Buya Anwar Advises MLH: Environmental Efforts Like the Sparrow's Story, Never Underestimate Small Deeds

The Chairman of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, Buya Anwar Abbas, has called on the public not to underestimate any effort to protect the environment, no matter how small it may seem. According to him, concern for the sustainability of the Earth is part of religious responsibility and an investment for the future of the next generation. This message was delivered by Anwar Abbas at the closing of the Environmental Cadre Training and Eco-Friendly Hajj Socialisation event organised by the Muhammadiyah Environmental Council in collaboration with the Muhammadiyah Regional Board of Lampung and the Hajj Financial Management Agency in Bandar Lampung on Sunday. In his speech, Anwar Abbas likened the environmental conservation movement carried out by Muhammadiyah to the story of the sparrow during the event of Prophet Ibrahim being burned by King Namrud. He stated that what the Muhammadiyah Environmental Council is doing might be considered small, or even useless by some, but they do it because they care about the future of their grandchildren and the future of the Earth. He then recounted how a sparrow flew carrying a drop of water to help extinguish the fire that was burning Prophet Ibrahim. The effort was laughed at by other animals because it was deemed incapable of putting out the massive blaze. However, Anwar continued, the sparrow persisted because it wanted to do something to help Prophet Ibrahim and to gain value of goodness in the sight of Allah SWT. The sparrow was aware that the water it carried would not be able to extinguish the fire, but it wanted to show that it was on the side of truth and wished to attain goodness before Allah. According to Anwar Abbas, this philosophy is relevant to various current environmental conservation efforts. Although the impact may not yet be visibly large, every good deed carries moral and spiritual significance.