Mosques across UK and Ireland have opened up their doors for the local homeless as freezing temperatures hit.
Mosques have announced that they would be providing shelter to anyone regardless of race or religion as temperatures fall below zero as a result of storm Emma.
Storm Emma, nicknamed ‘The Beast from the East’ has brought snow and freezing winds to Europe.
Summayah Kenna, Head of Community Welfare Department with the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland said,
“We will have a security team on duty at night, and maintenance teams have been alerted to make sure there is sufficient heating in the building, especially late at night”
Clonskeagh Mosque is offering homeless people shelter during the #BeastFromTheEast https://t.co/yHRLV32E1i pic.twitter.com/Q8zGlOVN2N
— 98FM (@98FM) February 26, 2018
Shaukat Warraich, Editor in Chief of Imams Online, has said ” Mosques need to evolve in dealing with national crisis and disaster recovery efforts, for example, the efforts made following the Grenfell Tower disaster by Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre was unbelievable. Opening the Mosque doors bringing in the less fortunate at times like these goes along way and is part of what a Beacon Mosque should be.
The Al Manaar Centre have yet again helped the local community during these freezing nights by opening their doors and setting up sleeping bags in the main hall for the homeless to spend the night. They have also providing warm clothes.
Canterbury Mosque have also opened their doors to the homeless as well as providing warm clothes.
Ihsan Khan, who helped organise the effort, says most of those they came across had already found somewhere to stay for the night.
He said: “We first raised money to buy warm clothes and thermals which we distributed in December and January.
“But last night we realised those clothes aren’t going to be enough so we now want to open our doors because they too deserve to stay in a place that is warm.
“After all they are our brothers and sisters in humanity and we should be caring for them as much as we can.”
Canterbury Mosque offering shelter for the homeless as temperatures plummet #Snow #ThisIsIslam https://t.co/QaB4sVFu6T
— Team Dawah Harrow (@TDHarrow) February 28, 2018
Many thanks for what you are providing for the homeless persons, of all nationalities, and beliefs. Very humane.