Houston: the Ismaili Center, a huge Islamic venue on the scale of Texas, will soon open its doors

Everything is big in Texas — and the new Ismaili Islamic Center of Houston is no exception. Set on more than 4 hectares of land, this vast complex includes nine gardens, a theater, reception rooms, a café and a prayer space. It will open its doors on November 6, becoming the first Ismaili center in the United States and the seventh in the world, after London, Lisbon, Dubai, Dushanbe, Vancouver and Toronto.

The Ismailis, a branch of Shiism representing about 1% of Muslims, are distinguished by their particular conception of the imamate, which they consider to be an unbroken line of imams — direct descendants of the Prophet Mohammed, endowed with spiritual and moral authority. Led today by the Aga Khan, the Ismailis put forward a vision of Islam based on knowledge, dialogue and service to society.

Their global network, the Aga Khan Development Network, manages more than a thousand educational, cultural and humanitarian programs in around thirty countries. In Houston, where religious diversity is particularly strong, the center aims to become a space for meeting and mutual understanding between different faiths. “Faith is not limited to prayer, it is also expressed in service,” emphasizes Farah Lalani, spokesperson for the Ismaili Council for the Southwestern United States.

For many, this center embodies the open and cosmopolitan spirit of the Texas metropolis. “It’s not just a beautiful building,” former Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “His impact will be felt in Houston, Texas and across the country. » Despite some criticism from conservative circles, local religious leaders welcome this initiative. Evangelical pastor Bob Roberts Jr., involved in interreligious dialogue, sees this as a sign of hope: “Christians have nothing to fear from their Muslim neighbors. The message of the Gospel is bigger than any building. »