Janan Najeeb, a founder and president of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition and publisher of the Wisconsin Muslim Journal
In the Name of God, The Source of All Mercy, The Dispenser of Grace
We pray for healing in our fractured and polarized country and world. We pray for compassionate and humble hearts, the strength to forgive, the patience to understand, and the inspiration to do what is right. We pray for the power of good to overcome evil and the power of love to overcome hate.
We pray for a new world where fear shall no longer lead men to commit injustice, nor selfishness and ego make them bring suffering to others. We pray for the realization that we are inheritors of a shared wisdom and brethren of a common humanity. We pray that we can appreciate each other’s gifts and uphold the dignity of every human being. We pray for a life dedicated to the task of peace, justice and harmony.
Sacred Texts
“Oh you who believe! Stand out firmly for God as witnesses to fairness, and let not the hatred of others make you swerve to do wrong and depart from justice. Be just, that is closest to piety; and heed God, for (don’t you know) that God is Well Aware with all that you do.” Quran (5:8)
“And among God’s beautiful signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and colors. Truly in that are divine signs for those who think.” Quran (30:22)
The Common Prayer on Our Journey
Source of all being, Sacred mystery, you are the wellspring of justice. Weaver of the warp and weft of history, weave our lives into the fabric of your will. Guide us towards the Beloved Community. Forgive us when we have failed to give shape to the Beloved Community in our communities and in our lives.
All around us the ugly onslaughts of white nationalism, hate crimes, and systemic racism devastate your people, divide us, and threaten our democracy. All around us the wicked strut, and in high places are those who encourage the basest of attitudes and actions. Grant us wisdom and courage to confront these evils with the power of love and truth. Free us from timidity and equivocation. Help us to be bold in thought and action. May our lives and our faith communities model the change we hope to see in the world.
As we approach the November elections, keep us mindful that the right to vote is a sacred trust won by beatings, by imprisonments, by blood, by the relentless struggles of many who came before us. Help us to honor that legacy. May we vote our conscience and encourage others to do the same.
Heal our nation. Heal our hearts. Heal our nation. Amen.
Gamaliel National Religious Leaders’ Caucus invites you to 40 Days of Reflection on Our Journey to the Polls
Few national elections have had similar consequences as the November Election in 2020. Our nation stands in crisis and at a significant crossroad. The Gamaliel Network, an interfaith coalition of persons of faith who stand and act together for justice and equality, pledges to undergird the 40 days leading up to the election with prayer and reflection.
We urge you to use the Common Prayer below every day. On each day, we have asked a faith leader, from different traditions, to offer a reflection on the Common Prayer at this Moment of American Crossroads. We urge you to begin this prayer preparation with a day of fasting on Sept. 24,(or a similar expression of spiritual preparation), and then to engage in prayer at a time of your choosing each day, to prepare yourself, your friends and neighbors, and our nation, for this election.
The Gamaliel Religious Leaders Table has written a “Theological Statement on Hate Crimes and White Nationalism.” a faith statement on “White Nationalism.” The link to this statement is: https://gamaliel.org/our-work/religious-leaders-caucus/gnrlc-a-faithful-response-to-hate-crimes-and-white-nationalism/
Each reflection will include the leader’s personal reflection, questions for contemplation, and a suggested scriptural text from their tradition.
The Gamaliel National Religious Leaders’ Steering Committee