Description: The Inaugural Water Conservation Workshop for Mosques, organized by Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah on April 16, 2025, in Jakarta.
Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah held the inaugural workshop for its Water Conservation Program for Mosques, themed “Spirit of Environmental Sustainability and Mosque Management for the New Generation”, at the Muhammadiyah Da’wah Center Building in Menteng, Jakarta, on April 16, 2025.
The event was attended by program implementers who will be directly involved in field activities across various regions.
“This workshop aims to introduce the concept of Water Conservation for Mosques and develop an action plan for implementing activities in selected mosques,” said Ahsan Hamidi, Coordinator of the Water Conservation Program at Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah. “In this session, participants were equipped with a comprehensive understanding of the program’s strategies and implementation stages,” he added.
Ahsan, who is also an active member of the Institution of Branch Development, Sub-Branch Management, and Mosque Guidance at the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, explained that the Water Conservation Program includes managing ablution water, managing waste, greening the mosque’s surroundings, and using energy efficiently and sustainably.
“All activities are designed to actively involve mosque administrators and congregants, aiming to foster participatory and sustainable environmental management,” he continued. One of the main focuses of this program is water conservation, considering that water is a vital resource that is increasingly scarce due to environmental degradation, climate change, and overexploitation.
In his opening remarks at the Water Conservation Workshop for Mosques, Saad Ibrahim, Chairman of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, emphasized the importance of preserving water as part of Islamic teachings. According to him, Islam teaches not to be wasteful, including with water. Various studies also show that water quality is greatly influenced by environmental conditions.
Description: Saad Ibrahim, Chairman of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, attended and delivered remarks at the Inaugural Water Conservation Workshop for Mosques, organized by Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah on April 16, 2025, in Jakarta.
Saad cited Surah Az-Zumar, verse 21, which reminds believers to reflect on how Allah sends down rain from the sky, which then nourishes the earth and plants. “Therefore, water conservation efforts must go hand-in-hand with tree planting, as trees not only help store groundwater, but also regulate the water cycle and maintain clean water availability,” he stated.
Furthermore, Saad reminded participants of a hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which says, “There is no Muslim who plants a tree or sows a seed, and then a bird, human, or animal eats from it, except that it is a charity for him” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari). This hadith underscores that every effort to care for the environment, including planting trees, is an ongoing charity that brings reward.
Meanwhile, Hening Parlan, Director of Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah, explained that besides conserving water, the program also aims to encourage behavioral change among mosque congregants in managing water wisely.
Description: Hening Parlan (right), Director of Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah, explains the objectives of the Inaugural Water Conservation Workshop for Mosques, organized by Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah on April 16, 2025, in Jakarta.
“There are several stages we need to carry out, starting from conducting preliminary field surveys, increasing awareness through outreach, developing da’wah through academic studies, to providing infrastructure support,” explained the Deputy Chair of the Environmental Council of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah.
During the workshop, participants also collaboratively reviewed all program components, developed action plans and timelines, and distributed roles and responsibilities for field personnel.
This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
As an initial phase, the program will be implemented in five provinces as pilot locations: Banten, West Java, Central Java, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, and East Java.
Description: Saad Ibrahim, Chairman of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, poses for a photo with participants of the Inaugural Water Conservation Workshop for Mosques, organized by Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah on April 16, 2025, in Jakarta.
