A Cat Called
Yusuf
By Sir Cam
Cambridge, England
Doctor, doctor you have to help me out! "Certainly,
which way did you come in?" No, you silly
twit, I'm boiling up. "Well, just simmer
down!" How can one relax in these troubled
times? With the media spotlight constantly on
Muslims, how can we, Muslims in Britain, get on
with our daily lives?
Like everyone else, the struggle is to find peace
in the daily grind of life. That, I'm afraid,
is becoming increasingly difficult in this world
of strife and conflict rather than tolerance,
understanding and reconciliation.
Doctor, doctor I'm sad. "Very bad! You could
be suffering from SAD (seasonal affective disorder).
It's a kind of depression connected with the seasons,
especially winter". But, doctor, it's more
a Shock and Awe Disorder. How can we bomb and
murder our way to peace and freedom? When is all
this madness going to stop before we're killed,
maimed or driven up the wall? "Relax, son.
Your prescription is to take a break to somewhere
sunny, cut out the news, and listen to music or
soothing sounds at least once a day".
What a dream world: where it's sunny, the news
is good, and the sounds are beautiful. Peace,
at last. And that's exactly what the cat ordered.
The artist formerly known as Cat Stevens is back
with an incredible new album called An other cup.
The golden sticker on the CD cover proclaims:
"As Cat Stevens he defined a generation with
Tea For The Tillerman (his 1970 super hit album
containing classics such as Hard Headed Woman,
Wild World, and Father and Son). After 30 years
he returns with An Other Serving." Wow, what
a serving. I do love a warm cuppa, mate.
It's been a very long wait for the new album.
Cat Stevens embraced Islam in 1977, changed his
name to Yusuf Islam, gave up the music and all
that went with it (you know, sex, drugs and rock
& roll, that kind of thing), got married and
settled down to family life in London. He has
been a prominent member of the Muslim community
in Britain ever since. It was bit of a shock,
but understandable considering his new commitments,
that this extremely talented and popular singer-songwriter
gave up the music. At the time he explained that,
"I'd suspended my musical activities for
fear that it may divert me from the true path".
I remember that he was totally immersed in the
study of Islam after his conversion. I first met
him as a teenager in his Mayfair studio in London
in 1978 (the year of his last album, Back to earth),
when I was amazed by the miraculous transformation
of the man. He wrote to me in 1981 when I arrived
for the Michaelmas term in Cambridge (gosh, how
the 25 years have gone). He wound up this letter
by praying, "May Allah forgive us our sins
and keep us... on the straight path". His
music shows that he was in search of something,
and having found it in the faith of Islam, he
wanted to stay on its straight path even if that
meant a suspension of his music career, which
he regarded as a negative infringement on his
life at that time. Not many people have the inner
courage to do that.
So, what has happened now to the music legend
who gave us tunes such as Moonshadow, Morning
Has Broken, and Peace Train? The long hiatus from
music has allowed him, as he says "to get
a life", and to find the inner peace that
eludes many of us. In last week's BBC2 music show
'Later... with Jools Holland', Yusuf explained
that there are a "lot of reasons now to come
back and sing again". He has settled down,
matured, and there is a need for hope and greater
understanding.
In the program, Yusuf said that "it was Muslim
Spain that introduced the guitar to Europe and
I thought I had the perfect right to pick up the
guitar again!" He was of course referring
to the legacy of the multi-talented 9th century
figure of Islamic Spain called Ziryab, who established
a music school in Cordoba during the reign of
Abdur Rahman II. In fact, Yusuf's new album might
have been titled The Return of Ziryab. On the
CD cover he is shown drinking tea under a poster
depicting a historic Muslim figure playing a guitar
with this very caption underneath the picture.
There are so many horrendous things taking place
in the world. Some in the name of religion. "So
many things darken our world," says Yusuf.
So it was important "to have something to
feel good about in these days". It was necessary
to "bring back a bit of hope". In an
interview in The Guardian on November 11, Yusuf
is quoted as saying, "I'd much prefer to
think that what I'm doing now with my little guitar
is helping to make things better in the world."
Way to go, Yusuf.
It is enlightening to further quote Yusuf from
this interview, "Maybe some people may have
thought or imagined that Islam drains all creativity.
In fact, when you look at history, you discover
that the golden age of Spain is what actually
produced what we call the guitar. Sciences, medicines,
even the fact that we drink coffee today on every
corner is a result of this fantastic kind of moment
of civilization in the Muslim world, where art
and life was one, and entertainment was part of
that. For me, to sing again means to reaffirm
the creativity of Islamic thought, of what it
can do to a person and how it can express itself."
Yusuf gives a beautiful new rendition of the old
song Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood on his new
album. It's a heartfelt prayer for him. It may
also be a plea for his faith, perhaps the most
misunderstood in these days of extremism and violence.
Yusuf explains on his website (www.yusufislam.com),
"It's now necessary to educate people that
this religion is based on spiritual love, unity
and tolerance. I think I've made that journey
and perhaps I can help others to an understanding
that the vast majority of Muslims want to live
a good life and be at peace with the rest of the
world." He also feels strongly that, "It
is important for me to be able to help bridge
the cultural gaps others are sometimes frightened
to cross".
Brave man, but I think he is one of those rare
people who can successfully bridge the gaps. Unlike
politicians and so-called religious leaders, artists
can transcend barriers and help create greater
tolerance and understanding. Yusuf says, "I
think we've got to push the premise that culture
is something to be shared by everybody. It's not
a divisive issue. Whenever anything is good, a
lot of people flock to it and want it, and that's
why I'm singing songs again."
Doctor, doctor I'm beginning to feel better already.
"Right then, listen to this CD all day long."
Yusuf sings, "There is peace, you can taste
it if you try / You can embrace it if you try
/ There is love you can live it if you try. /
You can give it if you try". The Cat is back...
in style!
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