Send us Thy peace, O Lord, our Father and Mother, that we, Thy children on earth, may all unite in one family.

Hazrat Inayat Khan

Our Father and Mother

Send us Thy peace, O Lord, which is perfect and everlasting, that our souls may radiate peace. Send us Thy peace, O Lord, that we may think, act, and speak harmoniously. Send us Thy peace, O Lord, that we may be contented and thankful for Thy bountiful gifts. Send us Thy peace, O Lord, that amidst our worldly strife we may enjoy Thy bliss. Send us Thy peace, O Lord, that we may endure all, tolerate all in the thought of Thy grace and mercy. Send us Thy peace, O Lord, that our lives may become a divine vision, and in Thy light all darkness may vanish. Send us Thy peace, O Lord, our Father and Mother, that we, Thy children on earth, may all unite in one family.

Hazrat Inayat Khan

Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927) was a Sufi master who was born in India and later lived in Europe and the United States. He is considered one of the most important figures in the revival of Sufism in the West. Khan's teacher's dying words were: "Fare forth into the world, my child, and harmonize the East and the West with the harmony of thy music. Spread the word of Sufism abroad, for to this end art thou gifted by Allah, the most Merciful and Compassionate."

In 1910, Khan traveled to the United States, where he founded the Sufi Order International. He also traveled extensively throughout Europe, giving lectures and teaching workshops. Khan's message of universal love and understanding resonated with people from all walks of life, and he quickly became a respected figure in the spiritual community. Although Sufism is traditionally part of the mystical heritage of Islam, Khan developed a pattern of worship and spiritual practice that draws upon the major religious traditions. His teachings emphasize the importance of love, understanding, and compassion. He believed that all people are connected, and that we can achieve a higher state of consciousness by transcending our differences.

Khan died in 1927 in New Delhi, India. His legacy lives on through the Sufi Order International, which continues to spread his message of peace and understanding. Khan's work has had a significant impact on the spiritual landscape of the West. He is credited with helping to introduce Sufism to a new audience, and his teachings continue to inspire people around the world.

(1882-1927) Islam
Prayer For Peace

Easwaran, Eknath. God Makes the Rivers to Flow: an Anthology of the World's Sacred Poetry & Prose. Nilgiri Press, 2009, p. 139 [Hazrat Inayat Khan, "Prayer For Peace"].

Hazrat Inayat Khan

Theme: Divine Father and Mother

About This Hazrat Inayat Khan Quotation [Commentary]

Hazrat Inayat Khan’s prayer, “Send us Thy peace, O Lord, our Father and Mother, that we, Thy children on earth, may all unite in one family,” invokes unity and spiritual harmony. By addressing the divine as both Father and Mother, Khan highlights the encompassing nature of the sacred, blending strength with compassion and guidance with nurturance. This portrayal invites recognition of divine love as universal, transcending human distinctions and embracing all of humanity.

The broader context of the prayer extends peace beyond an inner state to an active force in the world. Khan’s words, “that our souls may radiate peace” and “that we may think, act, and speak harmoniously,” call for peace to shape both thought and action. It suggests a transformation of human relationships, envisioning a collective harmony that reflects divine guidance. The refrain, “Send us Thy peace,” is a plea for divine inspiration to live and embody peace in meaningful ways.

The prayer’s vision culminates in uniting humanity as one family under divine parentage. The phrase, “that we, Thy children on earth, may all unite in one family,” imagines a world of shared connection and reconciliation, transcending differences. By invoking both Father and Mother, Khan underscores the need for integration of diverse qualities and perspectives to achieve unity. His words inspire the recognition of the sacred in others and a peace that unites and transforms.

Hazrat Inayat Khan & the Prayer For Peace

Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927), founder of the Sufi Order International, was born in North India into a distinguished Muslim family of musicians noted for their universality of outlook. He became a gifted vina player who toured all over India. In Hyderbad he met a Sufi teacher who altered the course of his life, guiding him to a high degree of spiritual awareness. His teacher’s dying words launched him on a new mission: “Fare forth into the world, my child, and harmonize the East and the West with the harmony of thy music. Spread the word of Sufism abroad, for to this end art thou gifted by Allah, the most Merciful and Compassionate.” In 1910 he sailed for the United States and spent the remaining seventeen years of his life in North America and Europe teaching what he called “that ancient wisdom from the one and only source.” Although Sufism is traditionally part of the mystical heritage of Islam, Hazrat Inayat Khan developed a pattern of worship and spiritual practice that draws upon the major religious traditions. “Khatum” (the word means “placing a seal”) is recited at the close of the Sufi Order International worship service. “Prayer for Peace” and “Prayer for the Peace of the World” are from the literature of the Sufi Order International.

–Eknath Easwaran [God Makes the Rivers to Flow, Nilgiri Press, Blue Mountain Center of Meditation].

Additional Sufi Order International Prayers

O Thou, the Almighty Sun,
Whose light cleareth away all clouds,
We take refuge in Thee,
King of men, God of all deities,
Lord of all angels.

We pray Thee
Dispel the mists of illusion
From the hearts of the nations
And lift their lives
By Thy all-sufficient power.

Pour upon them
Thy limitless love
Thy everlasting life
Thy heavenly joy
And Thy perfect peace.

—Hazrat Inayat Khan [“Prayer for the Peace of the World”].

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.

—Hazrat Inayat Khan [“Khatum”].

Our Father and Mother

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