Prayers for Peace in the Middle East

A selection of prayers for peace in the Middle East by Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders, plus selections on the imperative for peace from Jewish, Christian, and Islamic sacred texts.

Prayers for Peace in the Middle East

Distributed by the

U.S. Interreligious Committee

for Peace in the Middle East

Executive Director: Ronald J. Young

E-Mail: USICPME(at)aol.com


Sustain together in undiminished hope, O God of hope,

those who continue to labor with undiminished determination

to build peace in the land from which, of old,

out of brokenness, violence and destruction,

nevertheless hope emerged for so many of faith. . . .

Bless all the spiritual seed of Abraham together

with the light of your Presence.

From the light of your Presence

we have found a way of justice and mercy

and a vision of Peace.

We praise you O God, Giver of Peace,

who commands us to Peace. Amen

Rabbi Herbert Bronstein

Northshore Congregation Israel, Glencoe, IL

Lord God. . .

Bless all your children in the Middle East

with the gift of peace.

Reach out and embrace Muslims, Jews and Christians.

Dry their tears with your gentle hands.

Surround their trembling bodies with your loving arms.

Replace their fears with the hope and vision

of peaceful times to come. . . . Amen

The Reverend Said Ailabouni

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Chicago, IL

Almighty God!

After almost a century of mistrust and fratricide,

you inspired Jews, Christians and Muslims

to take the path of reconciliation in the Middle East. . . .

We ask for your forgiveness, O God,

yet we find it hard to forgive our past enemies.

May Your Words touch those who still stray

in the wilderness of vengeful violence,

forgetting your command to "forgive and overlook,

till God accomplish His Purpose;

for God hath power over all things." Amen

Abdelwahab Hechiche

University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

O God Source of Life, Creator of Peace. . .

Help Your children, anguished and confused,

To understand the futility of hatred and violence

And grant them the ability to stretch across

Political, religious and national boundaries

So they may confront horror and fear

By continuing together

In the search for justice, peace and truth. . . .

With every fiber of our being

We beg You, O God,

To help us not to fail nor falter. Amen

Rabbi Sheila Weinberg

Jewish Community of Amherst, Amherst, MA

God Our Creator, who made the earth a peaceful garden,

help us restore that peace wherever it has been broken

by terrorism and injustice, especially in the Middle East.

We repent for the times when religious language

has fostered hatred and division. . . .

Bring healing to those whose lives

have been shattered by violence.

Instill a renewed spirit of reconciliation in those

who lead our people politically and religiously. . . . Amen

Reverend John T. Pawlikowski, OSM

Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL

In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful,

Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds,

The Mercy-giving, the Merciful. . . .

O Lord, Lead us from hate to love and from violence to peace,

from fear to trust and from despair to hope. Enable us

to eliminate poverty, prejudice and oppression

so that peace may prevail with righteousness and justice. . . . Amen

Dawud Ahmad Assad

Council of Mosques, USA, New York, NY

This we know:

Fear can yield to faith, hope can reignite

Rage can cease, hatred can be melted. . . .

Merciful One, illumine the sight of your children

To see You in each other"s eyes.

Merciful One, spread the canopy of your peace over us,

Over Israel, over Ishmael, over all who dwell on earth. Amen

Rabbi H. Rolando Matalon

Congregation B"nai Jeshurun, New York, NY

O God. . .

Forgive our complacency.

Stamp out the prejudices that lead to hatred.

Fill us with the reconciling spirit of your presence.

So may we join people of good will -

in the Middle East and throughout the world -

who raise before Jerusalem"s gates

their insistent shalom:

"Peace be within your walls. . .

Peace be within you." Amen

The Reverends Harry and Judith Hoehler

First Parish (Unitarian-Universalist), Weston, MA

In the name of God,

Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Accept our prayer to sustain us

and our brothers and sisters of different beliefs

in our desire for peace. . .

Help us to find this peace in our living together,

and in mutual sustenance with our neighbors. . . . Amen

Mian Ashraf

New England Islamic Center, Sharon, MA


Selections on the Imperative for Peace from

Jewish, Christian and Islamic Sacred Texts

fromthe Hebrew Bible

Genesis 13:6-9; Numbers 6:24-26; Psalm 34:15; Psalm 85:7-13;

Psalm 122; Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-5; and Proverbs 3:13-18


from the New Testament

Matthew 5:1-11, 21-24 and 43-44; Luke 6:32 and 35-36: John 17:20-21;

Romans 14:19; Ephesians 2:13-14 and 6:12-17; and Hebrews 12:14


from the Holy Quran

Sura 3:20, 84 and 133-134; Sura 4:90; Sura 5:32; Sura 6:54; Sura 8:61;

Sura 14:23; Sura 16:90; Sura 17:70; Sura 19:62; Sura 41:34 Sura 42:40 and 43.