Houston Muslims Open Mosques for Those Needing Shelter

The Houston Muslim community is opening area mosques to serve as shelters for those looking to escape the floods left by Hurricane Harvey, Mic reported.

"This is an obligation, a religious obligation to help others," M.J. Khan, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston told the website. "When you give, you don't give only to your own family. ... You give to anybody who needs help."

Kahn's organization represents 21 Islamic centers, Mic reported. He said four of those are presently operating as 24-hour shelters.

The mosques are staffed and stocked by local volunteers. Kahn said so many people volunteered to help that he began sending some to aid city shelters.

He noted the evacuees seeking refuge were "mostly families," but the mosques were open to everyone who needed help.

We have mosques all over the greater Houston area," he said. "If you have no place to go, go to your neighborhood mosque."

Meanwhile, city officials in Houston urged flood victims to try to avoid going to the George R. Brown Convention Center, which is already at-capacity, the Houston Chronicle reported.

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