Critical Muslim 62

Gases must, by definition, fill their containers. Air cannot respect the human-made borders we have imposed upon our planet. We have no choice but to share it—and there certainly is not enough to go around. So, we must rely on plant life to help us uphold our end of the oxygen–carbon dioxide bargain. But our track record in this exchange is poor, as modernity demands that we pollute the natural world and the air around us. The task of cleaning it, however, cannot be undertaken by individuals or even by isolated nations. It falls to all of us—and our lives, as well as the planet, depend on it. Predictions of what the future may hold rarely give much consideration to air, beyond discussions of the purified supplemental oxygen we may one day have to carry on our person. Should we be paying more attention? This issue of Critical Muslim explores these and other related questions. About Critical Muslim: A quarterly publication of ideas and issues showcasing groundbreaking thinking on Islam and what it means to be a Muslim in a rapidly changing, interconnected world. Each edition centres on a discrete theme, and contributions include reportage, academic analysis, cultural commentary, photography, poetry, and book reviews.