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His name was Dimitri Steven Georgiou (popularly known as Cat
Stevens), born in a liberal country like Britain. At the tender
age of 17 he created a commotion in the world of pop music,
fame and following were his slaves; he was the heart throb
of millions of fans. When he used to sing at concerts, thousands
of boys and girls were mesmerized into swinging to his songs
like animals. He had no want of money, each cassette being
sold for thousands of pounds, and the proceeds of concerts
swelling his resources. But despite the money, the fame, and
the respect he commanded, he felt restlessness inside him,
some disturbance he could not name. When he could not find
contentment in pounds, beauties, wealth, cars, and the newest
dresses, he started taking drugs.
This is what materialistic people commonly do, they run helter-skelter
after fantasies and try to hide behind dreams; they try to
find happiness in riches, renown, and in buildings made of
sand and stone; they want to suck happiness from song and
dance, play, and drugs; but none of these give lasting pleasure.
Just as the pain jumps back after the effects of a painkiller
wear off, so does restlessness and agitation return after
the intoxication of material things fades, a vacuum appears
that people try to fill with trivia, but it goes on expanding
until the whole being is empty. They have no aim in life,
no struggle, nothing more to accomplish.
Georgiou become conscious of this vacuum when he was standing
at the pinnacle of his career. This feeling took him to the
Qur'an. How could any one coming to this door be returned
empty handed? This was a Book that knocked at the gates of
hearts and transformed lives; it filled breasts with a divine
light even if it be the son of Abi Jahal, Ikramah. When this
Book imparts a new life to any and every person with sincerity,
why should Dimitri Steven Georgiou have been left untouched?
When the blessed shower of guidance rained upon an arid heart,
shoots of faith raised their heads. He got immense pleasure
from the study of the Qur'an. His aim in life became clear
to him, he forsook music and immersed himself in the service
and propagation of Islam.
He took the name of Yusuf Islam. Despite accepting Islam he
is a peaceful citizen of Britain. He has never been a part
of any illegal activity, his cautiousness does not let him
even near any such organisation that America or Britain has
black listed. Most of his attention is towards the establishment
of educational institutions for Muslim girls and boys. After
9/11 he opposed religious extremism and declared it anti-human.
He was a fore runner in helping out the victims of the incident,
but still he is ostracized by America. His zeal for propagating
Islam and, his support for the victims without distinction
of religion or nation, was such an offence that entry to the
United States of America was denied him. This year on the
21st of September when he flew to America from Britain with
his 21 year old daughter, he was deported back to his country.
The admirers of western democracy and its 'devotion' to peace
should have had their eye opened. The mask covering the face
of America is slipping away; the one accusing others of fundamentalism
is proving to be the biggest fundamentalist of all. The recent
American elections and their results have surprised the world.
This fact is not hidden from any learned or intelligent person
that extremism has played an elemental role in the elections.
The defeat of John Kerry is not because he wished to put an
end to the so called war against terrorism, no, he had an
even tougher view concerning the issue; he was defeated because
he raised the slogan of liberalism and skipped the boundaries
of religious ideology which made the fundamental Christians
cross with him.
In contrast George Bush portrayed himself as conservative
and a defender of religious traditions. The outcome was that
the Americans with religious leanings gave him both notes
and votes. This was what made George Bush's day. Many thought
that after being re-elected, George Bush would revise his
cruel policies concerning the Islamic world, and try to solve
the political, economic, and geographical problems of the
world in a peaceful way……..but this is not what
has happened, in truth his aggressive aims have escalated.
The sacking and appointments of ministers shows that he wishes
to teach the Islamic world an unforgettable lesson.
It is another thing if our leaders wish to keep the public
in fool's paradise, the ground fact is that a long crusade
has already started, the result and date of conclusion is
anybody's guess. After 9/11 Bush had instinctively called
it a 'Crusade", although afterwards he tried to gloss
over the mistake, it was in fact his heartfelt desire and
worked out opinion that had slipped his tongue. It was a natural
_expression of the angry lava boiling in the minds of Christians
and Jews against the Muslims; this has been explained by the
One Who knows what is in hearts thus,
"Let not the believers take for friends or helpers Unbelievers
rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there
be help from Allah. except by way of precaution, that ye may
Guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (To remember)
Himself; for the final goal is to Allah. Say: "Whether
ye hide what is in your hearts or reveal it, Allah knows it
all: He knows what is in the heavens, and what is on earth.
And Allah has power over all things." (Surah
Aal Imran 28,29)
Every passing day the Qur'an is stamping the seal of truth
on the predictions it has made concerning the Jews and Christians…………but
how simple and innocent are those who still expect goodness
from the ahle kufr; the people who cannot bear their own kind
in colour, race, and nation just because of the difference
in religious opinion would hardly bear "blacks"
like us. What can I say for those imagining decency from them,
but….
Chaak kar di Turk e nadan ne khilafat ki qaba
Saadgi Muslim ki dekh, auron ki ayyaari bhi dekh
(The gullible Turks tore the robe of the Caliphate Just look
at the Muslim's innocence Just look at others' cleverness)
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