Kinana Jamaluddin, representative of His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, delivered remarks at the COP29 inter-faith summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. Below is the full transcript of his address.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Honoured delegates, respected leaders, and compassionate stewards of the Earth, may the blessings and peace of the Almighty be upon you all.
We gather here in this beautiful city of Baku, united by a common purpose: to address the pressing issue of climate change.
I would like to share a few remarks on this important topic on behalf of His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, leader of the worldwide Dawoodi Bohra community.
At the outset, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and all the organizing bodies for convening this important summit.
Today, we have not come simply to speak or listen or observe. We have come together from all faiths and diverse geographies, to take meaningful steps in our joint mission to protect the environment.
Allah Ta’ala states in the Holy Quran:
The true servants of the Most Compassionate are those who walk upon the earth softly.
What does it mean to walk softly upon this Earth as enjoined by the Holy Quran?
To walk softly is to walk in harmony with nature. It is to tread lightly, with respect, reverence and responsibility for the land, the air, the water, and all Creation. It is to move gently, mindful of future generations that will walk the earth the same as we do today.
Some of us have come here from regions rich with natural beauty. Others, from landscapes shaped by urban development and industrial growth.
Our experiences of climate change may differ. For some, it manifests as rising seas; for others, it manifests as droughts, storms, or searing heat. Though our experiences differ, we share a common purpose to care for this Earth, our home.
Each step we take resonates through the delicate fabric of our planet, with every footfall affecting the earth beneath us and the world around us.
When we tread together, our footsteps reverberate in peace and harmony. When we walk kindly, the earth reciprocates, embracing us in her care.
But when our steps are riven by conflict, the echoes of our behaviour can grow loud and jarring, disrupting both nature and our communities. Allah سبحانه وتعالى ordains in the Holy Quran to not cause corruption upon the earth:
Our actions—through the use of fossil fuels, deforestation, large-scale industrialisation, and unchecked desire for material gain—ravage the earth, depleting its resources and causing deepening scars. In response, nature echoes back with storms, fires, and floods.
The Prophet Mohammed صلى الله عليه وسلم has said:
“All of Creation is a family dependent upon Allah. The most beloved of Creation to Him is the one who benefits His family the most.”
It is the responsibility of all Creation who walk the earth to take care of it, and all faiths have been called to preserve this family that is all Creation. Individually and collectively, steps must be taken to preserve the natural environment, reduce pollution, plant more trees, clean our water, and create a greener path for all.
A prolific author, the 51st leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, His Holiness Syedna Taher Saifuddin, penned the following verse in one of his poems:
“This world of yours is your home for as long as you live. Treat it with lofty esteem, for a residence is defined by its resident.”
As I conclude my remarks today, distinguished delegates, let us remember that our footsteps upon this Earth are not just our own. They are the echoes of our ancestors who walked before us, and they are the path we leave for generations yet unborn. When we walk softly – هَوۡنٗا – as the Holy Quran guides us, we walk with wisdom. Each gentle step we take today creates ripples of hope for tomorrow.
I stand before you with profound hope, for when we walk softly together, our collective footsteps become a powerful force for change. In this unified movement, we honour not just our Creator but all of Creation.
وآخر دعوانا أن الحمد لله رب العالمين
