In The Name Of God: The Infinitely Merciful And Compassionate Beloved Lord

It has been heartbreaking to see conflict emerge – yet again – in the Holy Land over the last several weeks. Children being murdered: shot to death and burned alive. Rockets being fired at civilians, and bombs being dropped on houses. People all across the Holy Land are being terrorized and forced to mourn for the loss of their loved-ones, and the hatred and guile that fuels more death goes unabated, unopposed. In fact, it looks like the conflict has no end in sight.

Precious Lord our God, please stop the killing.

Glorious Lord of Hosts, take the hatred away from the Holy Land so that her children can live and play in peace. This is the land of Abraham, father to us all; the land of David, Singer of the Lord’s Praises; the land of Solomon, Majestic King and Servant of God; the land of Christ, who walked to and fro calling his people to the Lord. And this is the land to which the Prophet Muhammad was brought, to pray to God as one, in solidarity with all his Prophet-brothers of old.

Precious Lord our God, please stop the killing.

For far too long has the soil of the Holy Land been poisoned by the blood of innocents. For far too long has mother had to wail over the death of her child. In a place that has been blessed since the start of creation, for far too long has the legacy of Cain stained the land and her people.

Precious Lord our God, please stop the killing.

I will leave the analysis of why this war started and who is to blame to the analysts. I think if we knew the real truth behind all this violence and conflict, we would be disgusted to the core. But all I want is the killing to stop. All I want is the death to stop. All I want the pain of loss to stop. I know first-hand the horror of losing a child: my eldest daughter died of cancer five years ago. I do not wish that on anyone, regardless of religion or ethnicity.

And so, all I can do is pray: Precious Lord our God, please stop the killing.