12 Outdoor Muslim Changemakers to Follow on Instagram
Photo Credit: canva.com. Graphic Artist: Sarai Pak
What does mean to be ‘outdoorsy?’ Many people associate the term with being a hardcore adventurist, or looking and acting a certain way. In reality, everyone experiences the outdoors differently and everyone deserves to take up space in the outdoors. Unfortunately, historical barriers to equal participation in outdoor recreation and conservation haven’t gone away. That’s one reason why it’s so important to acknowledge the leadership of people who are often marginalized or overlooked in outdoor spaces. Join us, this Eid-al-Fitr as we mark the end of Ramadan by celebrating 12 outdoor Muslim changemakers who are redefining what it means to be outdoorsy. They are building communities that connect faith, adventure and sustainability.
Jeri Villarreal
“I don’t let anything stop me. I just keep moving forward and I keep putting in the work”
So often as we get older, we put more and more limitations on ourselves. Jeri Villareal, a hijabi triathlete, aims to live a limitless life. “I don't let anything stop me. I just keep moving forward and I keep putting in the work.” Jeri didn’t grow up playing sports and wasn’t a recreational runner, cyclist, or swimmer before she began training for triathlons. After getting into running, a friend asked her if she would be interested in trying a triathlon. “I made this pact with myself that I would start saying yes to things.” And she did say yes. Jeri, who was 37 years old when she began, completed eight triathlons in her first year of training and 24 triathlons the second year. “I wanted to do something big and just go for it. If it doesn't frighten you, it's almost not worth doing,” said the mother of three.
Jeri is presently working on setting a Guinness World record for the fastest time to complete an Ironman Triathlon on all seven continents. This Iron and Ice challenge will require a grueling training regimen, including cold-weather training to withstand the subzero temperatures in Antarctica. “It’s not about whether you can do it, it's about how you can make it happen.” Jeri’s determination and positive attitude continue to carry her to new places and inspire the rest of us in the process. To follow and support Jeri’s journey, visit her website and Instagram.
Ambreen Tariq
“My faith and my spiritualities are a really big part of how I experience the outdoors.”
As the founder of Brown People Camping and cofounder of Outdoor Muslims, Ambreen Tariq uses her voice to advocate for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and to diversify public lands. After moving to the U.S. from India when she was a child, Ambreen faced many challenges in her new life as an immigrant, especially a non-white immigrant. Family camping trips became a welcome escape for Ambreen and carried over into a love and appreciation for the outdoors and for nature.
In 2016, Ambreen began building an online community on Instagram called Brown People Camping. Since then, she has used her platform to have candid, vulnerable conversations about her experiences as an immigrant and woman of color. Ambreen also recognized that Muslim folks faced different challenges and fears around getting outside. This led to the creation of Outdoor Muslims, a growing community of Muslim folks and allies that connects hikers in the DC area and creates a safe and welcoming space for outdoor recreation.
Ambreen also authored a children's book, titled Fatima’s Great Outdoors, which reflects on her formative camping experiences and offers a great read for all ages. For more information on Ambreen or to get a copy of her book, check out her website and follow her on social media.
Sana Ullah
Multimedia Journalist, Program Officer at National Geographic Society, and founder of Places You’ll Pray; Sana Ullah has many impressively cool titles and if you take a look at her work, it’s easy to see why. Sana works closely with the Storytelling Grants Program at NGS, where she and her colleagues have helped over 300 journalists around the globe secure funding for their projects. “Not only are we funding these really important stories, but we’re also funding storytellers whose dream is to be recognized by National Geographic or whose dream is to be in this field.” As a photographer and storyteller herself, Sana understands what a game-changer those grants can be for people, and often hosts grant writing workshops.
Sana’s love for the outdoors began years before her work with NGS, while growing up in South Florida. “Being outside was one of the main healing points for me. There is something about seeing the ocean that is so terrifying yet so beautiful at the same time. You see the power in it. You can see that there's something much greater than you.” The outdoors are healing for many, as highlighted often in Places You’ll Pray, which depicts people praying in places outside of a mosque, from mountain summits and sandy beaches to parking lots and metro stops.
What began as a side project for Sana has grown into a huge online community. Follow @placesyoullpray to see the latest additions and follow @sanauphoto to stay up to date on her latest work. Visit Sana’s website for more information on her projects.
Haroon Mota
Haroon is a mountaineer, marathon runner, Arc’teryx UK Ambassador, and founder of Muslim Hikers and Active Inclusion Network. Haroon’s goal is to diversify the outdoors and empower more people to get outside and try new sports. He created Muslim Hikers to create an inclusive community for Muslim folks to come together and push their boundaries and is constantly motivated to keep growing his online communities and help more minorities be active and take up space in the outdoors.
Active Inclusion Network is a growing community that champions diversity and aims to get more people fit through hiking, cycling, running, and other activities. To learn more about Haroon’s initiatives, follow him on Instagram and check out @muslim.hikers and @active.inclusion for ways to get involved and get outside.
Amira Patel
Founder of The Wanderlust Women, Amira Patel is an adventurer, storyteller, content creator, and spiritual seeker. After experiencing some trauma in her life, Amira discovered the healing powers of the outdoors. She began The Wanderlust Women to create a safe and inclusive hiking space for Muslim women. Amira’s goal is to normalize Mulsim women being active in outdoor spaces and to help more women get outside and feel confident while doing so.
The Wanderlust Women has grown into an impressive community space that offers skill-based courses, retreats, and adventures that include hiking, rock climbing, wild swimming, and more. As a woman who wears the niqab and hijab, Amira understands the stigmas associated with being Muslimah and ‘not looking outdoorsy’. She does not let stigmas or stereotypes hold her back, and she works to make sure it doesn’t hold anyone else back either. To follow her journey check out her Instagram and check out The Wanderlust Women here. Visit their website for more information and details on upcoming events.
Zahrah Mahmood
A Scottish Muslim hillwalker and a new mum, Zahrah is empowering women, especially Muslim mums, to get outdoors. Zahrah first discovered hillwalking in university, when she needed a break from the stress of exams. She picked it up quickly, and since then has built the growing online community @The_Hillwalking_Hijabi.
Zahrah can usually be found in the hills of Scotland with a hijab or some sort of head-covering. Though she recognizes that she stands out on the trail, she’s determined not to let stares or microaggressions hold her back. She hopes to inspire other Muslimahs to try hillwalking and become more confident.
As a new mum, Zahrah has faced a new set of challenges in getting back outside. Again though, she cannot be stopped. Zahrah is now hitting the hills with her newborn and is encouraging other new mums to do the same. Follow her journey as a hillwalker and mum on Instagram.
Amath Diouf
Photo credit: Cornell Watson
“Something that helped ignite that love or that wanting to be surrounded by nature was the Quran.”
Based out of NYC, Amath is a Senegalese Muslim writer whose work has been featured on Melanin Base Camp, GearJunkie, Brown Girl Green, and more. Amath writes about diversity in the outdoors, environmental justice, the history of racism in environmental movements, and many other hard-hitting topics. For Amath, “one of the most important things when sharing stories is sharing perspectives.” Exploring other peoples’ minds and ideas is part of the storytelling process.
When he’s not writing, he can be found hiking, climbing, or just exploring the outdoors. For Amath, his faith has been a big part in finding his connection to nature, noting that in the Quran there are “a multitude of verses about encouraging all of humankind to step out into nature as a way not only to step into themselves and know themselves but to know God.” Even when he cannot get away from work or when he feels trapped in the city, Amath tries to find small moments in the outdoor world to appreciate and reflect on. His advice to all of us is to “give yourself that little bit of time to step outside. Take those little bits of time to embrace the beauty that's around you.” Check out Amath’s writing on his website and visit his Instagram to stay up to date on his latest projects.
Kadjahtou Balde
Kadjahtou is a Fula Muslimah and the cofounder of Faithfully Sustainable, an environmental justice community and resource hub led by young Black and Brown Muslims. Kadjahtou’s passionate environmental and social justice work stems from her faith.
“It’s incredible to have a faith, with a Guidebook that has remained unchanged for centuries, with equitable rulings on capitalism, women’s rights, animal rights, the environment, and every topic in between,” she added. “So Islam is what directs my advocacy - not just for my environmental work, but my very being.” Addressing issues like climate change, sustainable living, and environmental racism, Faithfully Sustainable seeks to increase awareness and provide resources to folks while highlighting Muslim voices.
“Climate change uncovers many issues of injustice like colonialism, poverty, systemic racism, gender inequity, and capitalism, to the point that it’s (hopefully) hard to ignore; Allowing more people to understand that protecting each other and being fair will naturally result in a healthier planet,” said Kadjahtou. To learn more about these issues, follow @faithfully.sustainable and @kadjahtou and visit the Faithfully Sustainable website for resources or to make a donation.
Aicha Lasfar
Photo credit: Aicha Lasfar
Aicha is a Moroccan-Canadian artist and creator of Mooselim Works. Aicha grew up feeling as though she didn’t truly fit in in her rural Canadian hometown, or when she was visiting Morocco. It wasn’t until she moved to the Canadian Rockies that she felt like she had found her place in the world, and was able to embrace both her Muslim and Canadian identities. Mooselim Works was born from the merging of those two identities and has allowed Aicha to share her art with the world.
In 2017, Aicha became interesting in pyrography, the art of burning designs into wood. Since auctioning off one of her pieces to support the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2020, Aicha has used her work and her voice to raise funds and awareness for important causes. Check out Aicha’s website to see her available artwork or to find information on commissioning personalized work. Follow her on Instagram to stay up to date on her latest endeavors.
Dalal Sami AlOmar
“...be happy and live a life you will remember”
Founder and CEO of Earth Adventure Co., Dalal is a PADI certified scuba instructor, an EFR Instructor, and a tour guide. Trips to the sea as a child fostered her love of the ocean and spirit for adventure, naturally leading her to discover diving. Underwater exploration is an otherworldly experience and one that Dalal wanted to share with others. “Teaching people to dive and break the barrier of fear is a great achievement for me.” Based out of Kuwait City, Earth Adventure Co. offers diving, hiking, fishing, and other adventures. Dalal continues to share her knowledge and empower others to push their limits and experience nature in different ways.
For Dalal, one of the most important messages that she passes along is to “be happy and live a life you will remember.” To learn more about Dalal and her adventures, visit her Instagram. To book a trip or learn more about classes and experiences, visit Earth Adventure Co.
Aissatu Diop
Aissatu is a Senegalese Muslimah and a proud hijabi who puts together beautiful, modest outfits and lives her life as fully as possible. For Aissatu, wearing a hijab is not a limitation. It combines modesty, self-expression and fashion. Her sense of style is iconic, and so are the photos she posts from far away places.
Before college, Aissatu had only ever been out of the U.S. to visit her family in Senegal. Now a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, Aissatu has traveled all over the world, including France, Turkey, and a recent trip to Mecca, to make Umrah. Though traveling as a Black Muslim woman carries its own sets of very valid fears and challenges, Aissatu has faced them head-on. “Traveling opens your eyes, it makes you more open-minded, it helps you connect with different types of people.” Getting outside and experiencing different cultures has allowed Aissatu to grow and learn as a person, and to practice more self-love and acceptance. Follow Aissatu on Instagram and check out her Youtube channel to learn more.
Fawzia Pasha
Fawzia is a Calgary-based Muslimah hiker and new mom who shares her adventures and travels through Instagram and YouTube. An immigrant from Bangladesh, Fawzia creates content on her new life in Calgary, her travel and outdoor experiences, and her journey with pregnancy and being a new mom. Her educational videos are helpful for anyone looking to move to Canada, or for someone looking to travel there on vacation.
Her recent posts touch on the challenges of being a new mom and what it is like going through the postpartum recovery process. Check out her YouTube Channel for travel vlogs and info about Canadian living, and visit her Instagram to catch her latest adventures.
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