Countdown
Days Until Ashara Mubaraka 1448H
The Relay Centers
Relay Center Locations
Ashara Mubaraka 1448 in the Greater Houston Area will be relayed at two locations. Plan around the center nearest your stay.
Anjuman-e-Shujaee · Houston
Masjid-e-Mohammedi
17730 Coventry Park Drive, Houston, TX 77084
Directions →
Anjuman-e-Imadi · Sugar Land
Sugarland Markaz
421 Cottonwood Church Rd, Rosenberg, TX 77471
Directions →
The travel, hotel, and grocery details below are oriented to the Masjid-e-Mohammedi location in northwest Houston. Guests attending the Sugarland Markaz in Rosenberg / Sugar Land (southwest of the metro) should check distances and look for stays on that side of the area.
Plan Ahead
Before You Travel
Visa and entry requirements vary by country and traveler. Please check the official
U.S. Department of State travel website
to confirm whether you need a visa, ESTA / Visa Waiver approval, or other travel documents before making travel plans.
Apply early. Visa appointment wait times can be long in some countries, so begin the process well ahead of your intended travel dates.
Customs & What Not to Bring
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) screens every arriving traveler. Declare your items honestly on the customs form — declaring is free, and it is failing to declare that causes problems.
- Do not bring food: Fresh, cooked, or packaged food — meat, fruits, vegetables, seeds, plants, dairy, and most homemade items — is prohibited or restricted and is the single most common cause of secondary inspection, confiscation, delays, and fines.
- Leave the snacks at home too: Even sealed packaged food can be questioned. Halal food and groceries are abundant in Houston, so there is no need to pack any food at all.
- Medications: Carry them in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription or a doctor's note.
- Currency: Amounts of US$10,000 or more (or foreign equivalent) must be declared on arrival.
- When in doubt, declare it: If you are unsure whether something is allowed, declare it — an officer will advise you and there is no penalty for declaring.
For the official rules, see CBP's Know Before You Go guide.
The biggest cause of customs trouble for traveling Mehmano is undeclared food. Please leave all food items at home — everything you need is available locally once you arrive.
Guests should ideally exchange currency before travel or use major bank ATMs after arrival. Airport exchange counters are convenient but often have weaker rates and higher fees.
Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere in Houston, including for rideshare, hotels, and most restaurants. Carrying a small amount of US dollars in cash is useful for tips and minor purchases.
Staying connected in the United States is straightforward. International Mehmano have a few good options:
- eSIM (easiest): Buy and activate a U.S. data plan before you fly through providers such as Airalo or Holafly. If your phone supports eSIM, you are connected the moment you land — no store visit needed.
- Prepaid physical SIM: Available at the airport (convenient but pricier) or more affordably at Walmart, Best Buy, Target, or carrier stores. T-Mobile and AT&T offer the strongest Houston coverage; Mint Mobile and US Mobile are good value.
- Check your phone: It must be carrier-unlocked and GSM-compatible to use a U.S. SIM or eSIM.
- Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi is widely available at hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers.
Houston has excellent 4G/5G coverage. A small prepaid data plan is usually enough for maps, rideshare, and messaging during your stay.
Transportation
Getting Here & Around
Recommended airport: George Bush Intercontinental Airport — IAH.
IAH is the preferred airport for arrival into Houston because it is the city's primary international hub, with the widest range of international and domestic flights, and it offers practical access to Masjid-e-Mohammedi in northwest Houston (roughly 25–30 miles / 40–50 minutes by road depending on traffic).
The alternate airport is William P. Hobby Airport — HOU, located on the south side of Houston. Hobby is smaller and convenient for domestic carriers, but it is farther from the relay center on the northwest side and the drive usually passes through heavier urban traffic, which increases local transportation cost and travel time. Guests flying into HOU should plan extra time and budget for rideshare, rental car, or private transport across the city.
Most overseas Mehmano will arrive on international flights into IAH. Book local ground transport in advance, as both airports are a significant drive from the masjid.
Houston is a large, car-oriented city with limited public transit to the suburbs, so a rental car is strongly recommended for flexibility in reaching the masjid, hotels, and dining each day.
For greater flexibility, guests may consider renting a car at the airport from major providers such as
Hertz or
Enterprise.
Both operate rental counters at IAH and HOU.
Visitors driving in Texas should carry a valid foreign driver license and an International Driving Permit issued in their country of residence.
Houston freeways (I-10 "Katy Freeway", Beltway 8, US-290, Grand Parkway 99) move quickly outside rush hour but congest heavily 7–9 AM and 4–7 PM. Budget extra time during these windows.
There are no practical public transportation options directly to the masjid. Houston's METRO bus and rail network primarily serves the central city and does not conveniently reach the northwest Harris County area around Masjid-e-Mohammedi.
Rideshare is widely available throughout Houston and is the simplest option for guests without a rental car. Both Uber and Lyft operate at both airports and across the metro area.
Rideshare demand and pricing rise sharply around the relay center during arrival and departure times each day. Plan for surge pricing and longer wait times during peak miqaat hours.
Parking arrangements for the relay center will be communicated by the local committee closer to the miqaat. Where on-campus parking is limited, offsite parking with shuttle service to the relay center may be arranged.
Guests are encouraged to carpool or use rideshare during peak arrival and departure times to ease congestion in the masjid area and reduce wait times.
Please follow the directions of volunteers and posted signage on each day, and allow extra time for parking and shuttle transfers during busy periods.
Accommodation
Where to Stay
Accommodation information for Mehmano attending Ashara Mubaraka 1448 in the Houston Relay Center. The most convenient lodging is in west and northwest Houston, close to the masjid.
Nearby areas to search for lodging include the Energy Corridor, Katy, Cypress, and West Houston, especially along the I-10 (Katy Freeway) corridor, which offers convenient access to the relay center and surrounding areas.
Common hotel chains in the area include Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Hampton Inn, Embassy Suites, Courtyard, and Sonesta. Specific Energy Corridor properties include:
- Hilton Garden Inn Houston Energy Corridor
- Embassy Suites West Houston – Energy Corridor
- Hyatt Regency Houston West
- Courtyard by Marriott Houston I-10 West / Energy Corridor
- Hampton Inn Houston I-10 Energy Corridor
- Sonesta Essential Houston Energy Corridor
Guests looking for local home or apartment stays may search
Airbnb in the Katy / Cypress area.
When choosing accommodations, please look for stays closest to the 77084 / Barker Cypress area, or carefully check the travel distance to the masjid. There will be no daily transit provided to or from hotels, so guests will need to rideshare, taxi, or drive to the masjid area each day.
Budget Hotels Near the Masjid
The following budget and extended-stay hotels are within roughly a 10-mile radius of Masjid-e-Mohammedi, listed closest first. Estimated rates are based on recently published booking-site prices and a sample 9-night stay (6/15–6/24/2026).
Distances are approximate driving miles from 17730 Coventry Park Dr. Nightly rates are estimates based on recently published booking-site prices for similar dates (May 2026 data); actual rates for 6/15–6/24/2026 may differ.
Always verify current pricing and availability on the hotel's own website or a booking platform before reserving. Extended-stay properties (Studio 6, InTown Suites, WoodSpring, Extended Stay America) include in-room kitchens, which can reduce dining costs over a longer stay.
Jaman & Other Essentials
Niyaz-e-Hussain AS
Ashara Niyaz Jaman
Niyaz-e-Hussain AS Jaman
Niyaz-e-Hussain AS jaman will be served at the relay centers throughout the ayyam of Ashara Mubaraka — for both lunch and dinner each day. Mumineen are requested to RSVP through the ITS app so the local committee can plan accurately for every meal.
Lunch served daily
Dinner served daily
RSVP via the ITS app
Halal Grocery & Meat Markets
There are several halal grocery and meat markets close to the masjid, where you can get kids snacks for the waaz, or ingredients for sihori or breakfast:
Al Baraka Halal Meat & Grill — World Food Super Market
17754 FM 529 Rd, Houston 77095 · halal butcher, grill restaurant & full international grocery under one roof
Meat, Grill & Grocery
Hira Halal Meat & Groceries
17209 FM 529 Rd, Houston 77095 · halal meat plus produce, dairy & spices
Meat & Grocery
Cypress Grocery & Halal Meat
11700 Barker Cypress Rd, Cypress · fresh halal beef, goat & chicken; Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi & Middle Eastern groceries
Meat & Grocery
Katy Halal Meat
2002 Fry Rd, Ste 106, Houston 77084 · halal-certified beef, lamb & chicken
Meat Market
Hours and zabihah status can change — please confirm directly with each market before visiting. To find more halal grocers and meat markets across Houston, search
Zabihah.com or filter for "Halal" in Google Maps near your hotel.
Everyday Essentials & Groceries
For day-to-day items that are not halal-specific — laundry detergent, toiletries, bottled water, snacks, baby supplies, over-the-counter medicine, towels, and the like — large general stores are a short drive from the relay centers.
- Walmart Supercenter: one-stop for groceries and household goods. The closest Supercenters are 15955 FM 529 Rd, Houston 77095 and 6060 N Fry Rd, Katy 77449 (near West Little York). Walmart Neighborhood Markets are even closer, at 8208 & 11425 Barker Cypress Rd and 4810 Highway 6 N.
- Target: household goods, clothing, pharmacy, and groceries.
- Sam's Club & Costco: bulk shopping (membership required) — useful for larger families or shared stays.
- H-E-B: the popular Texas grocery chain, with several stores across west Houston and Katy.
- CVS & Walgreens: pharmacies and convenience items, open late, on most major intersections.
Almost everything you might need is available locally and affordably — there is no need to overpack. Plan to buy bulky essentials (water, detergent, toiletries) after you arrive rather than carrying them.
Plan Ahead
Weather
Houston summers are hot and very humid. Guests should plan for intense heat, high humidity, and frequent afternoon showers or thunderstorms, along with comfortable walking between parking, shuttle drop-off points, and event areas.
90–95°F
Typical daytime high
105–115°F
Heat index can reach
Stay hydrated, carry water, wear light breathable clothing, and use sun protection. Brief but heavy rain is common in the afternoon — a compact umbrella is useful.
أهلاً وسهلاً
Ahlan wa Sahlan
Azadaaran-e-Hussain (AS)
It is our honour to welcome mumineen and mehmano from across the world to the Greater Houston Area for the ayyam of Ashara Mubaraka 1448H. We hope your stay here is comfortable and your days and nights here are filled with the gham of Imam Hussain AS.
Abeed-e-Syedna TUS
Anjuman-e-Shujaee (Houston)
Anjuman-e-Imadi (Sugar Land)