Why? There was a Muslim cleric at the National Cathedral as I recall.
Our company had a memorial service 9/24/01. Two reverends, a rabbi, a cardinal, an imam and a bishop were scheduled to participate. When the imam's turn came up in the program, one of the reverends told us he had been called away to perform his duties for the NY police.
I wanted to hear what the imam had to say. It seems to me that the imam should have had someone else available as a substitute. I think he insulted us.
Btw, the cardinal was excellent.