About Us
Building a Place Where Muslim Youth Belong
Salam Scouts is a national Muslim scouting organization where youth grow in faith, confidence, character, and community through adventure, service, friendship, and hands-on learning.
What We Stand For
We share our mission, vision, and story to inspire trust, showcase our values, and highlight the purpose behind our journey.
Our Vision
A future where Muslim youth are confident in who they are, grounded in their faith, connected to their communities, and prepared to lead and serve with purpose.
Our Story
Salam Scouts began in St. Louis in 2024 with a simple belief: Muslim youth deserve a scouting experience where they can fully embrace who they are. Today, Salam Scouts is building that place in communities across the country. And we’re only getting started.
Our Story
Salam Scouts was born from a desire to create an alternative to traditional scouting programs — one that reflects our values, celebrates our faith, and welcomes every child with open arms. From a single troop in St. Louis, we’ve grown into a network of troops across multiple states, united by a shared mission.
From One Community to a Growing Movement
What began in St. Louis has grown into a nationwide community of Muslim families who believe our youth deserve a place to belong, explore, serve, and grow in faith.
Every new Scout, leader, and troop represents more than a number. It represents another young person building confidence, forming meaningful friendships, discovering new skills, and experiencing what it means to belong without having to compromise who they are.
And we’re just getting started.
Meet the Founders
Salam Scouts was founded by Nawal Abuhamdeh and Fazila Bobat, two Muslim mothers who turned a moment of hurt into an opportunity to build something powerful for the next generation of Muslim leaders in America.
Nawal and Fazila recognize the generations of Muslims who have contributed to scouting as leaders, volunteers, and families, often finding ways to make existing spaces work for their communities. They also believed it was time for something different: a scouting organization built with Muslim youth at its very foundation.
It was time to stop molding ourselves to fit into spaces that weren’t built with us in mind, and start building a space of our own.
A place where Muslim youth don’t have to tiptoe around their faith, culture, or identity.
Where a Palestinian child can speak about Palestine, care about their people, and advocate for their community without being told that their identity is political.
Where our children can stand for justice, show compassion for others, and live their values openly without wondering whether doing so will cost them their place at the table.
Together, Nawal and Fazila turned hurt into purpose and purpose into action, creating Salam Scouts as a place where Muslim youth don’t have to ask whether they belong.
We’re making the space.
Guided by Leaders Who Believe in Our Mission
Our Advisory Board brings together respected leaders, educators, advocates, scholars, and community builders who share our commitment to creating a stronger future for Muslim youth.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib
The first Palestinian-American U.S. Congresswoman
Hena Zuberi
Director of Advocacy for Justice For All, Journalist and News Anchor for the Justice For All Now Show, and Editor in Chief of Muslimmatters
Mufti Asif Umar
Imam of the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis and Islamic Scholar specializing in Quran and Figh
Zahra Billoo
Executive Director of CAIR San Francisco Bay Area and Civil Rights Advocate
Dr. Ferrahs Abdelbaset
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Assistant Professor of Basic Sciences at Ponce University, and Vice-President of the Board of the Islamic Society of Greater St. Louis
Linda Sarsour
Palestinian American Political Activist and Co-Founder /Executive Director of MPower for Change