A Prayer for Farkunda (killed outside a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, by deranged men).

God of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, and Jacob;
God of Sarah, Hager, Rebekah, and Rachel,
God of our Abrahamic faiths,
God of Moses, and the Prophet Muhammad,
God shining in the face of Jesus,
God in the tears of Mary his mother,
God in the cries of our sister Farkunda,
We invoke your presence here this evening,
As we gather and mourn over the senseless, cowardly, and brutal slaughter
Of a courageous woman who spoke her conscience.

Allah in the light of our candles,
Allah who ignites the fire in our hearts,
Allah in the voice of Farkhunda,
We hear the echo of her screams,
Even across the oceans,
We hear the echo of her screams,
Even across the valley of death,
We hear the echo of her screams.

Most Merciful and Compassionate,
Author of Freedom and Justice
We mourn the killing of your daughter
An instrument of your Voice,
In the midst of men,
Who were deaf to your beauty and sanctity.

Allah in the hearts of the Women of Afghanistan,
Allah in the hearts of women persecuted everywhere,
Allah in the hearts of men with a conscience,
We pray that her death not be in vain.

God of heaven and earth,
We pray that her death give rise to the voice of our Sisters
Who speak your truth,
Who speak your beauty,
Who speak your justice,
Who speak your LOVE.

Peace be upon Farkhunda,
And peace be in our hearts tonight,
That from the ashes of her body,
A new dawn may begin,
Where the darkness of ignorance
Will find no place to hide,
Where the darkness of persecution
Will find no refuge,
Where the darkness of tyranny
Will find no protection.

Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar. Ameen.

©Wilfredo Benitez, 2015