Prayer of the Oppressed- translated by Hamza Yusuf Hanson

I bought the book for a dear friend’s birthday present and forgot to get one for myself. After borrowing and reading it, I’m glad I got it. The book is not available in Malaysia, so I had to get it shipped from the US.

This prayer was written by Imam Muhammad b. Nasir al-Dar’i. Hamza Yusuf has translated and introduced it to the world. The prayer is widely recited in Morocco, where Imam Muhammad is from, but its miracles resulting from the prayer is widespread. Hamza Yusuf has also accounted for a miracle which happened when he recited the prayer.

"If a man is slain unjustly, his heir shall be entitled to satisfaction. But let him not carry his vengeance to excess, for his victim is sure to be assisted and avenged." Qur'an, 17:33

"Limit your hostility toward your enemy, for one day he may become your beloved."- Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

The book discusses the following:

The Cycle of Oppression:

Oppression is largely driven by power and wealth. Then there is hate and resentment. Hate comes from the oppressor who justifies his actions, and the oppressed who feels helpless and powerless; builds resentment which continues the cycle of oppression.

3 options available to the oppressor and oppressed to end the cycle:

1) Oppressor uses the defense mechanism which is denial

2) Oppressor stops committing the wrong

3) Individuals restraining him from his tyranny and liberating him with compassion

The Nature of the Tyrant

The Quran describes the tyrant as "deft, dumb and blind" which refers to the spiritual essence of the tyrant. Tyrants surround themselves with sycophants because they cannot bear to hear the truth. The more his power increases, the less he tolerates dissent.

As human beings, it is only through others that we can truly see ourselves, hear ourselves and speak to ourselves. Self-obsession does not allow a tyrant to reflect on himself.

This lack of vision afflicts the oppressor's heart.

"It is not the eyes that go blind, but the hearts within the breasts that go blind." Qur'an (22:46)

The tyrant is a sociopath, an individual who functions in society with a concern for his own gratification, even if it is gained through the pain of others. He does not feel their pain, as he believes they (the oppressed) do not exist as conscious creatures.

Only calamity which will bring the tyrant to his knees, lays him low, and humbles him, causing him to self-reflect the reality of his inner self. In gaining self knowledge we are able to gain remorse, and through remorse, we are granted entry into the kingdom of heaven.

Other Excerpts:

"In these troubled times, rife with oppression, many Muslims have been praying for God's victory over their enemies, and those prayers seem to go unanswered. What many do not grasp, however, is that the One called upon is merciful, and so He will not grant to those He loves a victory over their enemies if in that material victory is their spiritual defeat."

"What is true of any man is true of all men; the only difference is in the degree to which it is true."

"God's privation is itself a gift, for He withholds not from want but from wisdom"

"If one lives in light, one does not obsess about the shadows."

"Herein lies the irony of ironies: from Him, to Him, and for Him is the stuff of our souls, and until we realise that fully in our entire being, the world will continue to brutalise us. Its gruesome nature will continue to overwhelm and confound us until we see it for what it is: a shadow, present only because of the absence of His light in our hearts."

Breaking the Cycle (most important to all of us):

1) The oppressed must acknowledge that rulers often times reflect the people they rule.

2) Self-purification. When we become a people of introspection and judge ourselves before we quickly judge those over us, only then will we be able to transform our condition.

3) If we are to help others, we cannot wish them ill. In recognizing that the oppressor also needs help, we can see him as a trial from God, and not as an independent agent acting independently of God's Will. Cursing, hating or wishing ill is the anti-thesis of the prophetic guidance, which calls for mercy. Mercy does not mean resistance or to suffer in silence. Mercy is the understanding that an enemy may verily turn into a friend.

4) Forgiveness. We cannot expect God to forgive us when we are unwilling to forgive others. In forgiving others, we are implicitly recognizing that they are reflections of ourselves. It does not mean that we forego justice or retribution (which we should pursue), but by looking at our own wrongs, we begin to be less judgmental.

These are just some of the many things discussed in the book but I took a few of them for sharing. I would personally recommend you read this book and share it with your family and friends who are either oppressed or an oppressor.

If you have an oppressing trait as I do, we can use this to work on improving ourselves.

Hope this benefits you as much as it did me :-)