KOKOMO, Ind. — A Muslim invocation given during a city council meeting has generated controversy and conversation in a northern Indiana city, with one council member choosing to sit through the 10-minute presentation.

Members of the Kokomo Common Council invited Seyed Zarabadi of the Islamic Association of Kokomo to give the invocation during a time in the meeting usually reserved for a Christian prayer.

Zarabadi’s invocation included an explanation of daily Muslim rituals, during which he knelt before the council members in attendance, all but one of whom rose from their seats on a dais. The councilwoman who chose to remain seated, Cindy Sanders, said she recognized Zarabadi’s right to speak at the meeting. She said her decision to sit — a choice which all members and attendees have under council rules — had nothing to do with the fact he is a Muslim, but rather that he embraces a religion which she does not accept as the true word of God.

“I believe that Jehovah God is the God that I serve,” she said. “I don’t serve Allah. I believe that Jesus is God incarnate and they believe that he was a man. So that’s kind of where I’m at. I feel like I would be violating even the first commandment. The Bible, I believe, is true.”

Council President Bob Hayes said that as far as he knows, Zarabadi’s was the first Muslim prayer ever given at a Kokomo council meeting. He told the Kokomo, Indiana Tribune that the idea came from council attorney Corbin King and council member Steve Whikehart. He added that he believes the presentation painted Kokomo in a positive light as a tolerant, growing community.

“We thought it would be a good idea to be inclusive of different religions and that’s why we did it,” he said. “We hope to continue it by extending invitations to others as well. I thought it was a great teaching, learning moment.

“Also, if you took the time to really listen to what the gentleman was saying, it should have touched you spiritually, because he talked about God, and we all have a God that we pray to.”

Hayes noted a lack of negative reaction since the Aug. 29 meeting and said some may be surprised by how many Muslims live and practice their faith in the city.

“I think it shows Kokomo as a receptive and inclusive community,” he said.

King noted a 2014 United States Supreme Court ruling that legislative bodies can begin their meetings with prayer. He said city residents have expressed concerns for years about the diversity of prayer and religions represented at council meetings. Members, he said, have responded to by attempting to reach out to various faith leaders.

“Being a member of the Catholic Church, I have been very interested in having somebody who represents my faith offer invocation,” said Whikehart. “We have talked about extending an offer to a priest as well as having a rabbi at one of our future meetings.”

The Kokomo, Indiana Tribune contributed to this story.