Rabat - American President Donald Trump listened to verses of the Quran during an interfaith religious service at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday.
Rabat – American President Donald Trump listened to verses of the Quran during an interfaith religious service at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday.
Executive director of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, Imam Mohamed Magid, had been expected to recite “the Muslims call to prayer.” Instead, he chose to read aloud two passages from the Quran, calling for diversity among peoples and coexistence regardless of religion, sex and origin.
Magid read out in Arabic verse number 13 from Surah Al-Hujarat, translated into English as follows: O mankind, indeed, we have created you from male and female [Adam and Eve] and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is knowing and acquainted with all things.”
Magid also recited verse number 22 of Surah Ar-Rum translated into English as follows: “And of His [God] signs are the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed, in these are signs for those of knowledge.”
As a well-known figure in Washington, Magid was one of 26 religious leaders from a diverse array of faiths to participate in the service, an inaugural tradition since George Washington.
According to the event’s program, Magid was to have delivered the “Muslim call to prayer,” better known in Arabic as the “Adhan.” A spokesperson for Magid, however, said that officials at the Cathedral had approved his recitation of his chosen verses instead.
Video of the event documented the moment when the Magid began his recitation from Quran. As he started, Trump’s wife Melania made a move to stand, as if to leave. The video showed Trump stopping her, signaling to her with his hand to sit back down.
