Text: Muslim Chaplain Marks Ramadan with Prayer in Congress

The U.S. House of Representatives opened its session on November 15 with readings from the Koran and a Muslim prayer, led by Imam Yahya Hendi.

Standing before the American flag and the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, in the House chamber, Imam Hendi first read verses from the Koran, and then offered a prayer.

The occasion marked the beginning of Ramadan, and underlined the fact that Islam is part of the mainstream religious landscape of the U.S. Although this is the third time Muslim prayers have been offered in the House of Representatives, it is the first time the House of Representatives has invited a Muslim chaplain to mark the beginning of Ramadan.

Imam Hendi is the Muslim Chaplain at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and the Imam of the Islamic Society of Frederick, Maryland. He is spokesman of the Islamic Jurisprudence Council of North America, and also directs the Public Education and Assistance Conference (PEACE) office of the Muslim American Society.

Speaking to the Washington File, Imam Hendi said that recent events have helped to shed light on Islam and its adherents in the United States, where, generally, people did not know much about Islam. "These are sad times," he said, "but something positive is coming out of that. People are beginning to show interest in issues related to Islam, in what Muslims say and feel."

Imam Hendi said that Ramadan provides opportunities for non-Muslims to better understand their Muslim neighbors.

"Several churches have called on their parishioners to fast for one day in solidarity with Muslims. They want them then to break the fast in churches. This has never happened before. We need to show how Muslims and Christians interact in America as a model for others. Other peoples can look at us and see how we live in a free society, with mutual respect and understanding among us," Hendi said.

During this session of the House of Representatives, several Representatives made statements noting the importance of Islam in American life.

The transcript of Imam Hendi's readings and prayer is given below:

Prayer by Muslin Chaplain of Georgetown University, Imam Yahya Hendi at the opening of the November 15 session of the U.S. House of Representatives:

Chaplain Yahya Hendi: Reading from the Holy Koran, the Muslims' holy scripture, Chapter 5, Verse 8 and 9.

And remember the favor of God unto you and his covenant which he ratified with you when you said, "We hear and we obey." Fear God, for God knows well the secrets of your hearts. All you of faith stand up firmly for God as witnesses to fair dealings. Let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just. That is next to righteousness. Fear God, for God is well acquainted with all that you do.

And now let's bow our heads before God and pray.

Loving God, source of justice, goodness and generosity, we ask you to guide our men and women of Congress with your divine light, to empower them with your wisdom, to enable them to be agents of peace in this nation and around the world. Help them lead us to act as brothers and sisters. Empower them to help us work out our differences. Help them help us confront hatred wherever it exists that we all may live as one nation united under God. God, receive our thanks and hear our prayers. Amen.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)