Imam Elahi Interfaith prayer on 9-11 Anniversary!

It’s a blessing to be part of this assembly this evening to first honor the memories of victims of 9-11 and thousands of other victims of tragic terrorist attacks in the last 21 years.

9-11 is a day of pain, sadness and suffering but also a day of national prayer for justice, peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Prayer is a powerful protection from evil, harm, weakness and vulnerability.

Prayer is a shining light against the darkness of confusion, conflicts and calamities.

Prayer is a window of hope, healing and spiritual security.

Obviously prayer is not a substitute for our actions, while our fellow human beings in near and far neighborhoods experiencing a tough time out of poverty, climate crisis, floods, fires, wars, violence, racism, and terrorism.

It’s time for prayer and also time for courage, commitment, truthfulness and determination to work hard together for the sake of reducing human pains and sufferings.

O Merciful God: We come before You today and while we may call You with different names, Allah, God, Yahweh, Jehovah, Lord, Father, Maker and Creator! We ask You for Your divine direction, grace and guidance!

Please make every day of our nation, a day of prayer, day of patience, day of peace, day of generosity and justice

Bless us with the unity of our prayer and unity of our people at this time of desperation and division.

Please lead us to the path of piety and righteousness, the perfect path of Your prophets and ambassadors on this earth.

Bless our hearts with love and humility, our minds with vision and wisdom, and our wills with power and determination to serve You and Your creation!

Remove any confusion from our minds, any hardness from our hearts, any weakness from our wills,

Please help us to be part of the solution in this problematic world! Make us instruments of peace, justice and reconciliation.

Please lead us to worship and work together to end the pandemic of hatred, selfishness and cultural wars.

Thank you O Lord for having us together as one interfaith family.

You are the Lord of love and Light in the heavens and the earth,

The most Compassionate, the most Merciful! Ameen