The Prayer of the Oppressed
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Translator
Hamza Yusuf
Description
About The Book
The Power of this prayer of Imam Muhammad al-DarÏ lies in its simplicity, its purity, and its sincere supplication. It is essentially a plea to God that our transgressions be overlooked, that divine mercy be bestowed upon us, that social justice be restored in spite of us, that wrongs be righted, and that righteousness reign once again in our lands, so that the destitute may no longer be in need, the young may be educated, the animals’ purpose fulfilled, rain restored, and bounties poured forth.
It is a plea to be freed from the aggression of foreigners in lands over which they have no right—a plea much needed in our modern world, rampant as it is with invasions and territorial occupations. Ultimately, it asks not that our enemies be destroyed, but simply that their plots, and the harm they cause, be halted. Its essence is mercy, which in turn is the essence of the Messenger of God, Muhammad (saw): “And We have only sent you as a mercy to all the worlds.”
“Shaykh Hamza Yusuf has rendered a tremendous service to Islam with this translation of a powerful, deeply spiritual supplication, and passed it along to a community of Muslims far removed from its Moroccan roots. He has also augmented it with a riveting Introduction that examines the nature of oppression and its impact on human societies, while challenging us to admit our powerlessness to God.” – Imam Zaid Shakir Author, Co-founder of Zaytuna College
“Hamza Yusuf is in himself and his work, a beautiful, and absolutely necessary, living bridge between the Islamic and American cultures. His eloquence, and his brilliant intelligence, are vital energies, nourishment, we can share.” – Coleman Barks Author, The Essential Rumi
“The prayer of Imam al-DarÏ is a reminder that in all religions and all cultures there are men and women of wisdom and courage who rise to stand with the oppressed against the oppressor. The greatest virtue we possess, as the poet knows, is compassion, not only for the victim but also for the victimizer. It is the contradictory tension of justice and mercy, of law and forgiveness, which makes us complete human beings.” – Chris Hedges Author, War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning
About the Contributor(s)
About the author
Muhammad ibn Nasir al-Dari: Imam Muhammad ibn Nasir al-Dar'i rahimahullah (d. 1085 AH/1674 CE), whose full name is Shaykh Muhammad (Fatha) ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Nasir ibn 'Amr al-Dar'i al-Aghlabi, was born into a humble family in a small village in southern Morocco. Despite modest origins, he rose to become a great luminary of Islamic scholarship. He was a master of several disciplines: fiqh, Arabic, kalam, tafsir, and tasawwuf. He was a man of intense worship and profound devotion, noted for his scrupulousness and asceticism (zuhd). He founded a spiritual center (zawiya), established the tariqa, and was a prolific author who memorized many books, texts, and poems. He is buried in his zawiya in Tamagurt, Morocco. He is most celebrated for his authorship of the Nasiri Du'a (also known as the Prayer of the Oppressed), an extraordinary supplication composed as his personal response to the dire conditions under which Muslims of his age lived. This prayer has been recited across the world and continues to enrich countless Muslims.
About the translator
Hamza Yusuf: Hamza Yusuf hafidhahullah (born 1960) is one of the most prominent American Muslim scholars of his generation and co-founder of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California. A steadfast advocate of classical learning in Islam, he has promoted Islamic sciences and traditional pedagogical methodologies throughout the world. He serves as an advisor to the Centre for Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, and as a member of the board of advisors of George Russell's One Nation, a national philanthropic initiative promoting pluralism and inclusion in America. He also serves as vice-president of the Global Centre for Guidance and Renewal, an institution founded and presided over by Abdallah bin Bayyah. He is among the signatories of A Common Word Between Us and You, an open letter from Islamic scholars to Christian leaders calling for peace and understanding. His published works include translations such as The Creed of Imam al-Tahawi and Purification of the Heart, and authored titles such as Agenda to Change Our Condition and Caesarean Moon Births.
Specifications
EAN 13 / ISBN
9781450706087
Publisher
Sandala
Author
Muhammad ibn Nasir al-Dari
Pages
105
Translator
Hamza Yusuf
Year Published
2012
Size
W-6.1 in | H-9.2 in | D-0.2 in
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