Prayers of Universal Worship

The prayers spoken at the Universal Worship encapsulate the philosophy and aspirations of the Universal Worship.

Altar

Prayer is the alignment of the finite with the Infinite. In an act of sacred attunement of this kind, the cognitive dissonance that can arise when the language utilized is experienced as unrelatable or even objectionable can render the expansion of heart to which prayer aspires unreachable. With this concern in view, the Inayatiyya community Universal Worship has entered into a deep conversation about the words “Master” and “Lord,” as well as other gendered features of our tradition. Thus far, there is no consensus as to whether these words should be retained or replaced in congregational practice, and if replaced, what alternative language should be utilized.

Invocation

Invocation

Toward the One,

the Perfection of Love, Harmony, and Beauty,

the Only Being,

United with all the Illuminated Souls,

Who form the Embodiment of the Messenger,

the Spirit of Guidance.

Saum

Saum

 

Praise be to Thee, Most Supreme God,

Omnipotent, Omnipresent, All-pervading,

the Only Being.

Take us in Thy Parental Arms,

Raise us from the denseness of the earth.

Thy Beauty do we worship,

To Thee do we give willing surrender.

Most Merciful and Compassionate God,

The Idealized Lord of the whole humanity,

Thee only do we worship,

and towards Thee alone we aspire.

Open our hearts towards Thy Beauty,

Illuminate our souls with Divine Light.

O Thou, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty!

All-powerful Creator, Sustainer, Judge and Forgiver of our shortcomings,

Lord God of the East and of the West,

of the worlds above and below,

And of the seen and unseen beings.

Pour upon us Thy Love and Thy Light,

Give sustenance to our bodies, hearts and souls,

Use us for the purpose that Thy Wisdom chooseth,

And guide us on the path of Thine Own Goodness.

Draw us closer to Thee every moment of our life,

Until in us be reflected

Thy Grace, Thy Glory, Thy Wisdom, Thy Joy and Thy Peace.

Amen.

 

Salat

Salat

 

Most gracious Lord,

Master, Messiah, and Savior of humanity,

We greet Thee with all humility.

Thou art the First Cause and the Last Effect,

the Divine Light and the Spirit of Guidance,

Alpha and Omega.

Thy Light is in all forms,

Thy Love in all beings:

in a loving mother, in a kind father, in an innocent child,

in a helpful friend, in an inspiring teacher.

Allow us to recognize Thee in all Thy holy names and forms:

as Rama, as Krishna, as Shiva, as Buddha.

Let us know Thee as Abraham, as Solomon, as Zarathushtra, as Moses, as Jesus, as Mohammed, and in many other names and forms, known and unknown to the world.

We adore Thy past,

Thy presence deeply enlighteth our being,

and we look for Thy blessing in the future.

O Messenger, Christ, Nabi, the Rasul of God!

Thou Whose heart constantly reacheth upward,

Thou comest on earth with a message

as a dove from above when Dharma decayeth,

and speakest the Word that is put into Thy mouth

as the light filleth the crescent moon.

Let the star of the Divine Light shining in Thy heart

be reflected in the hearts of Thy devotees.

May the Message of God reach far and wide,

illuminating and making the whole humanity

as one single Family in the Parenthood of God.

Amen.

 

Salawat

Salawat

 

Most gracious Lord, Master, Messiah, and Savior of humanity,
we greet Thee with all humility.

Thou art the First Cause and the Last Effect, the Divine Light and the Spirit of Guidance, Alpha and Omega.

Thy Light is in all forms, Thy Love in all beings: in a loving mother, in a kind father, in an innocent child, in a helpful friend, in an inspiring teacher.

Allow us to recognize Thee in all Thy holy names and forms:
as Sita, Rama, Radha and Krishna,
as Parvati, Shiva, Tara and Buddha.
Let us know Thee as Sarah, Hagar and Abraham,
as Deborah, Solomon, Anahita and Zarathustra,
as Asiya, Aaron, Miriam and Moses,
and as Mary, Jesus, Khadija and Mohammed,
and in many other names and forms, known and unknown to the world.

{PAUSE}

We adore Thy past; Thy presence deeply enlightens our being, and we look for Thy blessing in the future. O Messenger, Christ, Nabi, the Rasul of God!

Thou Whose heart constantly reacheth upward, Thou comest on earth with a Message, as a dove from above when Dharma decayeth, and speakest the Word that is put into Thy mouth, as the light filleth the crescent moon.

Let the star of the Divine Light shining in Thy heart be reflected in the hearts of Thy devotees.

May the Message of God reach far and wide, illuminating and making the whole humanity as one single Family in the Parenthood of God.

Amen.

 

Khatum

Khatum

 

O Thou, Who art the Perfection of Love, Harmony, and Beauty,

The Lord of heaven and earth,

open our hearts, that we may hear Thy Voice,

which constantly cometh from within.

Disclose to us Thy Divine Light,

which is hidden in our souls,

that we may know and understand life better.

Most Merciful and Compassionate God,

give us Thy great Goodness,

Teach us Thy loving Forgiveness,

Raise us above the distinctions and differences which divide us,

Send us the Peace of Thy Divine Spirit,

And unite us all in Thy Perfect Being.

Amen.

 

Listen to readings of the prayers of Universal Worship