If you don’t see people that look like you in certain contexts, it can make it seem as though you don’t belong there.
This is one of the biggest barriers Muslim women can face when it comes to hiking. Rarely do you see women in head scarfs and religious dress on the cover of hiking and sports campaigns.
Sisters Husnaa Mota, 21, and Tayyibah Mota, 27, are trying to change that.
The pair started hiking at a young age after their dad passed away, in a bid to raise money for charity, and they’ve not stopped since. Now, they want others to join them.
Based in Coventry, their older brother, Haroon, had an influence in getting them into the hobby in the first place – as he runs a hiking page for practicing Muslims.
Tayyibah says: ‘I did my first hike when I was 13 with my brother Haroon.
‘At the time, we were raising money for Water Wells Charity with Islamic relief in memory of our dad who passed away that year.
‘After that, I did maybe one hike a year with different Muslim charities.’
However, as Muslim women, hiking hasn’t always been the most accessible activity.
‘The main difficulty I faced with hiking was the lack of correct outdoor gear,’ Tayyibah says.
‘For the first few years, I didn’t really own any of my own outdoor gear.
‘Anything I wore, I borrowed from my brother. It was expensive, and there wasn’t any modest outdoor clothing, so I wore men’s shirts as they were looser and I felt more covered in men’s clothes.
‘As I was exposed to hiking from a young age, I never really thought about the lack of diversity – not many children do.
‘But during the pandemic, my eyes really opened up to the issues around the lack of diversity and inclusion and the absence of black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in the outdoors.’
Being outdoors just brings Tayyibah ‘so much peace and ease’, as well as helping her keep fit and build a sense of adventure.
‘God had created so much beauty for us to see and appreciate,’ she adds, and so the benefits of hiking for her are holistic.
However, she had to overcome the barriers hiking initially put up in front of her.
Tayyibah explains: ‘Some of the barriers were internal. For one, not being completely comfortable or confident in wearing outdoor clothing.
‘Often, outdoor clothing can be quite figure-hugging. We both observe the hijab and wearing modest clothing is really important to us.
‘It’s been difficult to find the right gear to wear, but over the last few years, brands have become more inclusive and diverse.
‘A number of brands now sell activewear hijabs that are weatherproof, which is great and makes hiking for many Muslim women a lot easier.’
There are also hiking groups especially for Muslims, as well as ones for women such as Merrell Hiking Club.
Connecting with others through these spaces has helped make hiking feel more accessible.
‘To encourage women to get outside and hit a trail, even if they’ve never done it before, the club offers free regular hikes all over the UK led by certified hiking guides,’ she adds.
In turn, sharing their own hiking journey online is important to them.
Husnaa says: ‘Sharing experiences online creates a positive impact in our small communities. It allows people to connect, and be inspired.
‘It encourages people to get outdoors because they can see people like themselves outdoors.
‘Tayyibah and I share what we do outdoors because we enjoy it so much. We have so much fun together, and we want other people to be able to experience it like we do.
‘Being outdoors is a great way to connect with God, yourself, friends and family.
‘It’s for everyone. And there are so many ways to enjoy it.’
Husnaa’s and Tayyibah’s tips for Muslim women wanting to hike:
- You don’t have to be a pro-walker or hiker to start hiking. Most popular hikes have well-marked routes/paths which cater to different levels of ability/fitness. You can find routes suitable for varying levels of ability on Merrell Hiking Club’s website. The site has great blog posts from hikers from different backgrounds and regions in the UK.
- Don’t feel afraid to hike if you’re not the fittest person. It gets easier each time.
- Always pack a range of snacks. Some nutritious and sweets which are always a treat. They keep your energy high and they’re great to share with other people.
- Stay hydrated and bring plenty of water.
- Waterproofs and good footwear are a must. If the weather is wet, Gore-tex hiking shoes, like the Moab Speed, are the best as the Gore-tex membrane means that the shoe is waterproof and breathable.
- Layering is so important. Wear a good base layer. You can wear a fleece and a rain jacket when needed.
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