Dr Gaathier Mahed
A groundbreaking study by Nelson Mandela University academic Dr Gaathier Mahed and Cape Town entrepreneur Raaghieb Najjaar, published in Wiener Zeitschrift für Interdisziplinäre Islamforschung by the Sigmund Freud Private University in Vienna, Austria, has spotlighted the surprising role of Cape Town mosques in leading environmental change through grassroots action, Islamic values and green innovation.
The research examined three mosques in Kalksteenfontein, Goodwood and Panorama — all within 10km of each other but serving vastly different socio-economic communities.
Each mosque has implemented environmental sustainability practices, from greywater reuse and rainwater harvesting to borehole drilling and solar planning.
"It was part of an initiative related to youth development and upskilling," says Dr Mahed, a geohydrologist and senior lecturer at Mandela’s Department of Geosciences. "This then had spin-offs for water saving and community gardens."
Same city, different means
Despite their shared spiritual purpose, the mosques' green efforts varied greatly based on the financial resources and mindset of each community.
"Finance determines what can be funded, and the mindset in different communities has a direct impact on the nature of the projects executed, based on the needs of the surrounding community," says Dr Mahed.
The research found that mosques open to collaboration with external funders, scientists and engineers were more likely to implement structured sustainability projects. "These were the mosques who were willing to work with external funders and service providers. They were also open to professional input from engineers and scientists for these initiatives," he explains.
Kalksteenfontein Mosque
In the lower-income area of Kalksteenfontein, the mosque has used greywater from ablutions to irrigate the garden. The mosque also plans to introduce other greening initiatives.
"The development of a community garden and the use of greywater to irrigate it — that was particularly impactful," says Dr Mahed.
Greening through faith
The team’s research connects environmental responsibility to Islamic principles, including the use of waqf (charitable endowments) to fund green initiatives.
"They can help finance more projects of this nature," says Dr Mahed of the potential of waqf to drive community sustainability.
However, he notes that environmental teachings in Islam need greater emphasis. "More education is needed and awareness about the teachings," he says.
From left, Goodwood and Panorama Mosques
Mosques in Goodwood and Panorama, with greater access to funding, were able to experiment with boreholes, solar planning and green design. However, a shared challenge across all communities was achieving unified buy-in. "Implementing projects with broad-based consensus … getting buy-in from all concerned is not easy," Dr Mahed admits.
In Panorama, where a newly built mosque and community centre are under construction, the community is investing in passive solar design, acoustic efficiency and integrated rainwater and borehole systems. Meanwhile, in Goodwood, water-saving signage, flow restrictors and green construction materials are being explored in planned renovations.
Since the study was published, the research team has also been assisting another mosque, Mountview, with its water and sustainability initiatives.
A model for all
While the study focused on Muslim communities, its implications are universal. "Greening buildings are for everybody," Dr Mahed stresses. "We all need to look at it and how we can make the current ones more sustainable and build greener in the future."
Government support could also help scale these projects. "Aiding in infrastructure funding, like boreholes and JoJo tanks and possibly excluding NGOs from taxes for solar power and off-grid solutions" would help expand impact, he says.
Looking ahead, Dr Mahed is optimistic that their work might inspire broader change. "Hopefully more facilities will be able to implement projects of this nature. Something as simple as multiple JoJo tanks, to capture rainfall, can help in the long term."
What’s next?
The researchers hope this work sparks a movement across places of worship and civil society organisations. The report suggests that beyond financing, successful green projects depend on leadership training, sustainability awareness campaigns and active community participation.
"These projects work best when they are locally owned but professionally guided," notes Dr Mahed. "That balance helps make sustainability both practical and lasting."
Why mosques?
The three mosques studied by Dr Mahed and Najjaar were chosen because of their willingness to collaborate with funders, NGOs and technical experts. In return, they became models for green building, water-saving design and climate resilience in urban settings. Their work shows how places of worship can become community anchors in the fight against climate change.
Faith and the environment
According to Islamic teachings, humans are seen as caretakers — or khalifah — of the Earth. This spiritual responsibility includes not wasting water, even when abundance exists. The Prophet Muhammad’s Hadith instructs: "Do not waste water even if performing ablution on the banks of a flowing river." For mosque communities, this forms a natural foundation for ecological responsibility, linking worship with sustainability.
Dr Gaathier Mahed, MSc (Environmental Science), PhD (Geology), is a Department of Geosciences senior lecturer at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha, South Africa. He has a background in hydrogeology, specialising in fractured rock, and extensive global training in geophysics and isotopes. Dr Mahed has worked in gold, uranium, coal mining and shale gas research, and consulted with major clients including SABIC, the City of Cape Town and the Water Research Commission, with a focus on sustainable development. His NGO and community contributions include voluntary positions with Awqaf South Africa.
Raaghieb Najjaar is founder of NYZ Afripeak, an accounting and management consulting practice based in Cape Town. A former CEO of Awqaf South Africa and currently CEO of the Student Support & Strategy Foundation, he is a governor of SACS (South African College High School), the first school in South Africa, and serves on several institutional boards and committees in the education, healthcare and art arenas. Najjaar trains the refugee business community on business processes and structures.
Link to journal article