Haroon Mota / Photo: Muslim Hikers
The Muslim Hikers have teamed up with Adidas, Wiggle and OUTO to tackle the lack of inclusivity in physical activity in the great outdoors.
The initiative was founded after Muslim Hikers received racist online abuse following a hike in the UK and after appearing on the Countryfile TV programme in September 2022, when our group was accused of not being ‘proper walkers’.
The three brands have worked closely with us to identify the barriers that need to be broken down to make the countryside feel like a place Muslims can enjoy.
Muslims pray to Mecca five times a day and as result of the partnership, signs pointing to Mecca have been installed on one of the Peak District’s most popular hiking routes – Cave Dale. A range of prayer mats has also been designed and produced specifically for outdoor use.
Working with OUTO, Wiggle and Adidas has allowed us to take a huge step in the right direction when it comes to promoting inclusivity in the outdoors. Everyone should feel empowered to get outside and enjoy nature and this initiative makes it easier for the Muslim community to do this without having to worry about the practicalities of prayer.
The prayer mats are made from 100 per cent polyester to make them lightweight, waterproof, and able to withstand the outdoor elements. Their design depicts contours – used on maps to represent topography – and was created in partnership with QM Design, a seventh generation Islamic crafts company.
The first 100 mats have been donated to the Muslim Hikers, with further prayer mats being produced for sale on Wiggle’s website, with all proceeds generated from the sales going to Wiggle’s charity partners.
The partnership has
enabled us to take a huge
step in the right direction
when it comes to inclusivity
