic verses and hadith about water.
Week 2: Land & Plants
This week focuses on threats to “Mother Earth” and our responsibility as khalifah to address them. We’ll reflect on related Quranic verses and hadith, explore Sunnah remedies using plants (e.g., teas, foods), and discuss practical ways to protect our environment, such as planting trees.
Week 3: Energy
We’ll discuss overconsumption, materialism, and the massive waste of resources — especially food — each year. Could wastefulness be a spiritual disease? Students will learn about efforts like free food drives and explore Quranic and prophetic guidance on avoiding waste. We’ll brainstorm how each person can reduce waste in daily life.
Week 4: Air & Space
This session covers the air we breathe and the spaces we inhabit. We’ll examine human impacts on air quality and ways to improve our surroundings. Spiritual discussions will include how to create spaces that welcome angels. Activities include listening to a podcast excerpt about rising global temperatures and reading a short article on present-day environmental challenges.
Week 5: Heart
In our final session, we’ll focus on intention (niyyah) in caring for the Earth. Students will reflect on all five elements as part of Allah’s ﷻ rizq (provision) and discuss the hadith from Imam Nawawi’s 40 Hadith on actions being judged by intentions. The session concludes with sharing personal inspiration and an art activity: designing a Muslim eco-heroine.
Paper and markers or colour pencils etc. for art activities
Wednesdays, 5:00 - 6:00 pm CST
Session dates: September 17 - October 15
Students must attend Zoom live sessions. Classes are NOT recorded.
*Enrollment into the RabaTEENS program is on a per-student basis. If two (or more) students are planning to attend a class together by sharing a screen, each student will need to enroll for class individually.
**RabaTEENS programs are for girls aged 12-17 ONLY. Students are required to be 12 already in order to join any of RabaTEENS programs.
A certificate of participation will be given to students who complete the class.
No refunds are issued once the session begins.
Meets once a week for one hour (5-week session)
Regular price