Shaheen Rashid and volunteers of British Islamic Gardens and Asrar Ul-Haq from North West in Bloom share their reflections on gardening during Ramadan this year
“During Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, we remember the month the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It is a time to give thanks, which is approached with both joy and trepidation because of the stamina needed to complete a full month of fasting, while still performing normal day-to-day tasks.”
Shaheen Rashid, British Islamic Gardens
Ramadan and gardening are both spiritual. Spending time in the garden transports me to that spiritual place.
For some individuals, aspects of gardening may take on special meaning during Ramadan, causing them to interact with the garden and fellow gardeners in a different way.
“As it is an expression of the Creator’s laws, some people may choose to be more mindful of the universe, and prayer and ritual may take precedence over physical gardening,” explains Shaheen.
Here are a few reflections on enjoying a garden and connecting with nature especially during Ramadan.
Connecting to your inner world through nature
Volunteer gardeners from the Aisha Masjid help to cultivate the community garden, which is open to all
Aisha Masjid is a mosque in Reading surrounded by a community garden, tended by volunteer gardeners of diverse faiths, under the careful direction of Shaheen Rashid. Shaheen is a founding member of British Islamic Gardens, the charity which runs the community garden.
“During Ramadan, many people come to pray at the Aisha Masjid several times a week, or on occasions, several times a day. People visit the garden and notice how it changes as Ramadan progresses,” says Shaheen.
When falling in spring, Ramadan has a particular association with the awakening of the natural world after winter. This year, the garden is brimming with daffodils, ornamental fruit trees and native spring flowers such as primroses, celandine and pulmonaria.
“Connecting to nature can help us to understand the inner, spiritual world and how to translate its learnings into the daily life of the individual, the community and humanity as a whole,” says Shaheen.
Gardening with the environment in mind
Plant a fruit tree and enjoy eating the fruit you grow
Asrar Ul-Haq has been involved with North West in Bloom for around four years. He’s also part of a family project ‘The Amaani Initiative’ and has worked closely with the Chair of Rochdale in Bloom to engage mosques and churches to get involved in Britain in Bloom.
“I wanted to do my bit for the environment so I started to give organisations an olive tree and, in return for the olive tree, asked them to plant at least one more tree. I approached some mosques, churches and schools, and they all planted trees. At that point the Chair of Rochdale in Bloom suggested that we joined forces.”
Did you know that the Prophet Muhammad said:
“Whoever plants a tree and diligently looks after it until it matures and bears fruit, he will be rewarded.” Narrated in Ahmad B. Hanbal, Musnad, IV, 61, 374
“It is traditional to break the fast with dates. Every year, I collect the seeds and grow them in pots. Once they become little plants, I give them to family and friends.
Muslims are taught that human beings are the guardians of the Earth. We aim to be environmentally conscious and there is an even greater focus on this during Ramadan. We focus even more on God’s creation and promote and propagate that.
“God’s given us a beautiful garden and it’s up to us to maintain it. We aim to appreciate God’s beauty, to promote it and to not destroy it. For example, chopping down trees or harming plants without cause is frowned upon,” says Asrar.
Gardening according to our energy levels
Some gardeners prefer light work such as pruning a few bushes or trees, especially if it is hot
Some Muslim gardeners consider planning their gardening tasks so that heavy duty jobs are left until the cooler times of the day, as you may get dehydrated faster when the sun is overhead. It may be best to keep to light work.
Shaheen aims to continue gardening as she would during any other time of the year. For Shaheen, a focus on Ramadan is understanding that “God, not food or drink, is the source of our sustenance.”
Shaheen adds: “Ramadan helps us empathise with those we know will not have bread with which to break their fast – fasting is a daily reality for many people worldwide.”
Whereas Asrar explains: “As Ramadan progresses our bodies seem to get used to not eating but we still lack energy. Any work that we do, whether it’s gardening or something else, ends up being light weight. It might be pruning a few bushes or trees or cleaning up a bit, but definitely no heavy digging. It’s unlikely that you’re going to spend hours mowing the lawn or doing the borders.”
“Gardening tasks such as pruning or planting can give you the opportunity to focus on God’s beauty and offers time for contemplation.”
Asrar Ul-Haq, North West in Bloom
Sowing seeds
Sowing seeds indoors on windowsills prepares for the beauties of summer
When Ramadan falls in spring, spending time preparing and making your garden beautiful for the summer is a good way to appreciate God’s creations.
Gardening leads me through the days of Ramadan and helps me to focus on the beauty of nature, and to appreciate it more.
Spring gardening jobs help prepare for the next season:
Planting seeds indoors on windowsills.
Clearing pots ready for planting.
Raking the leaves off tulips and snowdrops.
Deadheading old flowers.
Get out in the garden and get some fresh air.
Attracting and listening to the birds
Install a bird feeder and be sure to keep it topped up
Ramadan is a time of additional blessings so helping animals is a great thing to do. Take time to listen for and appreciate birdsong. Attract them to your garden by installing a bird feeder and regularly topping it up.
“We start our fast before the first light of dawn and say a prayer when the first light appears. It’s beautiful because just as we start to pray, the tranquillity of dawn is interrupted by the first bird songs of the day,” says Asrar.
There’s great value placed on plants and animals within the religion. For example, stepping on ants is forbidden.
Connecting with the community
The community garden at the Aisha Masjid in bloom
Companionship is particularly important for some during Ramadan and can be found in a community garden as well as in the home and in places of worship.
“Gardening helps me to connect with the community. We come together and focus on the beauty of what’s around us. I’ll often overhear people admiring the garden, saying things like: “That’s beautiful, praise the Creator,” says Asrar.
The Mosque’s garden is open to everyone, regardless of faith, to enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of spring, and the promise of summer and autumn to come.
About the author - Charlotte Olver
Charlotte is a digital content editor with a focus on community and accessibility gardening.
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.
