How do I relate Yusuf Islam to me?

I was so surprised knowing that Yusuf Islam is coming to Malaysia on last November 25th. Surprised and disappointed. I got really disappointed as I had no early knowledge about him coming here. Above all, I am indisputably happy and grateful for him coming to Malaysia again. I feel “closer” to him, as we’re on the same land - Malaysia land.

Yusuf during an interview on a national tele.

I remember my first time listening to his name and his song, he was on tour to Malaysia and I was six (or seven?) at that time. As soon as I listen to his song (Tala’al Badru Alayna), I asked my mum who he is. My mum told me that he used to be called Cat Stevens and known as Yusuf Islam after embracing Islam. And I was like “Ohhh….” Without really understanding what did that mean. And that was it, his name and the song I heard retained in my mind ever since.

A dozen years later, on the night before Chinese New Year’s holiday in 2005, I went to a talk by Dr. Jamnul Azhar Mulkan at the main hall of my previous matriculation. I was initially informed that it would be a religious talk, but to my surprise, that few hours of the talk had really left me with HUGE impacts – which I still carry the great upshot of the night up to now! I was internally “affected” with the facts and many things that I’d learnt on that very night! I’m really grateful that I went to the talk, I couldn’t imagine how much had I missed if weren’t there, and it is not an overstatement to say that if I wasn’t at the talk, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I strongly believe that my life will be so much different. It was such a critical point of my life – to “mentally” growing up as a Muslim in “the state of being”. As a medical doctor and dakwah speaker (da’i), Dr. Jamnul Azhar Mulkan had delivered his talk in quite unique and thought-provoking ways. The tangible evidences of science had been justified thoroughly with the verses in Al-Quran. He showed us a video of The Creation of the Universe, and later he scrupulously explicated the theory of “Big Bang” – an explosion of zero density with zero volume that had been the definitive beginning of the universe. MasyaAllah! I was so engulfed with his outstanding explanation. I couldn’t write everything that I’d gotten from the talk (it would be too many “things” to write and as a recreational writer, I’m sure that there’ll be tonnes of ramblings from me). All I could say, I feel really small and indeed we’re infinitesimal slaves of Allah. Check out this video. You’ll see what I meant.

I was a mere Muslim teenager at that time who only follow what I should follow, my thinking was shaped by the normal and moderate upbringing and culture; without really comprehending, thinking or questioning anything regarding my faith. As a mere follower at that time, I only familiar with what I should do, but I don’t have the word “reasoning” and “correlation” yet existed in my faith. I haven’t discovered those words thus far, until the very talk.

I was 18 at that time, then only I realized how insignificant humans are in this certainly minute planet (out of gazillion of planets in the expanding universe) called the Earth. I felt extremely naive; I knew that I awfully need to seek for enlightenment and more knowledge so that I could vividly see the real purpose of life. After some digestion of what I felt that time, things were pretty much fathomable for me. A few days later, I found myself at the computer lab, googling for Yusuf Islam’s story of conversion - the starting point of my spiritual journey in understanding my ‘relationship’ with our Creator.

After reading his story, too many questions emerged. Why me; born and raised as a Muslim fail to see what he sees in Islam? Why I didn’t have such thoughts? The WH-questions kept ousting. I was convinced that I’ll get the answers by thinking and relating things that I know. With limited erudition, I ought to seek for more knowledge to figure out the right thing that’ll lead me to the right path, insyaAllah.

Yusuf’s almost-death-facing drowning experience in Malibu was his new awakening. From what I learn in literature class, I can connote “his swim” as a symbol of purification or rebirth. “Bathe yourself from impurities and you will be free from all sins” He was caught in the current of the sea. When the fear of death thumped him, he said “OH GOD! IF YOU SAVE ME, I’LL WORK FOR YOU”… and at that very moment, a helpful wave swept him away towards the shore. Some people have a big life-shifting encounters or spiritual insights which have effects on their decision, and for some, turning to Islam is a natural thing to do as Islam is the religion of fitrah.

To be what you must, just reach out for what you are.

YUSUF ISLAM

He knew Islam via his brother, David Gordon where he had been given a translation of Al-Quran by David. His brother did not become a Muslim, but Yusuf converted for nearly a year after realizing and researching about Islam. Here, it really makes me think that “hidayah” or “the light of guidance” will be endowed by Allah for those He wants to, we should constantly raise our hand and make du’as for His guidance to be led to the true path – for the ‘safety’ of now and the Hereafter. InsyaAllah. In fact, Yusuf mention that Islam is more familiar than foreign to him – that shows Islam is the deen of fitrah.

Yusuf’s story in Reader’s Digest

Ever since I read about him, my interest of knowing and learning about converts kept knocking up, and Alhamdulillah, I’ve meet many great Muslim converts which are completely inspiring and have enlightened me in myriad of ways. On other side note, amazingly, I have known so many Muslim converts all over the world that I’ve never envisaged before! Alhamdulillah, it is such tremendous blessings to be able to know them, talk to them, sharing with them and most essentially to learn from them. Thank you Allah for such priceless opportunities!

Above all, the story of Yusuf Islam’s conversion had become the catalyst and a strong platform for my journey of parting from meself from ignorance to the better phase of life - from insightfully blind to seeking for clear inner sight. Yusuf’s story of embracing Islam and he himself, as an outstanding Islamic icon are just two absolutely significant and meaningful subject matters during my preliminary passage of my mind and soul in “moving away” from being solely an oblivious follower to a follower that think. (InsyaAllah, that’s what I hope for. There’s too many to learn, still)

“If you don’t change what’s within you, you can’t change anything, and that’s where you have to start”

YUSUF ISLAM

As time goes on, my continuous learning is dependant through listening to Yusuf’s melodious soothing songs. The lyrics are simple, yet utterly utterly utterly meaningful! Indeed, Yusuf’s songs are great substances in educating my mind and soul synchronizing along harmonious and calm music. Listening to his songs demand NO plain listening but with the integration of imperative brain’s role to relating – associating my knowledge of the world to the message which are explicitly and implicitly transmitted from his pleasant sounding music to the ears which also act as healing therapy for the soul. You could just close your eyes, listen and understand the lyrics provided with the peaceful tune and the neurons in the brains will painstakingly do them work. The invisible beauty of Yusuf’s songs could be felt heartily. Yes, this beauty can be felt. Extraordinary beauty, methink.

My BELOVED belongings

I rarely listen to music, but only to Yusuf’s songs (that was after 18, well I used to listen to Westlife when I was a naïve snot *facepalm*). From his album, “Yusuf Islam and Friends” there’s one song that I love which I kept singing it to my little cousins entitled “I LOOK I SEE”. Unsurprisingly they love it too. (My singing or the song? That…I don’t know LOL). I’ve been listening to that for couple of years and I thought it was a good song for kids. Anyhow, in my reading class (in uni) I discovered the most astounding knowledge. The difference between the word “look” and “see”. The eyes ‘look’, but the brain ‘see’. Whatever we look (from the eyesight) will later be the fabrication of the brain where the brain will see - by making meaning of the things that the eyes had looked. How is this related to Yusuf Islam’s song?

I look I look I look, I see,

I see a world of beauty

Those are the two lines which really amaze me in terms of the underlying meaning that implies from the song. The lyrics were uncomplicated, yet the meaning is subjectively “splendid”. What the eyes look, the brain will interpret for its meaning. The eyes look at the trees, the ocean, the sky etc and the brain sees those as a world of beauty. MasyaAllah, how brainy!

“Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?” (Ar-rahman: 13)

How great the beauty of the Earth and the creatures who dwell on her

How great -- then how great the creator?

As it's mountains pierce the clouds high about the lives of men

Weeping rivers for thousands of years

But how many hearts are closed to the wonders of this sight?

Like birds in a cage, asleep with closed wings

(God is the Light by Yusuf Islam)

Beautifully written and wonderfully sung.

“All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

In faith to Islam had brought Yusuf fulfillment that fame and fortune could not. Yusuf Islam states that Islam diminishes the power of ego. We need to realize how small we are, and where we should be devoid of the blessings from Allah? Good music should be refining us from the internal impurities, and educates us to always be closer and fear our Creator. Bad music with profanities combined with sexual connotation do nothing except littering unfavorably to your mind and soul and slowly gets you drifted away from the right track. If you want to eat, eat healthy food, if you want to listen, listen to healthy sound.

If you’re a Muslim, be a good Muslim

If you’re a Christian, be a good Christian

YUSUF ISLAM

Not only Yusuf fights for the world’s holistic peace, he’s the heart peacemaker. Alhamdulillah. One of my dream (apart from my Ireland’s dream) is to meet him, insyaAllah. And at that time, I want to thank him for being such a universal inspiration.

In everything I do, I dedicate to You

because You made me, I am for You

Thus, I revere Yusuf Islam for the sake of Allah. Shall Allah bequeath upon him and his family His infinite blessings. Ameen.