Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses death, war, war crimes, and the refugee crisis as well as the resulting xenophobia of western countries. Descriptions of violence and grief feature prominently.

Originally written as a short story, Sea Prayer premiered as part of a Virtual Reality art exhibition marking the second anniversary of the death of three-year-old Alan Kurdi which shocked people around the globe, Hosseini included. As one of many refugees seeking safety in Greece, Alan drowned with his family in 2015 while attempting to cross the Mediterranean. His death was captured in a haunting photograph of his body face down on the beach. The visceral experience of seeing this toddler confronted Hosseini, who could not help but empathize as a father. Imagining the dangerous trip to even reach the beach, during which people put their lives and their savings in the hands of smugglers to try and lead their family into a safer life, led him to directly consider the kind of prayers a father might say. In writing Sea Prayer, he hoped to create a tribute to those who lost their lives due to war and persecution (Martin, Rachel. “Khaled Hosseini Says a Succinct ‘Sea Prayer’ for a Refugee’s Journey.