The Prayer of the Oppressed

<p></p><p>The<br/>Power of this prayer of Imam Muhammad al-Dar’i lies in its simplicity, its<br/>purity, and its sincere supplication. It is essentially a plea to God that our<br/>transgressions be overlooked, that divine mercy be bestowed upon us, that<br/>social justice be restored in spite of us, that wrongs be righted, and that<br/>righteousness reign once again in our lands, so that the destitute may no<br/>longer be in need, the young may be educated, the animals’ purpose fulfilled,<br/>rain restored, and bounties poured forth. It is a plea to be freed from the<br/>aggression of foreigners in lands over which they have no right—a plea much needed<br/>in our modern world, rampant as it is with invasions and territorial<br/>occupations. Ultimately, it asks not that our enemies be destroyed, but simply<br/>that their plots, and the harm they cause, be halted. Its essence is mercy,<br/>which in turn is the essence of the Messenger of God, Muhammad (peace and<br/>blessing of God be upon him): “And We have only sent you as a mercy to all the<br/>worlds.” <br></p>