FULL STORY and PHOTOS may be downloaded at The Spectrum Newspaper
http://www.theSpectrum.com -275 E Saint George Blvd, St. George, UTAH USA(435) 674-6200

Dr. SaLee’ Amina Mohammed, a fourth generation American citizen and former resident of United Arab Emirates, was invited by leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to read a prayer from the Quran at the blessing of the New Year, which was held at the Mormon Tabernacle, in Saint George, Utah, in the United States.

A blessing of the New Year was organized by the Mormon Church, in which religious leaders gathered together in invoking from God a blessing upon the city and state, and to join in prayer for the upcoming New Year.

Dr. SaLee’ Amina Mohammed, who dressed in a floor length skirt and modest Muslim clothes, covered her long red hair with an Islamic hijab to chant prayers from the Holy Quran to the Christians gathered in the church for the ceremony. She then translated the prayers into English and gave a short explanation of the religion of Islam to those in attendance at the Mormon Church. Her explanation included the fact that Islam has five books that it reveres, which is led by the Holy Quran, and accompanied by the Torah, the Law of Moses, the Psalms and the Gospel of Jesus.

Presiding over a religious discussion that followed, Dr. SaLee’ Amina was able to inform the gathering of Christians about the main components of the Islamic faith, stressing the importance of focusing on the similarities among the religions, which bind us to a common path of seeking a righteous lifestyle, demonstrating ethical and moral values and showing compassion for all of mankind.

Hundreds of Christians who attended the New Years blessing in Utah expressed their happiness in welcoming Dr. SaLee’ Amina as an Ambassador of Goodwill for Islamic Culture and she was invited to participate in further Interfaith activities in the area. The event is reported, with accompanying photos, in ‘The Spectrum’ newspaper of Utah.

During winter holiday celebrations throughout America, Dr. SaLee’ Amina Mohammed distributed hundreds of presents at children’s hospitals, elder care facilities, veterans centers, homeless shelters and transitional centers for women and children in crisis, along with booklets on the common beliefs of monotheist religions. Introductory books on Islam were donated by her to numerous schools and contributed to several libraries.

Having been an Ambassador of Goodwill for Islamic and Arabian Culture since 1986, Dr. SaLee’ Amina Mohammed has brought the Holy Quran to millions of Americans through personal appearances, as a guest speaker in Interfaith conferences and by televised interviews about Islam and the Middle East. During Christmas celebrations, Dr. SaLee’ Amina was invited by the Catholic Church to read the Quran’s story of the birth of Jesus. Over 6,000 people attended the events, which were televised and broadcast throughout the country.