Yusuf Islam Reflects On His Return

Artist Once Known As Cat Stevens Talks About New Album

(CBS) 
"I decided to go for a swim. Of course nobody told me that that wasn't a good time to go swimming," Islam said. "So there I was, you know, out there, and I'm thinking, 'Ah, great, hmm, OK, let's go back now.' And then I ... tried to swim back to shore. And suddenly I felt 'I can't do this' — the tide was going the other way. I wasn't getting any closer.

"Suddenly I was petrified. I thought: 'This might be it.' I said: 'God, if you save me, I'll work for you.' It was without hesitation that I knew that, instinctively, there was a power that could help me. And then a little wave, you know, came behind me — a little wave, it wasn't very big. But it was that miraculous moment when suddenly the tide was going in my favor. I had my energy, I could swim back. I was on land. I was alive. Wow, what next?"

After that Islam tried to find a religion that fit. He experimented with Buddhism, Tao, numerology and even astrology. But when his brother gave him a copy of the Koran, the man who had been shopping for answers finally found them.

"I was looking for something that would resonate — the meaning of life at whatever angle you looked at it," he said.

At the time, he was still performing and was hugely popular. He realized he couldn't balance his religion and his career.

"Yeah, when it came to trying to balance you know, this knowledge, this discovery, with my lifestyle, you know, I've been singing about trying to find who I am," Islam said. "Now I've found out, do I have to keep singing? I mean, that was the question."

The answer came in November 1979 at London's Wembley stadium when he walked onstage as Cat Stevens and walked off as Yusuf Islam.

He wouldn't touch a guitar again for more than 20 years.

Reborn and re-energized, Islam went to work fulfilling the promise he had made to God that day off the coast of Malibu. With the royalties from his former life still pouring in, he founded London's first Islamic school. Then he started the small kindness charity helping orphans around the world.

[olebd]

He must be on one long acid trip.

[bakataley]

"...but the islmic founder was a sword wielding terrorist!" What website have you been getting your information from?

The "so-called" Muslims are in a mayhem today not because of Islam. It is because they do not follow the spirit behind the message of Islam, which is to attain peace by keeping God in mind with every of their action. This means being just, honest and respectful (examples of the Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him) when dealing with their fellow human beings.

Unfortunately, some Muslims take the verses in Quran out of their proper context and use them to advance their own agendas, as opposed to comprehending the peaceful message of Islam. This is akin to Christians using bibles to advance apartheid in South Africa, or the colonists using bible to eradicate the Indians; slavery, etc.

Brother Yusuf Islam provides an example of a good Muslim by doing more for humanity than many others. May God continue to give him the strength, courage and wisdom to continue on with his effort.

[akarsno]

In every religion there will be history of the good and bad!
All we have to do is follow the good in it and I think the world would be a better place to live in.
People who uses religion to make buck for themselves are condemn to hell as far as I am concern.
And taking the context of any religion to make war against anyone cause they say it is written in their beliefs is wrong!
Those are the people who really do not know their own religion then but only want fame and glory in misleading those who truly seek the truth.

[akarsno]

And those who uses religion for a bad cause .... are worst than the devil themselves.
If people change religion cause they did not believe of had faith in what ever religion they were brought up with ... they are not be blame, maybe the god we all seek sees it to proclaim peace among those who think theirs is better and is trying to communicate with those who have change faiths in what ever religion to others that every religion teaches the good. Consider it and do not condemn any person for it.
But one thing is important ... as long as they use their religion for a good cause and not a bad one.

[remnant1947]

islam has never been a religion of peace ...
Jesus said "those who live by the sword die by the aword" ....
mohammed was a blood thirsty rapist ...read the history ...He killed, and raped women, and had a 8 year old bride ...nice? NO! This cat stevens guy can put all the spin he wants on islam and it is still a religion based on works and death!

[agnim]

"In every religion there will be history of the good and bad!
All we have to do is follow the good in it and I think the world would be a better place to live in.
Posted by akarsno at 11:16 PM : Dec 02, 2006"

We are only being self-deluded when we try mistake any so-called 'good history' of religion.

Why do you think that we insisting on teaching children only good stuff and spare then the bad stuf?

The fact is that young/ignorant/weak minds WILL NOT discriminate between 'good' and 'bad', between non-violence and violence.

Ignorant/young/weak minds will gravitate towards the 'bad'/violence almost as easily as it will gravitate towards the 'good'/non-violence.
No good teacher will give lessons in vengeance and violence as the religions have done.

Any idiotic ideology that teaches vengeance and violence to ignorant/young/weak minds (and they can only be taught to ignorant/young/weak minds) are scourges upon the planet and need to be gotten rid of!

The biblical bull and islamic *** teache CLEAR lessons in vengeance and violence to ignorant/weak/young and unfortunate minds.
And they need to be erased from the face of the planet.

They, insane islam and crazy christianity, have been Twin Evils upon the planet.

[bellal-2009]

I agree with janem4, why is it so hard for a Muslim to denounce the horror that is being perpetrated in their name. It must be fear, if they come out in criticism they go on a death list.

[bellal-2009]

"On the Road to Find Out" is one of my favorite songs, along with "Father and Son", God, he had so many. "Peace Train" and the one about children, the guy was amazing. Cat Stevens come home and start writing music again.

[antoniof123]

Not just Muslims but Christans as well. Each religion teaches that they will kill in the name of god and they do. The only real problem for them is when god does return he will not care that you say you were doing his will. The question will be what did you not understand about what I tried to teach you. It is not God that is the problem it is the false teaching that come from the people who claim to know God. Here in the US we see it in the religious leaders and in Muslims lands guess what they see it too. The problem is like here they are blinded by the very one they say is leading the other side. What a joke to follow blindly into death.

[olebd]

Some people wash and wash and the guilt and evil just never goes down the drain.

[dargay]

The Americans on this board seem very eager to insult and hate. For what reason? Islam is Islam its not what Americans make it to be and it never will be. Dump your pointless anti-islamism.

[mos4622]

The Boileroom!! Internet Radio's Heat Source

Dare to listen

http://stream.njit.edu:8000/listen.pls

4pm-6pm EST 10pm-12pm EST

[kozanne]

"Islam is Islam its not what Americans make it to be and it never will be. Dump your pointless anti-islamism"

We'll do that when Islam condemns pointless suicide bombings and flying planes into buildings, ok?

[kozanne]

"So stop stealing others' land as your ancestors did stealing 4 continients out of seven and you still need more land for which you coninue war with various pretext."

Oh, you're just mad because you didn't get to steal them first.

[bellal-2009]

I can't get Cat Stevens' songs out of my head, it's been two days now.

[bellal-2009]

Longer boats are coming to win us, they're coming to win us, they're coming to win us. Longer boats are coming to win us.
Hold on to the shore,
They'll be taking the key from the door.

[bellal-2009]

Where Do The Children Play
Cat Stevens

Well I think it's fine, building jumbo planes.
Or taking a ride on a cosmic train.
Switch on summer from a slot machine.
Get what you want to if you want, 'cause you can get anything.

I know we've come a long way,
We're changing day to day,
But tell me, where do the children play?

[bellal-2009]

Father
It's not time to make a change,
Just relax, take it easy.
You're still young, that's your fault,
There's so much you have to know.
Find a girl, settle down,
If you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.

[bellal-2009]

Well I left my happy home
to see what I could find out
I left my folk and friends
with the aim to clear my mind out

Well I hit the rowdy road
and many kinds I met there
and many stories told me on the way to get there

So on and on I go, the seconds tick the time out
So much left to know, and I'm on the road to find out

[bellal-2009]

Oh baby baby it's a wild world,
it's hard to get by just upon a smile
Oh baby baby it's a wild world,
and I'll always remember you like a child, girl.

[bellal-2009]

Now I've been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun

Oh I've been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be, some day it's going to come

Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again

[bellal-2009]

All the following lyrics are from Cat Stevens, once heard hard to forget.

[wattermelann]

I have been told Islam is a peaceful religion. I have not studied the Koran as a student or scholar. I am confused about Islam because of the Taliban and al Queda and the all the countless stories about Islamic groups around. I also do not agreed with the way Islam treats women. I always here the Koran quoted reasons about the treatment of women, but I never hear women treated humanly or fairly by Islamic followers.Perhaps "it is God's will" that I am confused.

[magoo2u1]

"Islam is Islam its not what Americans make it to be and it never will be. Dump your pointless anti-islamism"

We'll do that when Islam condemns pointless suicide bombings and flying planes into buildings, ok?

Islam appears to be some kind of murder/suicide cult. Explain it to me if I am mistaken. I stopped attending church when I woke up one day and realized that if I ever forgot who to hate, all I had to do was go to my local Baptist church on Sunday morning and they could remind me. They run through the list every week: ***, liberals,Muslims, mentally ill people , famous people, homeless people, people with PHDs, atheists, catholics,Jews (but not Israel, need it to exist so Jesus will return),Budhists, Hundus, black people, indians (domestic savage variety) witches, voodo priests, (they actually believe in the witch / voodoo thing) and on and on and on ...............
Religion is about hate. It talks love for it's congregation, but everyone on the other side of the church door on Sunday morn is the enemy that deserves death. Name a church that has no one it wants to kill. Dare you.

[salty1954]

Buddhism does not have a hit list I am aware of.

[ringading3]

Poor Cat you will have to live with your decision, you are finished! Go live in Saudia Arabia. Not enough freedom there? Too bad, so sad!

[rushlimpdrug]

Islam is offshore in Malibu?
maybe someone should tell homeyland sekurity.

[yesleoyes]

Philips is either a Cat Stevens apologist or a lightweight.

If you want the truth about Cat's feelings on the Rushdie fatwa, see the clips from 1989. His words are unequivocal. See Rushdie%u2019s rebuttal to Cat%u2019s later equivocations. Links are in Wikipedia.

Hear this: I WANT TO BELIEVE CAT DOES NOT BELIEVE WHAT HE SAID. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO FORGIVE HIM. But, whenever he%u2019s asked (where were you, Phillips?) to be honest, Cat dances around the issue, whines about this being all anyone wants to know, etc... YES, IT%u2019S ALL WE WANT TO KNOW, AND WILL BE SO UNTIL YOU ARE HONEST!

I%u2019ve no issue with Islam. I%u2019ve contempt for an artist who agrees with those who say an artist should be killed for expressing himself.

There are days when his music gets in my head. I'm not embarrassed by it; I%u2019m sad I can%u2019t enjoy it. I bought the albums and sheet music, played and sang the songs. I%u2019ve turned my back on them, hurting myself by doing so.

I wish he could find somewhere in the Koran a verse that tells him that god and his deceased buddies don't need PEOPLE to defend them. I wish he%u2019d find a verse that says to forgive. I wish he%u2019d find a verse that says be honest. I wish he%u2019d find IN HIS OWN SELF a verse that says "apologize for what you have done, and ask Rushdie's forgiveness."

As an aside, I think Rushdie could take him. Cat probably thinks so as well, since he hasn't had the courage to take Rushdie on in a fair fight.

[amjm-amm]

Yesleoyes, Muhammad, peace be upon him, made a speech toward the infidel Thaif people. They threw him stones, made him bleed, scarcely. Then, angel Gabriel came to him sent by God, asked his permission to throw those people back, demolish them, with a hill-mountain nearby. Muhammad, PBUH, denied this offering, "No, let them be. They simply do not know what they are doing.", and he prayed for the people. Years later, they all converted to Islam, willingly. (From the Hadits of Muhammad)

Please read it: Al Qur'an 002.256
SHAKIR's translation: "There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan/Satan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing." Al Qur'an 002.136
(PICKTHAL's translation): "Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto God we have surrendered." -

Yusuf Islam, Khumeini, and you, Sir/Mrs/Miss, are just human. And even best human CAN make mistakes.

[amjm-amm]

Sillywilly, as a muslim I condemn every terrorism, terrorist organization. Even countries governments (organization) who oppress other countries or their own countries with Economic Hit Men (www.johnperkins.org), corporatocracy, manipulation, bribes, misinformations, natural resource cruel exploration, and so on (www.michaelmoore.com). All tricks availble. You name it.

Can you imagine fighting tanks with mererly stones? Palestine people do it everyday. Muslim suffers everywhere. They torture & kill unborns, babies, elders, rape women in Bosnia. People seemed to forget muslim had taught Europe tremendous things that made Ranaissance available. Still, slanders-imperialism-capitalism have been around since ages.

Don't we have to fight back? For our children, parents, brothers-sisters, families? Perhaps a pity, some decided to fight-back using any possible way, un-gentle ways (in Islam, war, if must, must be done civilizedly, honestly).

Don't alway belive what they told u. Nothing is completely black or white. Find real answers. U r obliged 2 do that by God. A pop-clue: watch "Syriana" movie.

[amjm-amm]

Sillywilly, as a muslim I condemn every terrorism, terrorist organization. Even countries governments (organization) who oppress other countries or their own countries with Economic Hit Men (www.johnperkins.org), corporatocracy, manipulation, bribes, misinformations, natural resource cruel exploration, and so on (www.michaelmoore.com). All tricks availble. You name it.

Can you imagine fighting tanks with mererly stones? Palestine people do it everyday. Muslim suffers everywhere. They torture & kill unborns, babies, elders, rape women in Bosnia. People seemed to forget muslim had taught Europe tremendous things that made Ranaissance available. Still, slanders-imperialism-capitalism have been around since ages.

Don't we have to fight back? For our children, parents, brothers-sisters, families? Perhaps a pity, some decided to fight-back using any possible way, un-gentle ways (in Islam, war, if must, must be done civilizedly, honestly).

Don't alway belive what they told u. Nothing is completely black or white. Find real answers. U r obliged 2 do that by God. A pop-clue: watch "Syriana" movie.