Description: The Green Mosque Workshop titled “Building Synergy to Realize Mosques that are Friendly to Life and Environmental Sustainability,” held on May 28, 2025, in Yogyakarta.
The Gedoeng Muhammadiyah Hall on Jalan KH Ahmad Dahlan 103 Yogyakarta was filled with enthusiasm and warm conversations that day. Takmir administrators from various regions sat side by side, sharing experiences and hopes. They came enthusiastically, bringing a spirit of change: to make mosques not only places of worship but also centers for solutions to increasingly urgent environmental and social problems.
This commitment is carried by Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah together with the Branch Development and Mosque Guidance Institution (LPCRPM) of Central Board of Muhammadiyah, through the Green Mosque Workshop titled “Building Synergy to Realize Mosques that are Friendly to Life and Environmental Sustainability,” held on May 28, 2025, in Yogyakarta.
This activity is part of an initiative to develop the role of mosques as inclusive shared spaces that are adaptive to contemporary issues and environmentally conscious. This idea aligns with LPCRPM’s slogan, “Whatever the problem, the mosque is the solution,” emphasizing the importance of making mosques the center of solutions to various community challenges, including the climate crisis and environmental degradation.
The workshop had three main objectives: first, to build a shared understanding of the green mosque concept, including water conservation, waste management, greening, and clean energy to reduce carbon emissions; second, to encourage synergy between LPCRPM and mosque activists from various regions; and third, to design concrete programs that can be implemented in each mosque regarding environmental and energy efficiency.
Mosques as Centers for Community Empowerment and Resilience
Budi Setiawan, Chair of the Disaster Resilience Institute/Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, emphasized that mosques have a strategic role as centers for community empowerment, not just places of worship. “MDMC has collaborated with LPCR in training Disaster-Resilient Mosques. This shows that mosques also function in building community resilience, especially during crises,” he said.
He also appreciated the collaboration between Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah and LPCR in promoting clean and environmentally conscious mosques, which he believes aligns with Muhammadiyah’s spirit of making mosques physically comfortable and spiritually calming places.
Description: Budi Setiawan, Chair of the Disaster Resilience Institute/Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, emphasized that mosques have a strategic role as centers for community empowerment, not just places of worship.
Mosques as Centers of Culture, Education, and Islamic Civilization
Ahmad Dahlan Rais, Chair of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, stated that this workshop was very timely and beneficial as it addressed critical issues such as cleanliness, orderliness, and environmental preservation. “LPCR is committed that mosques must become centers of Islamic culture and civilization in the future,” he said.
He emphasized that mosques are not only places of worship but also centers of education, economic activities, and environmental movements. Quoting Allah’s word in QS. Ar-Rum verse 41, “Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of people have earned, so He may make them taste some of what they have done, that perhaps they will return [to righteousness],” he added.
Dahlan Rais also reminded of the serious environmental risks threatening many regions and quoted Mahatma Gandhi, “The earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” He stressed that mosques must be the starting point of change, places to nurture humans and the environment in accordance with Muhammadiyah’s spirit as a movement of charity, knowledge, and renewal.
Description: Ahmad Dahlan Rais, Chair of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, stated that mosques are not only places of worship but also centers of education, economic activities, and environmental movements.
Revitalizing Mosques as the Heart of Muhammadiyah’s Movement
Jamaludin Ahmad, Chair of LPCRPM Central Board of Muhammadiyah, stressed the importance of revitalizing mosques as the heart of Muhammadiyah’s movement. “Mosques are not only places of ritual worship but centers of movement, examples, and empowerment,” he said.
He highlighted the Green Mosque concept as one of the key ideas in Muhammadiyah Mosque Governance Guidelines, emphasizing values of care and balance, not only towards the environment but also towards the health and welfare of congregants.
In practice, mosques are encouraged to collaborate with various parties such as Lazismu, LRB, and Bank Indonesia in developing economically independent mosques. “We should be ashamed if mosques are only crowded during Friday prayers or tarawih but empty of social, economic, and environmental life,” he emphasized.
Description: Jamaludin Ahmad, Chair of LPCRPM Central Board of Muhammadiyah, stressed the importance of revitalizing mosques as the heart of Muhammadiyah’s movement.
Water Jurisprudence and Conservation in Islam
Ustadz Ali Yusuf from the Tarjih and Tajdid Council of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah explained that water jurisprudence is part of Muhammadiyah’s progressive thinking in responding to environmental and water crises. “Water is not just a technical need but part of sharia values reflecting justice, efficiency, and sustainability,” he said.
He stressed that Islamic ethics on water use are very strict, with Prophet Muhammad SAW performing ablution with only one mud (about 0.88 liters). This principle needs to be applied in mosque management, such as installing water-saving taps and educating congregants.
This view was reinforced by Maya, an expert from the corporate sector. “Water conservation is not only an environmental issue but also a cross-sectoral sustainability strategy, from upstream like rivers and estuaries to downstream such as households and places of worship,” she said. According to Maya, mosques have great potential as symbols of sustainability if they can manage water wisely through reusing ablution water, rainwater harvesting, and encouraging water-saving behaviors among congregants.
Description: Ustadz Ali Yusuf from the Tarjih and Tajdid Council of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah explained that water jurisprudence is part of Muhammadiyah’s progressive thinking in responding to environmental and water crises.
Mosques as Centers for Clean Water Crisis Solutions
Hening Parlan, Director of Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah and Director of the 1000 Cahaya Program, emphasized that mosques must become centers of solutions to environmental problems, especially the clean water crisis. Based on a survey of 12 mosques, she found that although many claimed to be environmentally friendly and accessible to disabilities and children, implementation was still far from adequate. “Many mosques intend to become green mosques but lack measurable indicators and practices,” she said.
She pointed out that ablution water—which essentially is potable water—is still often wasted without further use, a sign of low awareness or even ingratitude for the blessing of water.
As Deputy Chair of the Environmental Council of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah and Deputy Chair of the Environmental and Disaster Management Institution (LLHPB) of the Central Board of ‘Aisyiyah, Hening urged mosques to become centers for public education on water conservation. Mosques are also encouraged to use used ablution water for non-worship purposes, install water-saving taps, and adopt environmentally friendly technologies such as solar panels. “The ultimate goal is to make mosques centers of environmentally friendly civilization—not only places of worship but also spaces for learning, innovation, and social change towards sustainability,” she stressed.
Description: Hening Parlan, Director of Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah and Director of the 1000 Cahaya Program, emphasized that mosques must become centers of solutions to environmental problems, especially the clean water crisis.
Real Experience of Al Muharram Brajan Mosque in the Eco-Mosque Movement
Ananto Isworo from Al Muharram Brajan Mosque, Yogyakarta, shared concrete experiences of how mosques can become pioneers in the environmental movement through the Eco-Mosque program that has been running since 2013. One of its breakthroughs is the use of solar panels to address frequent power outages occurring up to ten times a day.
“We think renewable energy is more environmentally friendly and can save the use of fossil energy. The more we use conventional electricity, the greater our contribution to earth’s damage,” Ananto explained.
This mosque is also widely known for seven flagship programs such as waste charity, greening, environmentally friendly architecture, ablution water conservation, and child- and disability-friendly mosques.
In fact, the success of this program attracted international media attention such as The New York Times and France24. “Religious leaders play a crucial role in delivering environmental messages to the community, and mosques must be centers of civilization that not only provide spiritual calm but also actively contribute to global and ecological issues,” he concluded.
Description: Photo group of all participant in The Green Mosque Workshop on May 28, 2025, in Yogyakarta.
The Green Mosque Workshop was attended by takmir administrators from 16 Muhammadiyah mosques, namely Masjid Djuanda (Sragen), Masjid Daarussalam (Kudus), Masjid Mujahidin (Semarang), Masjid Umar bin Khattab (Bantul), Masjid Nurul Huda (Wonogiri), Masjid Ahmad Dahlan PCM Banguntapan Selatan (Yogyakarta), Masjid Mussanif Tabligh Institute (Yogyakarta), Masjid Mangundimejan (Surakarta), Masjid Mujahidin PRM Gunungpring (Muntilan), Masjid Mujahidin (Pandeglang), Masjid Arrahman (Cikarang), Masjid Baiturrohim (Lamongan), Masjid Al Hidayah (Mojokerto), Masjid Al Fatah (Tulungagung), Masjid Baitul Mukhlisin (Ponorogo), and Masjid Supangat (Tuban).
