Image by Muslim Hikers/Huffpost

Haroon Mota, who founded Muslim Hikers in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, has helped design a weatherproof prayer mat. The organisation promotes and encourages inclusivity in exploring the UK’s scenic outdoor spots.

In the hopes that this will help Muslims enjoy their experiences in the great outdoors, Mota is moving forward in his mission to unite all those who have a penchant for adventures. 

On Christmas Day 2021, members of the Muslim Hikers group were subjected to racist and abusive comments after posting pictures of their big hike. Mota faced a similar situation when he returned to the Countryfile in September 2022. Both these incidents highlighted the barriers the community faces when it came to the outdoors.

In an interview with the BBC, Mota had said, “We’re subjected to these comments online, but they do and can happen in person as well.

“There are already perceptions of the outdoors being a white domain which is unwelcoming.

“There’s been many documented reports of people wearing a hijab and or men in traditional attire being subjected to unkind comments and racist slurs.”

He realised how important his community was to him and the need for more inclusivity in hiking. 

He was bestowed with a wonderful opportunity when global sports retailer Wiggle and adidas TERREX partnered with Muslim Hikers to research and identify the barriers Muslims face while exploring the outdoors, which include lack of comfortable prayer arrangements as well as the countryside not being a welcoming space for the community, according to Huffpost.

Practicing Muslims pray five times a day — dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening. This collaboration has thus, led to the creation of bespoke prayer mats which are meant for outdoor use fulfilling the need for those who were previously using their jackets and other alternatives to offer their prayers. 

These mats can withstand the harsh elements of nature due to the special sturdy materials used to create them, and are comfortable at the same time. The design on the prayer mats features traditional Islamic art and topography based on hiking maps. 

All four corners of the mats have pockets, where rocks or weights can help set the mat on the ground. They are also compact, waterproof and very lightweight making it easy to carry for long and challenging hikes.  

Haroon Mota, Founder of the Muslim Hikers Group said, “Working with Wiggle and adidas TERREX 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 the prayer mats and signs have made it easier for us within the Muslim community to do this without having to worry about the practicalities of prayer.”

The mats are available to buy from this month. About a 100 prayer mats were created in March and donated to Muslim Hikers as part of the partnership. In April, several more will be available for people to buy for just £20. All the proceeds collected will be donated to Wiggle’s charity partners.