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Muslim Imam Offers Words of Prayer at World Trade Center Memorial Ceremony
By Neveen A. Salem
NEW YORK, Nov 12 (IslamOnline) - U.S. President George W. Bush, and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan joined U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, New York Governor George Pataki, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, and Senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer in a flag dedicating ceremony at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan yesterday, where religious leaders offered words of prayer.
Actor Ron Silver read out the names of 86 different nations who lost citizens in the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks and the plane crash in Pennsylvania, as an honor guard presented the flag of each nation and arranged them alongside one another on the ceremony platform.
Adorning either side of the steps of the platform were the American and United Nations flags.
Countries that suffered losses on September 11 included Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Pakistan, Yemen and Tajikistan.
None of the political leaders present gave speeches, but the attendees of the ceremony head speeches from religious leaders, including Imam Dewider of the Midtown Islamic Center.
Dewider read from the Qur'anic Verse of "The Bee," and stated that, "Verily Allah commands to justice acts of goodness and forbids evil acts and transgressions."
He went on to say, "We are here today to seek a spiritual healing."
"We must pray to shed our differences with tolerance and work together to nourish and cultivate the earth. We need to return to God and perform acts of goodness on earth," he continued.
He ended his speech with a du'aa [supplication] seeking Allah's forgiveness and that He shower all souls with His mercy and peace before embracing President Bush and kissing him on both cheeks.
Before leaving, Bush and Annan signed their names on a large wall bearing the names of the 86 countries and their flags, each signature going next to the respective affiliation.
Bush added, "Good will triumph over evil. God Bless you all."
Bishop Patrick Sheridan, the New York Archdiocese, and Rabbi Kashul Lookstein of the Kehilagh Josurun Congregation, also offered words of prayer.
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