The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Opening Prayer

02/07/2001
Imam Bassam A. Estwani

All praise is for God, the Lord of the worlds.

The compassionate, the merciful.

Master of the day of judgment.

O God, You alone we worship and You alone we call on for help.

O God, guide us to the straight way.

The way of those whom You have blessed; not of those who have earned Your anger, or of those who have lost the way.

We pray that You guide this noble body of men and women to seek justice and equality for all. For as You said:

O mankind. We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know and honor each other. Indeed the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most righteous. Amen.