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3 J. Islamic L. 197 (1998)
The Muslim Invocation on Capitol Hill: Revisiting the Legality of Prayer in Congress

handle is hein.journals/jilc3 and id is 203 raw text is: The Muslim Invocation on Capitol Hill: Revisiting the Legality of Prayer in Congress by Irshad Abdal-Haqq* Imam Siraj Wahaj of New York was the first Muslim to formally conduct an invocation on Capitol Hill. His prayer was delivered in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 25, 1991. The following year Imam W. Deen Mohammed, as guest chaplain in the U.S. Senate, conducted the first Muslim led invocation there on February 6, 1992. Both events were widely celebrated in the American Muslim community. Since that time, 'eid celebrations have been hosted by the White House, iftar (breaking of the fast) activities have occurred in House reception rooms, and Muslims working on Capitol Hill have established weekly Jumah prayer meetings. This short essay examines the constitutionality of conducting such official religious activity as invocations within the halls of Congress as well as in state government legislatures. The prayers delivered by the imams and remarks about them made by their respective sponsoring congressmen are reproduced at the end of this discussion. The practice of opening sessions of Congress with prayer has continued without interruption ever since the First Congress drafted the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution over 200 years ago. A principal clause of the First Amendment, commonly known as the Establishment Clause, embodies the doctrine of the separation of church and state. It prohibits Congress from passing laws that establishes one religion over another or interfere with the free exercise of religion. Many people believe that the First Amendment therefore prohibits the Congress from sanctioning any type of religious activity, including daily House and Senate invocations. While activities such as the invocation might appear to violate the * Managing editor of the Journal.

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