In the 1990s, over a thousand Indigenous Mayans in Chiapas, Mexico, embraced Islam, blending ancient traditions with a new faith. Despite initial challenges, including cultural suppression and limited resources, a resilient Muslim community began to take shape.
This series follows the journey of Casa Umar, a community hub established 15 years ago to support spiritual growth and cultural identity. Through an Islamic Montessori school, a healing garden, and a halal butcher shop, Casa Umar provides essential spaces for learning, worship, and connection.
Set against the backdrop of Chiapas’ lush landscape, this project offers an intimate look at faith, culture, and the strength of community.
UPDATES
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[19, Dec 2024]
Casa Umar: Montessori School
Chiapas, Mexico
As the year draws to a close, we’re reflecting on the incredible journey of our Islamic Montessori school, which officially opened its doors in August. Since then, we’ve welcomed 19 students into our classrooms and anticipate reaching 24 before year’s end. This milestone marks a significant step forward in our mission to provide completely free education to the Indigenous community in Chiapas.
The school is more than just a place of learning—it’s a space for growth, discovery, and empowerment. Our Montessori approach goes beyond the standard curriculum, offering students hands-on experiences in cooking, crafting, and gardening. In our vibrant garden, students have eagerly planted cucumbers, peas, pumpkins, and beans, while learning about composting and sustainable agriculture. These activities not only teach practical skills but also nurture a deep connection to the land and their heritage.
This month, we’re excited to share a short film that captures the necessity and impact of this initiative. The stories of these students and their families highlight how access to free, quality education is transforming lives and creating opportunities for a brighter future.
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[12, June 2024]
Sincero - Carniceria Halal in San Cristóbal de las Casas
Chiapas, Mexico
Over the last year the halal carneceria, now named “Sincero” has grown to support the community’s meal needs and is becoming a source of sustainable economic development for the Muslim community in Chiapas. Previously run by Yusuf, the community member in the video, Sincero has now also been joined by another trainee Muhammad Yusuf. As the sole provider of halal meat for the community, the business needs more trained workers in order to fulfill community demand and to seed sustainable economic growth for the residents. Additionally, a portion of the profits generated from this business aims to be invested in the local madrasa so that it can offer more programs for the community.
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[12, May 2024]
Ramadan with Rio
Chiapas, Mexico
As we just celebrated Eid al-Fitr and approach Eid al-Adha, we reflect on Rio’s invaluable contributions during his time with us at Casa Umar. Over the five weeks he spent getting to know our community, Rio made remarkable progress with our permaculture initiative. Among the many milestones he achieved were the implementation of a roof water capture system, a grey water filtration system, the construction of a greenhouse, and the creation of a prototype wicking bed system. Additionally, he successfully planted our first batch of seeds that are already thriving.
Beyond his work at the centre, Rio also connected with other like-minded individuals in the city who are dedicated to improving the city’s water. With plans to return and expand his efforts in the near future, we hope Rio remains a constant and cherished member of our community.
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[22 August 2023]
Halal Carniceria
Chiapas, Mexico
Chiapas, Mexico
At the southern edge of Mexico near the borders of Guatemala lies the state of Chiapas. Here, Muslims from around the Americas have migrated and mixed with the indigenous Tzotzil to form the only living third-generation community of Mexican Muslims in Central America.
We had the honor of spending last Ramadan with this community and got to intimately experience a community in its infancy. One of the needs this community has is access to Halal Meat. The "Halal Caranceria' business was started by the Imam of the community and is barely surviving, with just one butcher holding the weight of the entire community's demands on his back.
The business needs more trained workers in order to fulfill the demands of the community. We are helping raise funds for this initial phase and in the long term, we are committed to helping this community grow into a self-sustainable one. The profits generated from this business aim to be invested in the local Madrasa so that it can offer more programs for the community.
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[20 July 2023]
In conversation with Kashmirwala
Rumi's Cave, London, UK
Rumi's Cave, London, UK
In this intimate talk, visual artist Ibrahim Ahmed, also known as Kashmirwala, shares his transformative experiences while visiting the indigenous Muslims of Chiapas. Through his heartfelt personal account, he describes the journey his family embarked upon, whilst shedding light on the significant challenges faced by the Tzotzils as well as those who have dedicated more than a decade to the maintenance and development of this nascent community of converts.