PRAYERS for LOVE

THE PRACTICE OF A SUFI PRAYER-RITUAL IN SUFI LOVEHOOD.

The three Sufi-prayers Saum, Salat and Khatum are given by inspiration of Hazrat Inayat Khan.

They are meant for the spiritual benefit of every devotee and for the spiritual development and wellbeing of the whole humanity.

The prayers are said for one’s own growth and for the benefit of all and may be performed in different ways according the purpose and place.

The version with the movements is meant for the devotional inclined nature and will develop a strong atmosphere of presence by the intense praying with whole the body, heart and soul together.

There are mainly five ways of performing the prayers;

1. Saying the prayers silently with no outer signs, they are kept fully inside.

  1. Saying the prayers aloud without external movements; the ears of your heart may hear them in the dome of the world; whispering, chanting or singing.
  2. Saying the prayers aloud with some gestures while remaining standing;

    3. this may be the common practice to pray alone or together in limited room.

  3. Saying the prayers aloud with some gestures and prostration’s as well;

    4. this may be the more devotional and mystical practice, mostly individual.

  4. Saying the prayers aloud with gestures while remaining sitting cross-legged;

this may be a special way of practising the prayers in a meditation circle.

The description of the gestures are given for the standing version 3. and for the version 4. with the gestures and prostration’s as practised in Sufi Lovehood.

An older version of 4 is also indicated as (4a) with small deviations.

The full text of the prayers is given with the description of the gestures together with some reflections on what they may express and set in realisation.

In the performance of the motions you may also use your insight and feeling to find out their particular effects on your own devotion. When joining for community-prayer you may watch or ask for the local customs to adapt and to harmonise to if wanted or necessary. There are no compulsive rules in Sufism.

Before each prayer we are standing at ease, the arms hanging loose down along the body, and we concentrate for a while.

4: just before the start of the invocation the arms are raised with the palms of the hands folded flat and held just above the head during the whole invocation;

"I invoke the presence and blessing of God and the Masters".

0. INVOCATION

TOWARDS THE ONE

THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY AND BEAUTY,

THE ONLY BEING,

UNITED WITH ALL THE ILLUMINATED SOULS

WHO FORM THE EMBODIMENT OF THE MASTER

THE SPIRIT OF GUIDANCE !