Video: 'A Night's Prayer', Ammar Alshukry's Poem Inspired by Libya, Egypt, Sudan And Palestine

Last year brother Ammar Alshukry collaborated with Leechon Films to create a visual 'kinetic' typography video on the topic of entering Jannah.

In the darkness of Middle Eastern uprisings, Ammar has once again produced a humbling poetic video in which he recites a du`a (supplication) we as Muslims could all utter. The four minute poem is in English with sweetly toned Qur'anic recitation and an Arabic du`a for the citizens of Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Palestine. The poem is rhythmically read in first person, as though you or I were praying alone, standing in qiyaam, making sujud (prostration) to God and asking for the same help, with the same plea - this is a Night Prayer we often make for ourselves, and now we will pray together for our forgotten Muslims across the borders.

More often than not, we feel cannot do much. With distance, politics and bewildering implementations of law we either give up or react in rage. Yet, that is the very time we should turn to Allah wholeheartedly, and this prayer strongly advises the same.

As the poet appears on screen, black on black, a camoflaged image, you feel a light within you; the same flicker when praying. The video captures the feeling of ehsaan (excellence in faith) from the heart that knows the outward does not matter, nor the colouring, clothing or the location. And therefore black is the most befitting backdrop. Black symbolically narrows our attention to the poet's movements, his hands in prayer, his sincere speech, and most importantly, listening to those words that call out to The One God for Divine Support. Ammar Alshukry's Night Prayer video is one which Muslimness is grateful to have watched and we hope you'll share it with others insha'Allah.


Ammar's statement,

"With everything happening in the Muslim world, it's very easy to become news addicts. I'm in the same boat :) I heard a beautiful reminder though that encouraged everyone to do what they could to assist our brothers and sisters using our most powerful means; to call upon Allah, the One whom nothing is impossible for...

So this poem just flowed after that. I hope it reminds us all to increase in our taqwa, 'iman, and du`a."



MUXLIM VIEWERS: Watch the beautiful du`a recitation by {AmmarAlShukry on YT}


Poem Lyrics:

'He stands…

He stands because he must..

He stands with two hands clasped over his heart lest it bust..

Or burst with a variety of emotions, pride, fear, courage,

And the need to fulfill his trust


It weighs on his shoulder so he stands,

His feet sinking in the carpet

In a small room in a seemingly smaller apartment

Enveloped by the darkness, but his eyes are familiar

With the night so he sees the dancing of the shadows clearly

And he recites, verses that he loves dearly


قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتَنْزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّنْ تَشَاءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَنْ تَشَاءُ بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ


Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): "O Allâh! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the Kingdom to whom You will, and You take the Kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the good. Verily, You are Able to do All things."


And then he bows…

He bows with such ease,

That it would cause some to be deceived

For his shoulders so easily moved,

But that same back absolutely refused

To bow to anyone other than

The One whose words he had just recited.


And so he rises…

His body camouflaged, it matches the stillness in the air

His lips move softly, tongue quickly, his heart aware

“There is none who can give what you withhold,

And none who can withhold what you give”

Wa la yanfa’u dhul jaddi minka aljadd

He is not carrying arms…

Though he lifts the arms at his sides..

And he begins the conversation again and again he confides

Hands facing towards the sky, again and again he cries..

“Oh Allah…Have mercy on our family in Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Palestine...”
Entire nations on his mind.

They will not be harmed…. Not from his side.


"Oh Allah support our brothers

Make the ground firm from underneath their feet

Be against Your enemies and their enemies

Show us in them Your power

Lift the hand of treachery of deceit from the Muslims

And allow for near relief for the believers

And heal the hearts of a believing people."



He is far from them, but in his heart and mind,

He is by their side, they are his joy and pride,

And they will not be harmed, not from his side.


So he stands as he has stood, at the same post,

Five times a day, and sometime near the end of the night,

With his hands above his heart, lest it burst as he recites.

He calls out pleading for divine assistance,

For he believes in angels; knows they arrive in an instance.

So he implores their arrival.


And he falls...

He falls so that a people can rise...

He falls, facilitating a tyrant’s demise.

Into the sweetness of prostration,

He falls, seeking forgiveness for any transgression,

That would impede the journey of the arrows that he is sending from his window towards their target,

From his small room, in his seemingly smaller apartment...

Enveloped by the darkness...


A Night's Prayer 
By Ammar AlShukry ©
www.iamammar.com
Video snapshots:: Ammar

Don't forget to share so we'll be reminded of the power of Du'a.
Wa'salaam,
Ammar Alshukry

More videos you'll love:Video: 'Kinetic Typography' Poem on Jannah by Ammar And Leechon Films
Political Music Video: "Silent Is Consent" by Poetic Pilgrimages & Mohammed Yahya
Chasin' The Dream: The Challenge For Muslims
Eid ul-Adha Mubarak From Muslimness And El Seed