Prayers of My Youth

by F.S. Yousaf

In his third poetry collection, maturing writer F.S. Yousaf displays some of his most powerful work in an autobiographical collection which revolves around spirituality, love, and finding oneself. Filled with longer poems, this is different from his previous works, as this one carries a story which others may struggle to tell.

Genres: Poetry, Islam, Nonfiction, Religion, Faith

112 pages, Paperback

Published September 24, 2024

About the author

F.S. Yousaf is a poet and writer from New Jersey. He is the author of five poetry collections, and finds himself writing about many topics—most notably about love, spirituality, and boyhood. He has a Bachelors in History and Secondary Education and is getting his MFA in Creative Writing from William Paterson University.

His forthcoming poetry collection is titled ‘Euphoria’, and will be published Fall 2025.

Stay connected with F.S. Yousaf for daily updates through Instagram (@fs.yousaf).

Reviews

[F.S. Yousaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite collection I’ve written, and I hope you guys see the growth in this collection :)

[Hadeel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite collection by F.S. Yousaf. I found myself able to relate to these poems which were beautiful. As a Muslim reader it’s refreshing to see Islam woven into these works in a effortless way. I definitely look forward to reading more by this Author.

[✮demi✮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️
It was certainly interesting and thought-provoking!! It just wasn't my cup of tea tho

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[Katie ᥫ᭡. · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Prayers of My Youth" by F.S. Yousaf is like a heartfelt hug wrapped in beautiful verses. 💖 This collection feels like a diary of the soul, where Yousaf opens up about his journey of growing up in the Islamic faith with such raw honesty. Each poem mirrors his personal experiences to the wisdom of those who came before him. It's a tender exploration of spirituality and self-discovery that left me reflecting on my own journey and walk of faith.

Thank you to NetGalley, Andrew McMeel Publishing, & the author for my advanced reader copy!

[Sahar Jennah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these long style of poetry it’s so raw and vulnerable. I also loved how so many of his poems mention Islam in them it’s refreshing to see as a Muslim reader. Overall I really loved this!

[Chaimaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this poetry collection; it resonated with me on numerous levels. 🫂💌

[Laila · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Prayers of My Youth, F.S. Yousaf explores themes of spirituality, love, strained family relationships, and the struggle for self-acceptance. The book is separated into four chapters, and discusses these themes under the metaphor of prayer and worship. As a fan of Yousaf's first two books, I was curious to see how Prayers of My Youth would stack up against Sincerely and Euphoria. While his first two books read as collections of poems, the poems in Prayers of My Youth are thematically unified and constructed as pieces of a larger body. His poems are beautifully and delicately crafted and convey profound messages that I found to be relatable and which resonated deeply. Absolutely loved the concept and execution. While it is a quick read, there are definitely messages and themes that evoke an emotional response and linger with you after you're done.

[FindingFiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure how to rate poetry as I don’t read it frequently. This is probably the first poetry book I’ve read in years. Human emotion is not something to sit and judge.

I based my rating simply on the fact the while I can’t say I was moved by each and every poem, there were poems and phrases that struck home. But isn’t that the point? To feel something even from just a word or a phrase?

It was a quick, relatable read.

[Regina Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

amazing! reading this helped me slow down after a hectic day. while it was easy to read, it also made me constantly reflect on my life thus far, and it was heartwarming to know that I was not alone in my experiences in life. “the similarities we share” as well as “growth towards the sun” are my personal favourite!

[Samma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally read a book since school started. I miss human sit making me read books :(

still in a poetry phase. This book had beautiful writing and connections with Islam. Although the poems were good ,I really wanted to like this book more than I did but I felt it was too simplistic .

Loved the poem about wudu and the poem falling into you.

[Matt Roselake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it! Lots of floral imagery which is always a plus. He's raw vulnerable and honest which I highly admire and appreciate. I think it's safe to say it's relatable to a lot of us, overall a fantastic collection.

[Reeman Alnajar · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a raw and heartfelt book. every poem had its own beautiful uniqueness. i really connected with it and i feel like everyone can relate to it in some way. 10/10!!!

[sahra (readwithsahra_) · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is definitely a very different collection from fs yousaf work others pieces. weirdly I felt less connected to the writing style but it’s still was a good collection on spirituality and what it means to have faith. I think that comes on how personal a spiritual journey is. but i like how it was tackled

as the others poems of his, you can feel that it’s very human. it was interesting to see the journey of what is a believer from the highlights to the frustration, the misery to the desperation

my teenage self would have related to a lot of these poems I know that

i would like to still highlight something. one of the underlying subjects you can find in yousaf, especially early collections, is the relation a kid can have with his parents and I like that. it’s a subject, that as immigrant kids we don’t talk enough, especially when it is frequently on the base of most of our adults issues and traumas. we need more of that!

4/5

[Kirin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy poetry, but don't feel qualified to review it.  I saw the first few sample pages of this collection though and felt compelled to give it a read, and while I can't confidently remark on the literary components, intellectual depth, or even symbolic power; I can say that I enjoyed the pieces.  I saw myself in many of the verses, felt a kinship to the author's autobiographical musings, and often paused and reread lines, seeing glimpses of my own reflection staring back at me.  At other places, and on numerous other pages, though I truly had no idea what was being said, what the author was trying to convey, and why the details at hand were being discussed.  The former teacher in me, wanted to break down the poems, find the meaning, and write a thesis statement to organize the individual reflections, and overall story arc being conveyed, but truly, I am not qualified, and at it's core, I do believe poetry should be felt.  I love that Islam is so present, that the symbolic and the real interweave throughout the 112 sparsely filled pages.  The exploration of family, faith, and journey of life feels real and vulnerable.  The book is an adult read, I think older teens though might see glimpses of themselves as well, and find a solace in the poetry on the page that they can so intimately relate to. Aside from enjoying the read, and looking forward to receiving my preorder to thumb through, I don't know that I have much insight to offer, sorry.

The book is divided into 4 sections: Ablution, Iqama, Salaah, and Salaam.  At each division there is a simple sketched drawing and a bit of a grounding paragraph of text.  From there the individual title poems range from a few stanzas to a page or more, standing alone but also connecting the ideas and themes that move the book forward.

[☁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i randomly read this during my break at college and i loved it sm. i love how religion and islam was incorporated into so many of the poems, here are a few of my favourites that i highlighted.

'

and my father being proud of his only son,
all while i lay in bed,
with a grand imagination,
and not a single clue
as to how to make the last thought a reality

'

'throughout the many moons of the past months, i have not given the time to properly give you my attention, and for you to give me yours.
at the first tear drop of strife,
i am back in your arms,
and you cradle me so dearly,
like a mother with her newborn baby,
i am weak
i am weak without your strength
so why do i,
out of all the seconds in my measly days, forget to cherish you in the best of times?
how selfish have i become to forget the one thing that helps me the most when all is well, and remember it through the wrinkles in my fingers when all is lost?'

these are just two of some amazing poems in here, highly recommend !

[Iqra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally love this.... the poetries feel so personal and relatable.. it has a softness in them.

"I wish to see your magnificence even in the prayers left unanswered."

"My whispers are only heard by God, my heart can only plea. My practice is for God and me alone— onlookers can comment as they please."

"I fill my mind with goals believing that achieving them will reward me by filling ounces of a ditch that hardships dug within me. Or give me a small monument for my efforts, one which would keep my gaze from the eyesore. A temporary distraction from what may always hurt me."

"If living is beneficial, let me live. If dying is beneficial, let me die. Do whatever is best for me, for I do not know myself. The rest of the days are in your hands now."

"There is a flower sprouting within me, though. One which refuses to wither, as it knows that it will one day see the sun again without a worry in the world."

"I dig like a man on a mission, desperate to find solutions but failing to discover contentment."

[Brice Montgomery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McNeel Publishing for the ARC!

F.S. Yousaf’s Prayers of My Youth is a lovely, warm, and wide-eyed collection of devotional poems.

Most of these pieces revolve around the speaker’s relationship to the Divine, though a few wade into romantic love. Regardless of the subject matter, every poem feels defined by a courageous and hard-won tenderness.

Instead of the anguish that dictates many spiritual poems, Yousaf shares a faith that allows him to write soft and simple poems. They carry the quietude of someone reading over you as you rub the sleep from your eyes.

That isn’t to say that this is a one-note collection.

There are moments of life’s ugliness that break through, as seen in “Devastation—,“ but they serve to deepen the book’s spirituality. We can feel the speaker making a conscious decision to pursue abstraction when life resists it.

In the end, Prayers of My Youth feels like a little book with a muscular humility—the kind that allows for worship.

[Emi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publishing date: 24.09.2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

I expected: Poetry reflecting on the authors youthful years
I got: A book reflecting on the author's faith
The book left me: Reflecting

Amount of poems:
71 poems, spanning up to 2 pages

Features:
A lot of faith, 4 illustrations, 4 sections, some insight into the author's journey with faith and growing up

Final ranking and star rating?
4 stars, B tier. I think my own relationship with faith got in the way for a full score. I really enjoy Yousaf's poems and style. In this collection, I didn't get that same connection as with "Oaths". That's okay, can't always be a gold medallion.
I do and will recommend this collection to others.

Favorite poems:
Maturation
I know myself, bu you seem to know more
Perched Sunflower Convertible
Only then
Support
Unhealthy Submissions
Archeological Digging
Dog Days
Sail
The Similarities we share
Room for Improvements

[Secret_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm over the moon reading this book, I'm into Islamic poetry a lot tho.So yeah.. The chosen words were so great and touching. Especially these poems are related to God and some Islamic stuff.
There are some parts I couldn't get the point of what things are related to this line. But still, this book is so worthy ✨.

"And when we began, we became equals in the eyes of the beholder. We were
all doing one thing, participating in the greatness of God, and thinking of
every inch of this beloved universe. I was taught the motions as a child.
When to rise and fall. What to say when my body would bend over in Ruku.
How to pray, ingrained on my newborn slate. That no matter how far I stray,
it’ll be the one thing I will never forget."

The part I love the most, the third chapter was about Salaah (Praying)

[maisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this collection of poetry. The format in which F.S Yousaf cultivates this collection is beautiful as he takes us on the journey of completing a prayer as a Muslim. I resonated with so much what he touches on - the introduction to one’s faith as child, the struggle to maintain it as you grow older, the rediscovery of one’s faith, and one’s relationship with God. It was truly wonderfully done and I know it is a collection that I will be returning to time and time again.

Some of my favorite poems in the collection are “Changes//Familiarity”, “All Which Goes with You”, “Zikr”, “18 Til I Die”, “Support”, and “Growth Toward the Sun”.

[Fajar Muhammad · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 some poems I liked better than others but honestly nothing really struck me too hard. Poetry is so personal tho so that doesn’t mean it’s not good. I feel like when it comes to poetry relating to it is what makes it the most meaningful to me. My faves were probably

Cycles
I’m ending today
Wedding daze
Alone on my wedding day
Your words could feed
March 2023

I feel like this is the kind of poetry I see most the “Instagram poetry” as my creative writing prof called it. It’s not necessarily that impressive in skill so much as bursting with honestly, feeling and earnestness which I can always respect. If the writer felt expresses then I don’t think poetry can be bad.

[Iara Moure · Rating 3 out of 5]

La escritura aquí es realmente emocional, pero en términos de ser etiquetada como poesía, me parece que no logra su objetivo. No fue realmente provocativa ni tuvo la profundidad que esperaba. Creo que es un trabajo desordenado, pero de una manera positiva, ya que logra transmitir el dolor de diferentes formas. También siento que es una poesía desorganizada que intenta parecerse a otras, pero no lo logra. ¡Eso no significa que no me guste! Me gustaron algunos de los simbolismos y la relación con la religión y la fe que se presenta. En general, lo disfruté en cierta medida, pero creo que le falta profundidad a la poesía.

[Noor Jamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really nice collection of poems that gives an insight to more vulnerable moments in life. As a reader, you can feel yourself going through the journey of growth with the author. The pain described in some of the pieces allows the reader to connect with their own experiences. Each poem is unique, lending to the overall original idea of the book. Well done!

[Valen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unsurprisingly, this is another great poetry collection by F.S. Yousaf. These poems were really well written, connecting childhood experiences to religious references, all of which seemed extremely heartfelt. 5/5 Stars - really well done

[mon. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know you could share so much of you within a few lines. I didn't know poetry could show that much of what's inside you heart. I related to a lot of the hurts he shows. How beautiful is to connect to others through art.

[Samira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. For the simple fact that I read this in the middle of a beautiful Ramadan morning whilst silently crying over the beautiful lines that captivated my heart. Stunning collection of poems that spoke to me and still has me reflecting.

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poetry, like a memoir, is personal and a reflection of the authors mind and spirit. As such, I find it difficult to “rate” such things. I will say that over all I did not connect with these poems. However, that does not mean that someone else shouldn’t read it.

[mar✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read endless stories of humans dying with anger in their hearts. And I do not know what the future holds for us.

[Zineb R · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is so far his best collection!

[Nisaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a breath of fresh air to read, I related to a lot of the poems as a person and a muslim. I cried, I smiled and felt.

I loved it!