RICHMOND -- To the untrained ear, the seven-verse prayer that opened Friday morning's House of Delegates session may have sounded like many others that mark the start of the chamber's daily meetings.

But this prayer, called Al-Fatihah, was translated from the Quran and recited by Imam Ibrahim Hamidullah, the leader of the Clarence Sabree Islamic Center in Roanoke. Hamidullah said he believes he is just the second Muslim to deliver the opening prayer of a General Assembly session and the first from Western Virginia.

"I think it's a great thing that they [the House] let Muslims come because this is a Christianity country," Hamidullah said shortly after he recited his brief prayer in the hushed House chamber.

Hamidullah, 53, leads a group of 15 Roanoke-area Muslims who follow the orthodox teachings of W. Deen Mohammed, the spiritual leader of the American Society of Muslims. They worship in rented space at the Crystal Tower Building on Campbell Avenue.

"We are mainstream Muslims," said Hamidullah, a Roanoke native who converted to Islam at the age of 21.

"We're community-minded, we're not separatists."

It was in that spirit that Hamidullah chose the Al-Fatihah for Friday's prayer. The passage from the Quran is one that orthodox Muslims recite at least 16 times a day, Hamidullah said.

"It's letting everybody know that we all serve one creator and that we all want to be in peace and live righteous," Hamidullah said.

House members gave Hamidullah, his wife, Joann, and daughter Nadirah a warm round of applause when they were recognized by Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke, who invited Hamidullah to deliver the prayer.

"I thought it was a warm reception, and I think we treated him with dignity," Ware said.

Hamidullah's presence also sends a powerful signal about the Virginia legislature, Ware said.

"It's important for people to know that, down here, everybody respects everybody else's religion," Ware said.

Hamidullah is the second Roanoke clergyman to offer the opening prayer in the House this year. The Rev. Dr. Alfred Crabtree of Valley Word Ministries delivered the prayer on Jan. 12.

Ware has known Hamidullah since they attended college together at North Carolina A&T University. They became close friends after Ware moved to Roanoke in the 1980s and started his law practice. Hamidullah's daughter Rasheedah, a recent law school graduate, now works in Ware's law office.

Ware, a Presbyterian, said Hamidullah performs a valuable community service by serving as a mentor to troubled youths. And Hamidullah "has enlightened me a lot about Islam," Ware said.

"He believes in God and he believes in peace," Ware said.

Hamidullah said the prayer conveys a message that transcends religions.

"All of us are created different so we can come together and get to know each other," Hamidullah said. "That's what the Quran teaches us."