Prayer is considered an essential Sufi practice, emphasising the human need for expression. Recognising this need, Hazrat Inayat Khan composed morning, midday, evening, and occasional prayers that are now used by universalist Sufis all over the world.
These prayers can be said silently or aloud, but are considered more effective when said aloud, as the sound-vibration of the prayers penetrates the energy centers of the body and reaches the inner planes of our being. Although all the prayers are honored and recited by Inayati Sufis, Saum and Salat are given special emphasis. It is said that it is more important to recite these two prayers daily than any of the others. Likewise, these two prayers can be recited with accompanying movements suggested by Hazrat Inayat Khan.
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 Sovereign of the whole humanity,
Thee only do we worship,
and toward Thee alone do we aspire.
Open our hearts toward 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,
Sovereign 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
May the message of God spread far and wide.
(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;
A new 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.
Amen.
Universel
O Thou, who art the Maker, Molder,
and Builder of the Universe,
Build with Thine own hands
the Universel,
our Temple for Thy Divine Message
of Love, Harmony, and Beauty.
Amen.
