Environmentalism and Islam: A Study of Muslim Women in the U.S.

Abstract

Although it may come as a surprise to many Westerners, there is a solid foundation for an environmental ethic within the Islamic tradition. However, Islamic environmental values have not translated into much visible environmental activism from the Muslim community living in the U.S. This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of existing levels of Muslim environmental behavior, both individually and communally. This paper provides an overview of Muslim history in the U.S., describes the religious basis for a unique Islamic environmental ethic, and analyzes the surveys from snowball sample of 330 Muslim women living in the U.S. Results show significant differences between sociodemographic traits and Pro-Environmental Behaviors, Environmental Activism, Outdoor Activities, and Mosque Activism.