Read these three prayers: the Jewish prayer Shema, the Christian Lord’s Prayer, and the Muslim Opening Prayer (al-Fatiha). You may want to print out a copy of the prayers for easier reading and comparison.

Your assignment for this paper is to look at all of the three prayers in an exercise of comparing and contrasting: and tell me in three pages: What kind of God is being addressed in these Prayers? Who is God? What are the Characteristics of this God? Where is God? What is the relationship between God and Humanity in these Prayers (if any)? What is being asked of God in these Prayers?

Note: Please don’t utilize commentaries, research, or your Rabbi, Priest, or Imam to answer the above. Make sure you utilize only the text from the three prayers.

Make sure the paper is double spaced with a minimum 11 font.

Below is the reading you should use for the article

The Shema (שְׁמַע)

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

HEBREW

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד׃ וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶךָ׃ וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיֹּום עַל־לְבָבֶךָ׃ וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ׃ וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאֹות עַל־יָדֶךָ וְהָיוּ לְטֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ׃ וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל־מְזוּזֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ׃

ENGLISH (ERV)

Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD: * 5 and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thine heart: 7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: [For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever.] Amen.	Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. [For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever.] Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.	Luke 11:2-4 (KJV) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

The Opening

Al-Fātiḥa

1:1 In the name of GOD, the Most Merciful, the Ever Merciful:

Bismillāhir rahmānir rahīm

1:2 Praise be to God, the Lord of the Universe.

Al hamdu lillāhi rabbil ‘ālamīn

1:3 The Most Merciful, the Ever Merciful.

Ar rahmānir rahīm

1:4 Master of the Day of Judgment.

Māliki yawmid dīn

1:5 You alone we worship. You alone we ask for help.

Iyyāka na’budu wa iyyāka nasta’īn

1:6 Guide us on the right path;

Ihdinās sirātal mustaqīm

1:7 the path of those whom You have blessed, not of those who have deserved wrath, nor of the strayers.

Sirātal ladhīna an’amta ‘alayhim ghayril maghdūbi ‘alayhim walād dāālīn

When recitated during daily prayers, Sura Al-Fatiha is followed by the word ameen.