The Prayer of the Oppressed Hamza Yusuf Book and CD
[11.9900]

Both the heart of Islam and the finesse of Hamza Yusuf are reflected in this book. The book begins with an Introduction that cools our hearts from our anger at tyrants by reminding us, "We look at the larger-than-life tyrants...[but] we fail to acknowledge that a little bit of the tyrant exists within us (p. 7). If this is the case, then we are all in the same boat of wrong-doers, albeit in lesser degrees. And if we are not, then we must be thankful because "we have been protected" from falling into those same evils.

The author then expounds upon "the Sunna of powerlessness": "The loss of state power, military might, sovereignty, and control is not the end of Islam but a new beginning. It may be the end of political Islam, but it surely portends the resurgence of spiritual Islam" (p. 24).

The Prayer of Imam al-Dar'i is calligraphed beautifully in Arabic along with a lucid translation and a clear transliteration. It is also sung harmoniously be the Fez Singers. Shaykh Hamza concludes with some wonderous karamaat that happened at the end of the recording of this blessed prayer.

All in all, this book is a gracefully woven cloak of knowledge, history, and prayer, pleasing to the ear and eye. A must have for students and seekers.