Humanity Prayer (Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá)

EP Shadows Road Trip

Initially the Humanity Prayer song came about just before I went on the EP Shadows Road Trip tour with Gustaff Besungu. Up until then, although I performed on the streets to fund my travels, I had not identified myself as a musician. But when Gustaff asked if I would join him on a trip around the United States to promote his new EP I couldn’t resist. This trip pushed me beyond my comfort zone and forced me to identify as a musician.

Southern Flame Baha’i Summer School

After the road trip my music was put on hold. I truly lost my desire to play as I moved into a new relationship and life began to transform. The only space I continued to play was at any of the Baha’i gatherings, the biggest being at Summer School, but still my motivation was gone. This last weekend at the 2018 Southern Flame Baha’i Summer School once again I focused on other things. The last morning before the Summer School was done I was asked to play a couple songs for the morning Devotions and so I played Morning Prayer, and this one, Humanity Prayer.

Afterwards one of the friends asked if she could hear these songs anywhere, and although there are probably a few youtube videos from my tour with Gustaff, I couldn’t tell her exactly where to find it. Therefor, I decided to take the initiative to film a couple songs while back in Key West for anyone who wishes to hear them, share them, learn them, etc.

Humanity Prayer

For those who don’t know “Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá” is an invocation meaning: “O Thou Glory of Glories!”.

The prayer that this song was created from is found in the humanity section of the Baha’i Prayers and is as follows:

O Thou kind Lord! O Thou Who art generous and merciful! We are servants of Thy threshold and are gathered beneath the sheltering shadow of Thy divine unity. The sun of Thy mercy is shining upon all, and the clouds of Thy bounty shower upon all. Thy gifts encompass all, 101 Thy loving providence sustains all, Thy protection overshadows all, and the glances of Thy favor are cast upon all. O Lord! Grant Thine infinite bestowals, and let the light of Thy guidance shine. Illumine the eyes, gladden the hearts with abiding joy. Confer a new spirit upon all people and bestow upon them eternal life. Unlock the gates of true understanding and let the light of faith shine resplendent. Gather all people beneath the shadow of Thy bounty and cause them to unite in harmony, so that they may become as the rays of one sun, as the waves of one ocean, and as the fruit of one tree. May they drink from the same fountain. May they be refreshed by the same breeze. May they receive illumination from the same source of light. Thou art the Giver, the Merciful, the Omnipotent.

—‘Abdu’l-Bahá