The Informal Service of the Universal Worship can be held in any country. The service is not held by the Cherags, but by mureeds, by the leave or request of the Cherag or Leader of the Universal Worship who is responsible in that place. There are neither altar, nor candles, nor flowers, and no robes are worn.

Although this service was/is intended to be performed as a group practice for mureeds, it is possible to utilize it as a solitary meditative practice. It is recommended/requested that, in a group setting, actual mureeds lead the prayers, although non-mureeds can read from the Holy Scriptures at the discretion of the leaders.

In a group practice, before the Service, readers are chosen for the selections from the scriptures of the world religions and the Gayan, Vadan and Nirtan (now found in the volume of The Complete Sayings of Hazrat Inayat Khan). Arrangements are also made for the saying of the prayers and the person who will deliver the provided Sermon.

When it is his/her turn, the one who reads a scripture goes and stands before the members; and so each does so, one after the other, in the usual order (Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam). The one who reads the sermon does the same in turn. Those who say the prayers rise, but do not leave their place. While the prayers are said, the members do not rise.

This informal service is being provided as a service to the KC Shining Heart Community in lieu of regularly performed services. Twice a month, Wahabah Matthews will post selected readings from the Holy Scriptures, a related quotation Hazrat from his Complete Sayings and a Sermonette or practice for the consideration of the community.

Mureeds are encouraged to utilize this service either in group or individual settings in order to facilitate their understanding of the message of Unity in Religion that Hazrat Inayat Khan transmitted. The service is not to be used outside of its purpose, nor is it appropriate for the service to be used instead of another religious service in an established institution.

While realizing the nature of the internet, the intent of the service needs to remain clear: it is an instruction, worship and learning practice of the message transmitted by Inayat Khan and must adhere to that integrity of purpose. It is intended to edify not convert. Therefore, we would respectfully request that all mureeds and other students of the path honor Inayat Khan and not use this service outside the bounds for which it was intended.

If further clarification along these lines is required, feel free to contact Wahabah Matthews through this website.