In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, Houston’s Al-Noor mosque has become a sanctuary for Muslims seeking refuge and aid.
As thousands flocked to the mosque, it provided 24-hour shelter, food, and water. Many Muslims, especially from the South Asian Mahatma Gandhi District, faced severe business losses, exacerbating their struggles, Chron reported.
Zahoor Gire, Al-Noor’s executive director, emphasized the mosque’s role in bridging gaps left by city services and utility provider CenterPoint Energy.
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“Our community will not reach out for help; they will reach in,” said Zahoor Gire, executive director of Al-Noor, referring to the cultural and religious needs of Houston’s expanding Muslim community already thought to be more than 500,000 strong in the metro area.
The community turned to Al-Noor for spiritual and practical support due to cultural and religious needs unmet by other shelters.
“We’re trying to be understanding and not bother the elected officials because we know they’re busy at this time,” Gire said.
“We just focus on the needs of the people we’re serving. Hopefully, when we’re past this phase, we will start seeking their assistance to see what resources they can provide to specific communities. A lot of times resources flow through, but they cannot come to the few minorities within the minority community such as ours.”
Challenges
Business owners like Huma Moghul experienced significant losses and expressed frustration with inadequate infrastructure and disaster response.
“Who is responsible for this? The city doesn’t want to take the blame. CenterPoint doesn’t want to take the blame.” Moghul said.
She added, “I’m very thankful to God. I think we take life for granted. But come on, man. I can open up a better CenterPoint.”
Despite these challenges, the mosque and its leaders, including Ghulam Bombaywala, highlighted the community’s resilience and preparedness for future storms, stressing the importance of mutual support and the ongoing need for donations to sustain their efforts.
Officials at Al-Noor expected people would soon begin asking for assistance with food, gas, medicine and rent. “We already know what to expect next, because we go through these cycles all the time,” Gire said.
“This is a strain on our resources. It’s a struggle all the time after every disaster,” Gire said. “We rely on our donors to support the community, and if we’re lucky, if we’re able to get any assistance from the city.”