Defne Gumus ’27
“It is Allah Who has made for you the earth as a resting place, and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape and made your shapes beautiful and has provided for you sustenance.” Quran, 40:64
Acknowledging the beauty of humans and the world, this verse from Surah Ghafir speaks to the concept of gratitude and recognition of the blessings given to humanity by Allah (SWT). It encourages us to reflect on the gifts of his creation and the responsibility to approach our environment with care. Going into the heart of bustling Baltimore with our Food, Faith, and Justice group unveiled a secret world where the soil nearly whispered encouragement to cherish and nurture our earth. As we dug up old plants and roots to cultivate new ones at Strength to Love II Farm, an abundance of life was revealed underneath the rich layers: Worms, slugs, beetles, crickets, and a singular green stink bug.
Visiting this oasis of urban agriculture, which has cultivated over 3,500 pounds of food in the last year, nestled on top of transformed empty lots allowed me to ruminate about the role of humans in respect to all life. How do we as humans find meaning on this planet when there are so much larger things at hand? However, all is at ease. Allah (SWT) tells us that this world was created for us to rest, find peace, and keep ourselves nourished. As we transitioned into the second part of our day thoughts of transformative power through cultivating land stuck with me and I felt grounded and at peace, just as we were intended to.
As our group arrived at the Islamic Society of Baltimore I was in awe of the sheer architecture and magnitude of the area. Walking into this cathartic space made me feel tranquil. As our discussions led by Imam Yaseen on food within Islam continued, I realized how intertwined the teachings of the Quran are with principles of sustainability and ethical consumption, such as those we saw in our time at the farm. Especially during the holy month of Ramadan, when topics of spiritual growth through fasting and reflection are at the forefront, along with acts of charity, feeding others, and mindfulness in our actions.
The visit to the farm sparked urgency in me, but within the walls of the mosque held a reinforcement of these lessons through humility and sincerity allowing myself and others to recognize the interconnectedness between faith and food.