- Al-Muntaquim: The Avenger
Symbol: Blood
God says, “The cries of the oppressed and the blood of the slain call out to Me.”
Dear God, You are The Avenger.
Paradoxically, You are both The Forgiver and The Avenger.
You bring justice, but a justice that instills repentance.
You wish to be an Avenger with none to avenge.
I want to help create that just world which will not cry out for Your justice.
But I, too, am unjust and imperfect.
If you hold my sins against me, how will I survive?
But with You is mercy and plenteous redemption.
Thank You for holding me responsible for my actions.
I am sorry for when I have not stood in solidarity with the oppressed.
Help me realize that any vengeance is Yours, not mine.
- Al-Rauf: The Compassionate, The Pitying
Symbol: An eye with a falling tear
God says, “If I watch over each lily of the field and bird of the air, will I not watch over you?”
Dear God, You are The Compassionate and The Pitying.
Compassion means to suffer with someone,
To wear their shoes and experience their reality.
Because You became human, nothing human is foreign to You.
You know what my life is like
Because You compassionately live my life within me.
To pity is to feel sorry for someone.
Do not pity me for my weakness,
For my weakness can be Your strength.
Pity me only for my sins,
Which distance me from You and from other people.
Thank You for sharing my life.
I am sorry for not sharing other people’s lives.
Pity warms me to tears. Compassion burns me to action.
When I pity someone, help me turn that pity into compassion.
- Malik al-Mulk: The Owner of All, The Ruler of the Kingdom
Symbol: A scepter
God says, “You are a steward of My creation and My assistant in My Kingdom.”
Dear God, You are The Owner of All and The Ruler of the Kingdom.
The King is the person who owns all the land of the country.
You own everything, even me. I do not own myself.
I am not my own. I am Yours.
You are The King of the Universe because You are The Owner of the Universe.
You are the Owner of the Universe because You are The Creator of the Universe.
But You have appointed me to be a steward of the creation that You started.
I will try to cherish and respect creation, and help it toward completion.
You have also appointed me to assist You in setting up Your Kingdom.
I will try to work for justice and peace.
Thank You for sharing Your creative endeavor with me.
I am sorry for times when I did not care for the earth or build Your Kingdom.
Help me appreciate Your confidence and trust in me.
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