The Great Mosque of Paris Introduces a Prayer for France After Friday Sermons
In a letter sent on Thursday to the 150 imams associated with the Great Mosque, the rector requested that they “incorporate prayers in Arabic and French at the end of each Friday sermon.” He emphasized the importance of fulfilling this request with particular care.
The suggested prayer reads: “O Allah, protect France, its people, and the institutions of the Republic. Make France a prosperous, safe, and peaceful country, where the national community, in all its diversity, religions, convictions, and beliefs, lives together in security and harmony.”
This initiative aligns with efforts to adapt Muslim religious discourse to the French societal context, a project spearheaded by the Great Mosque of Paris, according to the rector.
The letter also notes that some imams began including prayers for France following the 2020 assassination of teacher Samuel Paty, while others started doing so after October 7, 2023, following the deadly Hamas attacks on Israel.
The document further highlights that other religious communities have long included prayers for France. For example, synagogues recite a “Prayer for the Republic” on Saturday mornings, during holidays, and at official ceremonies, either before or after the Torah reading.
