Imam Talib Shaleef
Masjid Muhammad
Washington, DC
Sponsor: Rep. Keith Ellison, (D-MN)
Date of Prayer: 07/31/2013
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor, privilege, and pleasure to introduce Imam Talib Shareef today, who is the resident imam which is simply a word that means leader of Masjid Muhammad, which is a Washington, D.C., mosque with a 75–year history.
Imam Talib Shareef is a 30–year veteran of the United States Air Force,
and he served our country nobly in uniform for many years. He also holds a master's in business administration
from the American InterContinental University and a diploma in the area of Arabic studies and language from the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. I might also add that
the imam is a leader in the interfaith movement and regularly works with faith leaders of all faiths, building understanding, cohesion, and unity amongst all people and all Americans.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Almighty God, the Merciful, the Wise, the Most High, the Possessor of Greatness, we stand and humbly beseech Your Divine Providence upon this House of Representatives.
Grant them clear vision and legislative acumen as they navigate the waters of our national issues. Grant them insight and wisdom, and bless them to follow the logic to its logical conclusion. Grant them the quality of excellence in planning both short and long term that focuses on the right thing, the right way, at the right time.
As we pledge "one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" in acknowledging You, God, who created us all and cares about us all equally, bless this House to be reflective of E pluribus unum––the many diverse, wonderful, beautiful expressions of human life that have contributed to the beauty and strength of America; and bless them to have always the right perception of our Nation that, first of all, this Nation is a gift from You, and under You, God, we are responsible for how we treat everything.
Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory