1 of 4

http://search.proquest.com/printviewfile?accountid=12598

Back to previous page

document 1 of 1

ISLAM IN AMERICA
Zalatimo, Dima. The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs 10.2 (Jul 1991): 75.

Find a copy

http://za2uf4ps7f.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid
/ProQ%3Aethnicnewswatch&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&
rft.jtitle=The+Washington+Report+on+Middle+East+Affairs&rft.atitle=ISLAM+IN+AMERICA&
rft.au=Zalatimo%2C+Dima&rft.aulast=Zalatimo&rft.aufirst=Dima&rft.date=1991-07-01&rft.volume=10&
rft.issue=2&rft.spage=75&rft.isbn=&rft.btitle=&rft.title=The+Washington+Report+on+Middle+East+Affairs&
rft.issn=87554917&rft_id=info:doi/

Abstract
None available.
Presidential Greeting to American Muslims Marks Eid Al Adha
George Bush became the first US president to extend a videotaped holiday greeting to the Muslim community
when he recorded a two-minute message marking Eid Al Adha, celebrated at the end of June.
Standing beside a White House arm chair and wearing a navy blue blazer, Bush began his address by greeting
Muslims as fellow followers of one of the Abrahamic faiths.
"It is my pleasure, on the day American Muslims celebrate the feast of sacrifice, to offer each and every one of
you my heartfelt best wishes," the president said. "Today, millions of Muslims in America and around the world
commemorate the absolute faith and unquestioning obedience of the prophet Abraham who was ready, at God's
command, to sacrifice even his own son. Abraham's example inspires three great religions. As children of
Abraham, American Muslims gather today to honor their ancient faith. As Americans, your celebration affirms this
nation's allegiance to religious freedom for all.
"The notion of religious tolerance lies at the heart of the American ideal. Many of our founders came here because
the land promised religious tolerance. And today in America, all people are free to believe, free to worship as
their minds and hearts tell them they must. On this day of great joy for members of the Muslim faith, I ask
everyone to remember the millions of men and women who are persecuted for their beliefs, forced to suffer for
their faith. I offer this prayer: May God guide us forward, to the day when people of all faiths live in peace and
freedom, everywhere in the world."
The presidential greeting was proposed by members of the Washington, DC-based American Muslim Council
(AMC) to mark the three-day observance of Eid Al Adha. It is the holiday that marks the Haj, or pilgrimage to

4/28/2016 4:14 PM

2 of 4

http://search.proquest.com/printviewfile?accountid=12598

Mecca, one of Islam's five pillars. Muslims typically sacrifice a lamb to be distributed to the poor along with zakat,
or alms, in celebration of the feast and remembrance of the poor. In Washington, DC, the message was
scheduled to air on national capital area cable television channels and was made available to Fairfax County
schools to be shown in classrooms. The AMC also distributed the address to hospitals, to be viewed by Muslim
patients, and to interfaith meetings.
One of the objectives of the video recording was to help alleviate religious discrimination and promote greater
understanding and tolerance of Islam in the US, according to AMC's executive director, Abdurahman Alamoudi.
"We requested assistance from Muslim communities to spread this message to the non-Muslim population," said
Alamoudi. "This presidential message will help define the Muslim community as part of the American fabric and as
a positive, organized minority."
Copies of the videotape may be obtained from the AMC at a nominal price. For more information, call
(202)789-2262.
Imam Delivers Congressional Prayer
The House of Representatives' Chaplain, Dr. James Ford, reserved the delivery of the House prayer on June 25
for Imam Siraj Wahaj to mark Eid Al Adha. Nominated by members of the Muslim community, the American
Muslim Council and Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), Wahaj, 41, is known nationally for his leadership in establishing a
"drug-free zone" in his drug-infested neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn. One of the first Muslim
leaders to cooperate with the New York City Police Department in this effort, Wahaj also broadcasts a weekly
program on WWRL-AM. He serves on the advisory board of the Islamic Society of North America and on the Majlis
Al Shura (Consultative Committee) of New York City.
Wahaj's invocation was scheduled to air on C-SPAN's daily coverage of congressional events.
Articles may be reprinted with proper attribution, except for photos and cartoons. Article copyright American
Educational Trust.
Copyright American Educational Trust Jul 1991

Subject

Clergy;
Holidays & special occasions;
Islam;
Politics;
Presidents;
Religion;
Rites & ceremonies;
Social life & customs;
Traditions

Ethnicity

Arab/Middle Eastern

Title

ISLAM IN AMERICA

Author

Zalatimo, Dima

Publication title

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs

4/28/2016 4:14 PM

3 of 4

http://search.proquest.com/printviewfile?accountid=12598

Volume

10

Issue

Pages

75

Number of pages

Publication year

1991

Publication date

Jul 1991

Year

1991

Publisher

American Educational Trust

Place of publication

Washington

Country of publication

United States

Publication subject

Business And Economics,

Political Science--International Relations,
Arab/Middle Eastern, Chemistry

ISSN

87554917

Source type

Scholarly Journals

Language of publication

English

Document type

Feature

Accession number

SFLNSWRMS0406MESB180000036

ProQuest document ID

218798638

Document URL

http://ezproxy.msu.edu/login?url=http:
//search.proquest.com/docview
/218798638?accountid=12598

Copyright

Copyright American Educational Trust Jul 1991

Last updated

2010-06-09

Database

2 databases View list

4/28/2016 4:14 PM

4 of 4

http://search.proquest.com/printviewfile?accountid=12598

Copyright 2016 ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions

4/28/2016 4:14 PM