Jakarta – In the spirit of collaboration and environmental stewardship, Mosaic (Muslims for Shared Action on Climate Impact) is back with its flagship program, Sedekah Energi or Energy Alms. The program, launched on Thursday, January 9, invites Muslims to contribute to the clean energy transition by installing solar panels in mosques.
By 2025, the program will expand to West Java and West Sumatra after success in West Nusa Tenggara and Yogyakarta (Al Muharram Mosque). Abdul Gaffar Karim, Mosaic’s Board of Trustees, explained that Energy Alms is a tangible manifestation of Muslims’ contribution to overcoming the climate crisis with deep spiritual value.
“The concept of charity inspires us. Through this initiative, Muslims are not only helping mosques reduce dependence on fossil fuels but also earning an ever-flowing reward,” he said.
Practical solutions for energy transition
Sedekah Energi integrates social and environmental action. The program provides solar panels for the mosque’s electricity needs, which also helps reduce carbon emissions. Moreover, this initiative also targets the empowerment of local communities through training and education related to renewable energy.
Elok F. Mutia, Project Leader of Sedekah Energi, emphasised the importance of mosques as centres of community-based change. “Mosques have great potential to become a model for clean energy transition. To date, two mosques equipped with solar panels have been able to reduce carbon emissions by 6.8 tons per year, equivalent to the environmental benefits of 680 trees,” he said.
The program focuses on reducing emissions and brings direct economic benefits to the community. “To date, Sedekah Energi has generated electricity cost savings of up to Rp39 million, positively impacting more than 1,000 people around the mosque,” Elok added.
Building awareness and collective action
Through Sedekah Energi, Mosaic is mobilising support from Muslims nationwide. More than 5,000 donors have participated through the kitabisa.com platform, enabling the installation of solar panels with a total capacity of 9,600 WP in several mosques.
Abdul Gaffar hopes this program can inspire more communities to participate in climate crisis mitigation efforts. “This small step is part of a big effort. We start from the mosque as the centre of community life, but the hope is that this movement can spread to all community levels,” he said.
Sedekah Energi is now entering its third and fourth stages. The focus is on expanding the network of eco-friendly mosques in West Java and West Sumatra. This initiative is a solution to the need for clean energy and a symbol of ummah solidarity in the face of global challenges, such as the climate crisis.
“If we as Muslims can take an active role in protecting Allah’s creation through clean energy transition, then this is a real contribution with high spiritual value,” Abdul Gaffar concluded.
On that occasion, Ananto, Takmir of Al Muharram Mosque in Bantul, Yogyakarta, revealed that the mosque has been committed to sustainable architecture since 2013. “From the beginning, we designed this mosque to be environmentally friendly. For example, daytime lighting fully utilises sunlight. This is one simple step that has a big impact,” says Ananto.
Al Muharram Mosque does not stop at the concept of green architecture. It actively mobilises various community-based initiatives, one of which is the marine waste management movement that began in 2021 with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment.
“Our goal is simple: to change people’s perception that waste has value. Last year, we successfully held Sedekah Sampah Akbar, which donated the proceeds to Palestine. In one day, we managed to collect IDR 9 million from the contribution of one village,” explained Ananto.
Not only that, the mosque also utilises the waste alms fund for humanitarian action. IDR 8.5 million was used to distribute 50 clean water tanks to drought-hit areas in Gunung Kidul.
Green movement and renewable energy
Al Muharram Mosque also prioritises greening the environment around the mosque. “We calculate the oxygen needs of our worshipers. If there are 100 worshippers, then we must plant enough trees to fulfil their oxygen needs,” says Ananto.
In addition, the mosque has also established a rainwater harvesting program to help neighbours in need of clean water. Other movements include the Used Cooking Oil Alms, the proceeds of which are used to support environmental programs.
“We started with waste alms in 2013. Alhamdulillah, this movement is now copied by other communities, even by Muslims in America,” says Ananto enthusiastically.
As part of its grand eco-mosque vision, Al Muharram Mosque is developing child-friendly and disabled-friendly concepts, although it has not yet received official certification. The mosque also supports the clean energy transition by utilising renewable energy resources.
In the latest Carbon Alms program, more than 5,500 people donated small amounts to raise IDR 8 million. These funds support renewable energy projects that align with the mosque’s vision.
“For us, a mosque is not just a place of worship but a center of activity that empowers the community. With the eco mosque, we hope to inspire other mosques to contribute to the environment,” Ananto concluded. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Al Muharram Mosque utilises solar energy through solar panels to supply daily electricity, one of the targets of the Sedekah Energi program initiated by Mosaic (Muslims for Shared Action on Climate Impact). (JogjaTV screenshot)
