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Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Houston, Texas, earlier today, marking his first official visit to the United States of America as our 50th Imam. He was accompanied by Prince Amyn, Prince Hussain and Prince Aly Muhammad.

Hazar Imam was received by the Honorable Carol McCutcheon, Sugar Land’s Mayor; Rick Miller, the Mayor Pro Tem of Sugar Land; Al-Karim Alidina, President of the Ismaili Council for USA and a delegation of Jamati leaders.

Following a welcome by an honor guard, a musical ensemble made up of youth from across the region performed the U.S. National Anthem and the Nashid al-Imamah.

Hazar Imam was presented with a key to the city of Sugar Land by Mayor McCutcheon in recognition of the Ismaili Jamat’s contributions to the wider community and the work of the Imamat globally.

In the afternoon, Hazar Imam visited Houston City Hall to meet with the city’s Mayor, the Honorable John Whitmire, who also presented him with a Key to the City of Houston, and who will be the Chief Guest at tomorrow’s Opening Ceremony of the Ismaili Center in Houston.

The Ismaili Center, Houston marks a major milestone for the Jamat in the USA. Open to the broader public, it will feature a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces for reflection, learning, and civic engagement. It will also contain a Jamatkhana, the place of prayer for Ismailis.

Ismaili Centers serve as spaces of prayer and as places for social, cultural, and educational dialogue with the wider community. They are dedicated to fostering understanding, learning, and connection.

The opening of the center will be streamed live on The Ismaili TV on 6 November. Coverage will begin at 10:15 AM local time.

During his visit, Hazar Imam will grace the Southwestern and Central United States jurisdiction Jamats with didar.