Stories of the converts into Islam

Story 27. How Cat Stevens Came To Islam

All I have to say is all what you alreadyknow, to confirm what you already know about the message of the prophet () as given by God – the religion of Truth. As humanbeings we are given a consciousness and a duty that has placed us at the top ofcreation. Man is created to be God’s deputy on earth and it is important torealise the obligation to rid ourselves of all illusions and to make our lives apreparation for the next life, anybody who misses this chance is not likely tobe given another, to be brought back again and again, because it says in QuranMajeed that when man is brought to account, he will say, ‘O lord, send us backand give us another chance. The Lord will say, if I send you back you will dothe same.

My early religiousupbringing:

I was brought up in the modern world of all the luxuryand the high light of show business. I was born in a Christian home but we knewthat every child is born in his nature, it is only his parents that turn him tothis or that religion I was given this religion (CHRISTIANITY) and thought thisway. I was taught that God exists, but there was no direct contact with God, sowe had to make contact with him through Jesus, he was in fact the door to God. This was more or less accepted by me, but I did not swallow it all.

Ilooked at some of the statues of Jesus; they were just stones with no life” Andwhen they said that God is three, I was puzzled even more but could not argue. Imore or less believed it, because I had to have respect for the faith of myparents.

Pop Star:

Gradually Ibecame alienated from this religion upbringing , I started making music. Iwanted to be a big star. All those I saw in the films and on the media took holdof me, and perhaps I thought this was my God, the goal of making money I had anuncle who had a beautiful car :Well:, I said , “ he has it made,” he had a lotof money. The people around me influenced me to think that this world was theirGod.

I decided then that this was the life for me , to make a lot ofmoney, have a “ great life “. Now my example were the pop stars, I startedmaking songs, but deep down I had a feeling for humanity, a feeling that if Ibecame rich I will help the needy (it says in the Quran, we make a promise, butwhen we make something we want to hold on to it and become greedy).

Sowhat happened was that I became very famous, I was still a teenager, my name andphoto were splashed in all the media. They made me larger than life, so I wantedto live larger than the life and the only way to do that was to be intoxicated(with liquoranddrugs).

Inhospital:

After a year of financial success and ‘high’ living, Ibecame very ill, contracted T.B and had to be hospitalized. It was then that Istarted to think; what was to happen to me? Was I just a body and my goal inlife was merely to satisfy this body?

I realised now that this calamitywas a blessing given to me by Allah a chance to open my eyes, ‘why am I herewhy am I in bed’, and I started looking for some of the answers. At that timethere was great interest in the Eastern mysticism I began reading and the firstthing I began to become aware of was death, and that the soul moves on, it doesnot stop. I felt I was taking the road to bliss and high accomplishment Istarted meditating and even became a vegetarian. I now believed in ‘peace andflower power’, and this was the general trend. But what I did believe inparticular was that I was not just a body, this awareness came to me at thehospital.