Prayers of Hazrat Inayat Khan

The Sufi prayers were brought through by Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan, the founder of the Sufi Movement, now known as the Sufi Order International. They have descended from above, as have prayers given by spiritual teachers in all ages.

They are divided into four categories:

• Morning Prayers
• Midday Prayers
• Evening Prayers
• Miscellaneous Prayers

Plus, there is a Glossary of Terms Used in the Prayers for your convenience.

Many initiates of the Sufi Order International practice these prayers daily, including the repetition of the Silsila (lineage) of the Chishtiyya Sufis of India, from which Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan came to spread the Message of Love, Harmony and Beauty.

Real prayer is praise to God. Praise is appreciating, which opens the heart more and more to the divine beauty one sees in manifestation. Prayer trains the soul to be more appreciative of God's goodness. Prayer is offered for our own benefit.

Prayers can be said silently or aloud. They are stronger when said aloud, as the vibration of the sounds penetrates the energy centers of the body and reaches to the inner plane of our being.

Prayer with movement is even stronger. Action is psychological. Movement imprints the thoughts expressed in the prayer on every atom of the body. The whole being, even the atoms and cells, becomes the prayer. "Ask and ye shall receive" becomes actualized.

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The Morning Prayers

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.

Affirmation

(11 times, hands held up.)

Pir

Inspirer of my mind, consoler of my heart, healer of my spirit, thy presence lifteth me from earth to heaven; thy words flow as the sacred river; thy thought riseth as a divine spring; thy tender feelings waken sympathy in my heart. Beloved Teacher, thy very being is forgiveness.

The clouds of doubt and fear are scattered by thy piercing glance; all ignorance vanishes in thy illuminating presence; anew hope is born in my heart by breathing thy peaceful atmosphere.

O inspiring Guide through life's puzzling ways, in thee I feel abundance of blessing.

Sharaj Sharif `Inayati

(Our Sufi Lineage, also called Silsila, which means the chain of transmission)

Universel

O Thou, the Maker, Moulder, and Builder of the Universe, build with Thine own hands the Universel, our Temple for Thy Divine Message of Love, Harmony, and Beauty. Amen.

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The Midday Prayers

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 enlighteneth 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.

Affirmation

Pour upon us Thy Love and Thy Light.

(Said 11 times, hands raised.)

Nabi

A torch in the darkness, a staff during my weakness, a rock in the weariness of life,Thou, my Master, makest earth a paradise. Thy thought giveth me unearthly joy, Thy light illuminateth my life's path, Thy words inspire me with divine wisdom, I follow in thy footsteps, which lead me to the eternal goal.

Comforter of the broken-hearted, support of those in need, friend of the lovers of truth, blessed Master, thou art the Prophet of God.

Universel

O Thou, the Maker, Moulder, and Builder of the universe, Build with Thine own hands the Universel, our Temple for Thy Divine Message of Love, Harmony, and Beauty. Amen.

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The Evening Prayers

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.

Affirmation

Disclose to us Thy Divine Light

(Said 11 times, arms crossed on chest and hands resting on shoulders, like folded wings.)

Rasul

Warner of coming dangers, wakener of the world from sleep, deliverer of the Message of God, thou art our Savior.

The sun at the dawn of creation, the light of the whole universe, the fulfillment of God's purpose, thou the life eternal, we seek refuge in thy loving enfoldment.

Spirit of Guidance, source of all beauty, and creator of harmony; love, lover, and beloved lord, thou art our divine ideal.

Universel

O Thou, the Maker, Moulder, and Builder of the universe, build with Thine own hands the Universel, our Temple for Thy Divine Message of Love, Harmony, and Beauty. Amen.

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Other Miscellaneous Prayers

Nayaz

(for healing)

Beloved Lord, Almighty God! Through the rays of the sun, through the waves of the air, through the All-pervading Life in space, purify and revivify me, and, I pray, heal my body, heart, and soul. Amen.

Nazar

(Said before meals)

O Thou, the Sustainer of our bodies, hearts, and souls, bless all that we receive in thankfulness. Amen.

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Glossary

A title of respect given to saints, meaning "noble presence"

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