The Prayer of the Oppressed w/ CD

The short prayer is superbly translated and powerful, but the real gem here is Hamza Yusuf’s introduction. It had more profound impact on me than the prayer itself.

The prayer itself, Hamza Yusuf's introduction... Its all done very nicelyIf you were ever oppressed, then you will love it even more

Imam Muhammad b. Nasir al-DarÏ's prayer -poem is beautiful, the accompanying CD is beautiful, but what is most remarkable is the introduction by Hamza Yusuf. It is as thoughtful and erudite, as clever and as powerful, as honest and moving as anything ever written by a Muslim in North America. This guy isn't building bridges; he's revealing the ones that are already there. This is wonderful stuff by a scholar who needs to sit down and seriously start thinking about writing a book

Thanks

So far Excellent!

Hamza Yusuf's translation of Imam Nasir Al-Dari's Prayer of the Oppressed is an important read in this age of war and tyranny (outwardly and inwardly). Yusuf's introduction provides a clear understanding and perspective of the cycle of oppression, the nature of the tyrant, the tyrant within us, the virtue of patience, the nature of the oppressed, the role of religion with respect to oppression, and the power of prayer. A brief bio of the poem's author provides us with a glimpse into the life of a man of outstanding scholarship whose poem, with the aid of Hamza Yusuf's tireless effort, proves to be just as relevant today as it was when it was written. This is a book about the human condition. A book that references the Prophetic model experienced and established by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace be upon him). There are many jewels that one can take away from this book, for both Muslims and non-Muslims. The biggest take away for me was that we have to look deep within ourselves...and be honest. Everyone, except Prophets and Saints, can succumb to the pitfalls of tyranny and oppression, large or small. The onus is on us to be genuinely honest with God, ourselves, our circumstances, etc. There's so much that is included in this short text, from Quranic/Biblical/Prophetic/and literary examples to the potential of the human spirit (which ultimately is to turn to God raise your hands and PRAY!). Again, to reiterate, this book is a really amazing read, I would highly recommend this to those seeking a fresh and relevant perspective in light of all the madness pervading this world.

Given the headlines of the day, this book is massively relevant. A resource for believer and nonbeliever alike, The Prayer of the Oppressed concisely considers a classical Islamic understanding of power, powerlessness, tyranny, and Divine love. The prayer itself is a powerful insight into Islam's view of man's place in the world, and a useful supplication for someone with nowhere else to turn. Beyond the reactive discourse of news cycles, this work illuminates how Islam sees the intersection between man's relationship with the Divine, other human beings, and himself. A must read for anyone who wants to glimpse an Islamic outlook on contemporary global affairs.The book contains the prayer's original Arabic script in addition to the rhymed English translation. It also contains a CD of the prayer chanted in Arabic, the reader able to follow along with the provided transliteration.The translation is preceded by reflection and discussion by a leading western Muslim scholar, the translator himself, Hamza Yusuf.

In the Prayer of the Oppressed, Sheikh Hamza Yusuf has introduced the prayer of Nasiri by Imam Muhammad b. Nasir al Dari with great scholarly groundwork and reflection. In patiently pursuing license to transmit this great work to readers, he has illuminated a prayer that was written in the 17th century yet is relevant in the 21st. For those unfamiliar with the melodious rajaz meter, the meter used in the original Arabic, Sheikh Hamza Yusuf has translated the prayer into English with beautiful poetic rhythm.With the current real-time media coverage of global struggles and many forms of oppression, the transmission of this prayer by Sheikh Hamza Yusuf is a great reminder of Islam's guidance in such times. Contrary to a tendency in human nature to react in the face of difficulty, the Prayer of the Oppressed is a supplication to God for not just the oppressed, but also the oppressor. In a section called `A Reflection of Divine Love', the Sheikh demonstrates with the work of notable scholars that God's love is all encompassing and never diminishes.The reading of the Prayer of Nasiri is an experience of faith itself. Imam al Dari gives voice to the oppressed who turn to God for mercy and relief. The prayer is a refuge in which to pray not only for oneself but for all of humanity.

Great book and easy read

Masari Books are excellent!I bought a soft back book but to my utter amazement it turned out as a hardback and it was delivered well within time, ten out of ten!

Beautiful translation, easy to read, thoughtful