ISLAM AND CONVERTED MUSLIMS

Says new name is Mikaeel after he rejected Mustafa
Michael Jackson converts to Islam: report
Yousef Islam witnessed Jackson take shahada, the paper said

DUBAI (AlArabiya.net)

Troubled U.S. star Michael Jackson has converted to Islam and changed his name to Mikaeel, press reports said Friday.

A conversion ceremony was held at a Los Angeles mansion where Jackson was seen wearing 'Islamic garb' and declaring his new faith, British tabloid The Sun quoted an unnamed source as saying.

Jackson reportedly took the shahada—the Islamic declaration of belief—and became a Muslim, just days before he was due in a London court where he is being sued by a Bahraini prince.

The paper reported that British singer Yousef Islam—previously known as Cat Stevens before he famously became a Muslim—was also at the ceremony held at the Hollywood Hills home of Toto keyboard player Steve Porcaro, 51, who composed music on Jackson's Thriller album.

Jackson's new name is reportedly Mikaeel after he rejected the name Mustafa, the paper said, adding the decision to convert came about as Jackson was recording a new album.

The former 'King of Pop'—who has been accused and acquitted of child molestation—is back in court after Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the second son of the king of Bahrain, accused Jackson of owing him $7 million and said the star breached an agreement to record a new album.

HUSSAIN YEE is the president of Pertubuhan Al-Khaadem
He is currently involved in organizing Da’wah Courses in Asia Pacific countries and Europe such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, Brunei, Thailand, Australia, Fiji, Tonga, Western Samoa, London, America and others.
Address : Lot 1034, Jalan Cempaka, Sungai Kayu Ara, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Email : alkhaadem.my@gmail.com; khadeem@pd.jaring.my

Yusuf Islam He was born Steven Demetre Georgiou, in London, 21st July 1948. His mother was Swedish and his father was a Greek Cypriot restaurant owner, they lived in the centre of London and Steven went to Roman Catholic Primary School.
Having left school at the age of 16 with an ‘A’ grade O-Level in Art, he entered Hammersmith Art Colleges and the following year, 1966, as ‘Cat Stevens’, he recorded his first single. From then right up to 1977 Cat Stevens composed and sang many hit records including ‘Mathew and Son’, ‘Here Comes My Baby’, ‘Wild World’, ‘Morning Has Broken and ‘Moonshadow’, selling approximately 40 million long playing records throughout the world.
Following a bout of TB during his career, Cat Stevens undertook an ongoing search for peace and ultimate spiritual truth. This yearning often expressed in his songs and reflected through his investigations into eastern faiths such as Zen Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and Astrology, resulted in this embracing the Islamic faith in December 1977. ‘Cat Stevens’ became Yusuf Islam.
Since embracing Islam, Yusuf Islam has married and now has five children.
He is a leading and active member of the Muslim community in Britain and is principally involved in three areas: Education of Muslim children, Da’wah to non-Muslim and Humanitarian Relief work. Among his well known projects can be listed the following :
ISLAMIA SCHOOLS Islamia Primary School was founded by Brother Yusuf in October 1983, with 13 boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 4.
The School grew in popularity, numbers increased very quickly and in the following year the waiting list exceeded one thousand.
In 1989 he set up the Islamia Girls’ Secondary School, teaching up to GCSE examination level. This soon became top in local examination results and set a new standard for Muslim Schools in the UK. Today Islamia School’s Centre teaches over 430 pupils has recently expanded its activities to include A-Level courses for girls: Islamia 6th Form college.
OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES Brother Yusuf is also Chairman of the United Kingdom Islamic Education Waqf (UKIEW) which offers financial help to Muslim schools. He is also Chairman of the Association of Muslim Schools which gives advice on educational matters and representation to over 40 schools in Britain.
WAQF AL-BIRR EDUCATIONAL TRUST Waqf al-Birr Education Trust a registered UK Charity, was founded by Brother Yusuf Islam in 1992 specifically to cater for Da’wah as well as educational research and development.
It is instrumental in providing expert advise and assistance to both new and well established Muslim schools in matter relating to staff recruitment, curriculum development and teacher training. This is done through its involvement with the International Board of Educational Research and Resources (IBERR).
In September 1996 Waqf al-Birr opened its Brondesbury College for Boys in London. The college was founded by Brother Yusuf in recognition of the need for the provision of a board system of educational excellence, one that would meet the demands of parents who want their sons to have the necessary skills and moral qualities for tomorrow’s world. The school holds 125 boys of the secondary age.
MOUNTAIN OF LIGHT - Mountain of Light was set up as a Company by Brother Yusuf Islam in December 1994, and its activities were fully operational by July 1995, its principle aim was to provide high quality Da’wah material, primarily in audio-visual form. Brother Yusuf turned his attention to studio work and this has resulted in an audio recording of his highly popular CD and cassette release of ‘Life of the Last Prophet’.
This spoken- word production, which is designed for both Muslim and a non-Muslims listening public, is Brother Yusuf’s first official record since departing from the music business nearly twenty years ago. This latest production is a Book and CD / Cassette recording of ‘A is for Allah’, which teaches Islam.
This spoken- word production, which is designed for both Muslim and a non-Muslims listening public, is Brother Yusuf’s first official record since departing from the music business nearly twenty years ago. This latest production is a Book and CD / Cassette recording of ‘A is for Allah’, which teaches Islam.
RELIEF WORK Muslim Aid, an international aid agency, was established by Brother Yusuf Islam in 1985 in co-operation with other Muslim organisations, he being the founding Chairman.
Its aim was to alleviate poverty and provide relief for the victims of wars and natural disasters. In 1994 / 1995 the organisation helped some 400,000 people in need around the world, distributing around £2 million in aid.
Last year Brother Yusuf resigned his role as Chairman and left Muslim Aid, but is still very actively involved in Relief with his new charity Small Kindness which concentrate on orphans and families. He currently supports 2,500 orphans and children in Kosova and is supporting ‘100 – Homes’ building project in Turkey.
Postal Address : 2 Digswell St, London N7 8JX, United Kingdom. Tel: 171-6076655 Fax: 171-7000425 e-mail: info@jamalrecords.com

Abdul Rahim Green Lanky, blonde, green-eyed, 33-years-old Abdurraheem Green appears to be a character straight out of a Hollywood movie Ben Hur.
He was born to British parents in Darussalam in Tanzania in 1964.
He was educated at a famous Roman Catholic Monastic School called Ampleforth College and went on to study history in the London University. However, he left his education unfinished.
He was dissatisfied with Christianity since the age of eight.
He was practising Buddhism for nearly three years though he never formally embraced it.
His study of the Noble Qur’an immediately attracted him to Islam and he embraced Islam in 1988. He has been a Daw’ah practitioner in Britain since then.
He wears a look that instantly evokes comparison with the popular portrayal of the Prophet Jesus (Pbuh) in the imagery of Christian Europe.
He has two wives, both British-born Muslims of Indian origin and six children.
Currently, he is working with an Islamic media company based in England and engages himself in da’wah activities including lectures on Islam in London’s famous Hyde Park. He is well known for his efforts at the renowned "Speaker’s Corner" in London’s Hyde Park.
He also delivers talks and lectures for Muslims, and concentrates on the pure teaching to the say of Prophet Muhammad (May God’s peace and blessing be upon him), and the early Muslims.
Email : awggreen@gmail.com;

Yusuf Estes



Yusuf Estes is very loved by young Muslims, who call him the "Funny Sheik". Children and adults all delight to hear Yusuf Estes talk about coming to Islam while trying to convert a Muslim from Egypt to be a Christian, an amazing story, it makes you laugh and cry at the same time. www.YusufEstes.com
Raised a strong Christian, educated in Texas, he became very successful owning music stores, TV shows and was a music minister and preacher of the Bible.
He explains how priests and preachers come to Islam when they learn the truth. www.911bible.com
He was a U.S. federal chaplain and Delegate to United Nations Peace Summit for Religious Leaders.
He now runs hundreds of websites for Islam (list: www.IslamAlways.com).
His lectures in universities are for all faiths and even rabbis, ministers, preachers and priests compliment his way of presenting a fresh and enlightening picture of the world's fastest growing religion - Islam.
He works to share the correct message of Islam to our youth, new Muslims and non-Muslims in simple English terms, making it enjoyable and even humorous at times while referring to Quran and teachings of Islam.
As Islam overtakes Christianity as the world's biggest religion, Sheik Yusuf uses the latest in websites on the Internet and hi-tech in DVDs, CDs to encourage us all to share the message of "Peace, Surrender and Obedience to God" (Arabic = 'Islam'). www.ShareIslam.com
Sheik Yusuf brings many new people to Islam using straight talk and funny jokes, while answering many of the harsh attacks against Islam and the Muslims. He makes it fun and easy for all to understand. www.IslamNewsroom.com • www.YusufEstes.com + www.LinksToIslam.com for a list of his many websites, chatrooms, TV & radio broadcasts.
Postal Address : 6371, Edsall Road, Alexandria, VA 22312, USA
Email Address : sheikyusuf@yahoo.com; sheikyusuf@gmail.com'

Bilal Philips
Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips was born in Jamaica, but grew up in Canada where he accepted Islam in 1972.
He completed a diploma in Arabic and a B.A. from the College of Islamic Disciplines (Usool ad-Deen) at the Islamic University of Madeenah in 1979.
At the University of Riyadh, College of Education, he completed a M.A. in Islamic Theology in 1985 and in the department of Islamic Studies at the University of Wales, U.K. he also completed a Ph.D. in Islamic Theology in 1994.
He taught Islamic Education and Arabic in private schools in Riyadh for over ten years and for the past three year he has been lecturing M.Ed. students in the Islamic Studies department of Shariff Kabunsuan Islamic University in Cotabato City, Mindanao, Philippines.
Since 1994 he has founded and directed The Islamic Information Center in Dubai, U.A.E. and the Department of Foreign Languages at Dar al Fatah Islamic Press in Sharjah, U.A.E.
Among the author’s published works are translations of “Ibn Tayameeyah’s Essay on the Jinn”, “The Devil’s Deception” and Arabic Calligraphy in Manuscripts,
He has also co-authored “Polygamy in Islam”, and authored “Evolution of Islamic Law”, “Through Repentance”, “Islamic Studies”, “Hajj and Umrah According to Qur’aan & Sunnah”, “Islamic Rules on Menstruation”, “Arabic Reading & Writing Made Easy”, “Arabic Grammar Made Easy” and “The Purpose of Creation”.
Author’s published works are translations of “Ibn Taymeeyah’s Essay on the Jinn”, and Arabic Calligraphy in Manuscripts.
He has also co-authored “Polygamy in Islam” and authored “The Qur’aan’s Numerical Miracle - Hoax and Heresy”, “Evolution of Fiqh”, “Islamic law and The Madh-habs”, “Tafseer Soorah al-Hujuraat”, “The Ansar Cult”, “The Fundamentals of Tawheed”, “Hajj and ‘ Umrah According to Qur’aan and Sunnah”, “Islamic Studies (Book:1)”, and “Salvation Through Repentance”.
Postal Address : P.O. Box 22206, Doha, Qatar
e-mail: bilal17@bilalphilips.com; abuameenah@bilalphilips.com

Ahmed Deedat
Born in the Surat district of India in 1918, Ahmed Hoosen Deedat had no recollection of his father untill 1926. His father a tailor by profession had emigrated to South Africa shortly after the birth of Ahmed Deedat.
With no formal education and fighting off the extreme pangs of poverty, he went to South Africa in 1927 to be with his father. His farewell to his mother in India in 1927 was the last time he saw her alive for she passed away a few months later.
In a foreign land, a boy of nine with no formal schooling and command of the English language began preparing for the role he was to play decades later without realizing it.
Applying himself with diligence to his studies, the little boy not only was able to overcome the language barrier but excelled in school. His avid passion for reading helped him gain promotions until he completed standard 6. Lack of finance interrupted his schooling and at the early age of about 16 he took on the first of many jobs in retailing.
The most significant of these was in 1936 where he worked at a Muslim owned store near a Christian seminary on the Natal South Coast. The incessant insults of the trainee missionaries hurled against Islam during their brief visits to the store infused a stubborn flame of desire within the young man to counteract their false propaganda.
As fate would have it, Ahmad Deedat discovered by pure chance a book entitled Izharal-Haq, meaning the Truth revealed. This book recorded the techniques and enormous success of the efforts of Muslims in India in turning the tables against Christian missionary harassment during the British subjugation and rule of India. In particular the idea of holding debates had a profound effect on Ahmed Deedat.
Armed with this new found zeal, Ahmed Deedat purchased his first Bible and began holding debates and discussions with the trainee missionaries. When they beat a hasty retreat in the face of his incisive counter arguments, he personally called on their teachers and even priests in the surrounding areas.
These successes spurred Ahmed Deedat in the dirrection of Da’wah. Not even his marriage, birth of Children and a 3 year sohourn to Pakistan after its independence dampened his enthusiasm or dulled his desire to defend Islam from the deceitful distortions of the Christian missionaries.
With missionary zeal to project the Truth and beauty of Islam, Ahmed Deedat immersed hiself into a host of activities over the next three decades. He conducted classes on Bible studies and gave numerous lectures. He established the As-Salaam, an institute to train propagators of Islam. He, together with his family, almost single-handedly erected the buildings including the masjid which is still a landmark today.
He was a founder member of the Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI) and became its President, a position he still holds today. He has published over 20 books and distributed milions of copies free of charge. He has delivered thousand of lectures all over the world and successfully engaged Christian Evangelists in public debates. Several thousand people have come into the fold of Islam as a result of these efforts.
In a fitting tribute to this monumental achievement, he was awarded the King Faisal International award in 1986, a prestigious recognition of enormous value in the world of Islam.
No number of awards and honours can truly capture the man’s essence and zeal for Islam. This anthology of books is no exception. It demonstrates Sheikh Deedat’s analytical compilations drawn from personal encounters and experiences against Christian distortions.
In 1996 Shaikh Ahmed Deedat suffered from a serious stroke and remained paralysed and bedridden for 9 years. On 8th August, 2005 he passed away. May Allah (swt) bless his soul with Jannatul Firdous for his path-breaking and excellent efforts for Daw’ah of Islam worldwide as well as reigniting the spirit of self-esteem and renaissance amongst millions of Muslims the world over.
Books by Shaikh Ahmed Deedat: The Choice - Between Islam and Christianity - Volume I The Choice - Between Islam and Christianity - Volume II Is the Bible God’s Word? Al Qur’an the Miracle of Miracles What is His Name? Christ in Islam What was the sign of Jonah? What the Bible says about Muhammed (pbuh)? Resurrection or Resuscitation? Arabs and Israel – Conflict or Conciliation? Crucifixion or Cruci-Fiction?

DR. ZAKIR NAIK - PRESIDENT, IRF
A medical doctor by professional training, Dr. Zakir Naik is renowed as a dynamic international orator on Islam and Comparative Religion. Dr. Zakir Naik clarifies Islamic viewpoints and clears misconceptions about Islam, using the Qur'an, authentic Hadith and other religious Scriptures as a basis, in conjunction with reason, logic and scientific facts. He is 43 years old.

Dr. Zakir is popular for his critical analysis and convincing answers to challenging questions posed by audiences after his public talks. In the last 6 years (by the year 2002), Dr. Zakir Naik has delivered more than 1000 public talks in the U.S.A., Canada, U.K., Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, South Africa, Italy, Mauritius, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hongkong, Thailand, Guyana (South America), Trinidad and many other countries, in addition to numerous public talks in India.

He has successfully participated in several symposia and dialogues with prominent personalities of other faiths. His public dialogue with Dr. William Campbell (of USA), on the topic, “The Qur’an and the Bible in the light of Science” held in city of Chicago, U.S.A., on April 1, 2000 was a resounding success.
Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, the world famous orator on Islam and Comparative Religion, who had called Dr. Zakir, "Deedat plus" in 1994, presented a plaque in May 2000 awarded to Dr. Zakir Abdul-Karim Naik for his achievement in the field of Da’wah and the study of Comparative Religion with the engraving "Son what you have done in 4 years had taken me 40 years to accomplish, Alhamdullilah.”

Dr. Zakir Naik appears regularly on many international T.V. Channels in more than 100countries of the world. He is regularly invited for T.V. and Radio interviews. More than a hundred of his talks, dialogues, debates and symposia are available on VCDs and DVDs. He has authored books on Islam and Comparative Religion.

BIO-DATA
DR. ZAKIR ABDUL-KARIM NAIK

ISLAMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION
56/58 Tandel Street (North), Dongri, Mumbai - 400 009 (India)
Tel : (0091-22) 23736875 (8 lines) Fax : (0091-22) 23730689
e-mail: zakir@irf.net website : http://www.irf.net

BIRTH DATE & PLACE: October 18, 1965 in Mumbai, India

OCCUPATION:
Islamic Da'wah (Propagation of Islam)
1. President, Islamic Research Foundation, Mumbai
2. Chairman, I.R.F. Educational Trust, Mumbai
3. President, Islamic Dimensions, Mumbai

EDUCATED AT:
1. St. Peter's High School (I.C.S.E.), Mumbai
2. Kishinchand Chellaram College, Mumbai
3. Topiwala National Medical College, Nair Hospital, Mumbai

UNIVERSITY DEGREE:
M.B.B.S. (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), University of Mumbai

PUBLIC LECTURES:
Hundreds of Public Lectures (usually followed by Open Question and Answer Sessions) given internationally, of which more than a 100 are available on VCDs and DVDs

DA'WAH TRAINING PROGRAMMES:
Conducted several Da'wah Training Programmes including International Da'wah Training Programme for training Muslims to effectively convey the message of Islam

FIELDS OF INTEREST:
* Studies in Comparative Religion * Medicine * Humanitarian, Social, Moral, Educational and Economic Welfare activities

DA'WAH LECTURE TOURS ABROAD TO:
U.S.A., Canada, Britain, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, U.A.E., South Africa, Botswana, Singapore, Guyana, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand and Other Countries

BOOKS AUTHORED BY DR. ZAKIR NAIK:
1. REPLIES TO THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS ASKED BY NON-MUSLIMS
2. QUR'ÂN AND MODERN SCIENCE - Compatible Or Incompatible
3. CONCEPT OF GOD IN MAJOR RELIGIONS
4. ISLAM AND TERRORISM
5. WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN ISLAM - Protected Or Subjugated?
6. AL-QUR'ÂN - Should it be Read with Understanding?
7. IS THE QUR'ÂN GOD'S WORD? http://www.irf.net/irf/drzakirnaik/

A group of Saudi women activists have launched a nationwide campaign to enact a law criminalizing child marriages in Saudi Arabia.


JEDDAH — Shocked by stories of young girls being married off to men at the age of their fathers, a group of Saudi women activists have launched a nationwide campaign to enact a law criminalizing child marriages in the conservative kingdom.
"The idea of the campaign came out after child marriages have become rife in Saudi Arabia," Fawziya Al-Oyouni, president of the Saudi society for defending women's rights, told IslamOnline.net on Friday, September 19.

The activists are planning to file a petition with the Saudi Justice Ministry on September 23, to demand a law criminalizing the marriage of girls under 17.

"The petition will demand setting the marriage age for girls at 17," the society said in a statement.

Oyouni said child marriages often end up in tragedies.

She cited the case of a 16-year-old who has tried to commit suicide after she had been married off to a man in his 70s.

"A 10-year-old child also became a divorcee," said Oyouni.

The issue of child marriages has sparked a headed debate in Saudi Arabia after local papers reported cases of young girls who had been married off to men as old as their fathers.

Last month, the mother of an eight-year-old girl filed a suit to divorce her daughter, who was married to an old man by her father without the child's knowledge.

In many child marriages, girls are given away to older men in return for hefty dowries or as a result of long-standing custom in which a father promises his daughters and sons to marriage while children.

According to local statistics, in the most of these cases, the marriage is concluded without the girls knowledge or consent.

Awareness
Saudi scholars don't see a problem with enacting a law fixing the marriage age for girls.

"There is no Shari`ah ruling against specifying the marriage age for girls," said Dr. Saud Al-Fenesyan, a former rector of the Shari`ah Faculty in the Imam Muhammed bin Saud University.

"Setting the age of 17 or 18 for the marriage of girls is permissible according to the Hanafi school of thought, which is applicable in many man-made laws."

There are no laws in Saudi Arabia defining the minimum age for marriage.

Though the girl must give her consent to the marriage, some marriage officials set the term aside.

A United Nations report on child marriage in 2005 found that 100 million girls were expected to marry by the age of 18 before 2015.

The worst countries for child marriage were Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, India and Bangladesh.

Zuhair Al Harthi, a spokesman for the Saudi human rights authority, believes that laws would not end the phenomenon.

"This issue first requires raising awareness of the parents," he told IOL.

Source: IslamOnline http://www.islamonline.com/

I was asked how I began to wear the scarf, and how was I able to have the courage to face the challenges of wearing it? This was my answer, if there are more questions after this please ask, I feel there is nothing better than offering any guidance in the matter of being a woman in Islam. I hope this helps ladies out there...we are all sisters, whether your Muslim or not.

Sister I was moved by your message, so happy to hear from you and will be so happy to offer any guidance through Allah's (God) will. Wearing the hijab was something I never thought I would have the courage to do. When I first converted to Islam, I knew women who wore it had the deepest respect for Islam and closeness for Allah (God) that made all the challenges of the world as simple to face as blinking your eyes. I thought it would take years to reach this level...I really thought of it as some kind of level you had to educate yourself in the teachings to be at, and I thought there was no way I would get there soon. All of the challenges that come with it were so scary to me. America ppl look differently at women who cover. They kinda look at us as if we are oppressed, or that someone forces it on us..."Oh look at that poor sad Muslim woman, I bet her husband makes her wear that, she looks so sad and lifeless, she should let her hair out and be sexy!"...this is sometimes sadly how I looked at Hijabi's (women who cover) too.

When I converted to Islam I was totally obsessed with the women's role in this religion. Who was a woman in Islam? I heard she was nothing; she was just a housewife and had no mind of her own and no respect among her religion. The more I read the more I realized what an uneducated American I was for thinking this way. Islam regards women so high that the most important role in a Muslim family is the role of the woman. She is the controller and support system of the household. Without her the man could never be a success, the children would become an embarrassment to society and there would be no compassion or patience in the family. She is the backbone of this and Islam is all about teaching this to women, that you are the backbone of society. You are the only one who can bear children, have the patience to raise them, care for your mother, and mother-in law in their old age, raise educated beautiful children, and still look beautiful and greet your husband when he comes home with open arms. Now...what does this have to do with wearing the hijab? It is all connected.

When you realize who you are as a Muslim woman; when you truly see how valuable to your family and to your religion that you are, you will see the simplicity of walking around and making it known that you are different. You are a Muslim woman, and now the world will see it. You are held up at the highest esteem because of your religion. You are so valuable, that showing your skin and your beauty out in public creates a disturbance! Men can't help but stare, they are distracted by your beauty they are telling you comments, they are staring at your "rear", or your hair, or your breasts because you are a woman, your built to please men, your beauty though...is a VALUE...not a public auction. When you feel that value is something you only want for yourself, your family, and your husband, instead of for "Joe Smoe who follows you around the grocery store trying to catch a glance at your "goodies"'...then you will cover proudly and you will feel more beautiful than you have ever felt in your life.

When I realized how valuable Islam has created me to be, as a woman...I was so ashamed for the way I dressed and flaunted my beauty before. I was ashamed that I was not able to give my future husband my virginity. I was so ashamed that the man I love more than anyone is this world...would always know that other men also saw the same things he saw. How can I think I am a valuable respectful woman, if I walk around showing everyone the same things that I show the people who are closest to me in my life. Are they equal to the people I work with? Do I owe the men in my office the ability to see my beautiful hair?

Some people think "what's the big deal about seeing your hair?" If you dress modest all over your body and only show your face, hands and hair...what's the big deal with that...Hair is not sexy, it's not wrong to show your hair. Well Sisters, and non Muslim sisters out there...THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HOW SEXY AND BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE...WHEN YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SCARF AROUND YOUR FACE...AND YOU HAVE YOUR BEAUTIFUL HAIR BLOWING IN THE WIND...YOU ARE SO VALUABLE...YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL YOUR HAIR IS VERY SEXY...DON'T GIVE THAT AWAY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST GOING TO LOOK AT YOU AS AN OBJECT...PLEASE OFFER SOMETHING TO YOUR HUSBAND THAT NO MAN GETS...SHOW YOUR FAMILY THAT SIDE OF YOU...THEY ARE MORE SPECIAL THAN YOUR COWORKERS AND THE PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREETS.

This is how I was able to wear the scarf. I am told I look so respectful and so beautiful in this hijab, by the same people who previously saw me covered in makeup...wearing tight sexy low cut tops, short skirts and heels, and letting that hair flow. They saw all these parts of me, and they never thought I looked more VALUABLE, SPECIAL, and PURE then when I covered it all up. Think you will not feel beautiful anymore? Watch my sisters, watch how many doors are opened for you after you cover, watch how many little girls smile at you and say how pretty you look when they walk by with their Mom's, and watch the admiration for your courage in the eyes of your family and the man you love will never think you are more sexy, then when he knows that you will show him all the beauty you possess, and wear whatever you want for him only, but when you walk out that door...YOUR A QUEEN, AND AS A QUEEN YOU GUARD YOUR BEAUTY IN THE PUBLIC EYES...This is the guidance I offer you if your thinking to cover. This is the information I give you if you don't know much about why we cover...and when you feel so respectful for yourself, and so valuable...what other people think, will simply not matter...YOU ARE FREE.

Jermaine Jackson
In a starling Interview, Jermaine Jackson, brother of world-famous star Michael Jackson, tells how he embraced Islam.

Could this mean that Michael Jackson has actually converted to Islam too, hence the accusations and the media frenzy against him suddenly?Jermaine Jackson, brother of world-famous Michael Jackson is one of those men who have left the religion of their forefathers and made Islam the inseparable part of their life. From Jermaine Jackson, he has re-named as Muhammad Abdul-Aziz. He lives in one of the luxurious palaces in the outskirts of Los Angeles (USA). The palace of Abdul-Aziz is surrounded by beautiful gardens. This is the place where he and his sisters compose their musical notes. This remains under surveillance of more than 15 security vans round the clock. This area which is known as 'Falis' in Los Angeles is considered one of the most expensive areas the world over.

London based Arabic "al-Mujallah" has recently published an interview of Jermaine Jackson for the first time since he became Muslim. In this interview, he has expressed his passionate love for Islam. Let us see how he responded to various questions: -


When and How did you start your journey towards Islam?
It was way back in 1989 when I, along with my sister, conducted a tour to some of the countries of Middle East. During our stay in Bahrain, we were accorded warm welcome. There I happened to meet some children and had a light chitchat with them. I put certain questions to them and they flung at me their innocent queries. During the course of this interaction, they inquired about my religion. I told them, "I am a Christian." I asked them, as to what was their religion? A wave of serenity took over them. They replied in one voice ? Islam. Their enthusiastic answer really shook me from within. Then they started telling me about Islam. They were giving me information, much in piece with their age. The pitch of their voice would reveal that they were highly proud of Islam. This is how I paced toward Islam.

A very short interaction with a group of children ultimately led me to have long discourses about Islam with Muslim scholars. A great ripple had taken place in my thought. I made failing attempt to console myself that nothing had happened but I could not conceal this fact any longer from myself that at heart I had converted to Islam. This I disclosed first to my family friend, Qunber Ali. The same Qunber Ali managed to take me to Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia. Till that time, I did not know much about Islam. From there, in the company of a Saudi family, I proceeded for Mecca for the performance of "Umrah". There I made public for the first time that I had become Muslim.


What were your feelings after you proclaimed that you were a Muslim?Having embraced Islam, I felt as if I were born again. I found in Islam the answers to those queries which I had failed to find in Christianity. Particularly, it was only Islam that provided satisfactory answer to the question relating to the birth of Christ. For the first time I was convinced about the religion itself. I pray my family members might appreciate these facts. My family is the follower of that cult of Christianity, which is known as AVENDANCE of JEHOVA (Jehova's Witness). According to its creeds, only 144,000 men would finally qualify to enter into paradise. ?How comes, It remained always a perplexing creed for me. I was surprised to know that Bible was compiled by so many men, particularly about a volume scripted by King James. I wondered if a man compiles a directory and then ascribes it to God, but he does not fully comply with these directions. During my stay in Saudi Arabia I have had the opportunity to buy a cassette released by the erstwhile British pop-singer and the present Muslim preacher, Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens). I learnt a lot from this as well.

What happened when you got back to the US after embracing Islam?
When I returned to USA, American media orchestrated heinous propaganda against Islam and the Muslims. The gossips were let loose on me which really disturbed my peace of mind. The Hollywood was hell-bent upon maligning the Muslims. They were being projected as terrorists. There are many things where there is consensus between Christianity and Islam, and Quran presents Holy Christ as a virtuous Prophet. Then, I wondered, why Christian America levels baseless allegations against Muslims?

This made me gloomy. I made up my mind that I would do my best to dispel the wrong image of Muslims, portrayed by the American media. I had not the slightest idea that American media would not digest the news of my accepting Islam and raise such a great hue and cry. It was virtually acting against all its tall and much-publicized claims about the freedom of expression and the freedom of conscience. So the hypocrisy of American society came to surface and lay uncovered before me. Islam unknotted many complications for me. As a matter of fact, I came to think of myself as a complete human being, in the literal sense of the word. After becoming Muslim, I felt a tremendous change in me. I discarded all thing prohibited in Islam. This made things difficult for my family too. In short, the Jackson family tumbled altogether. Threatening letters poured in, which further intensified the worries of my family.

What sort of threats?
Well, they would tell me that I had nurtured the animosity of American society and culture, by entering into the laps of Islam, you have deprived yourself of the right to live with others. WE would make life unbearable for you in America so on, so forth. But I confess that my family is broadminded. We have held all religions in esteem. Our parents have trained and groomed us in that way. Therefore, I may say that the Jackson family enjoys friendly relation with people belonging to almost all religions. This is the result of that training that I am being tolerated by them so far.

What was the reaction of your brother Michael Jackson?On my way back to America, I brought a number of books from Saudi Arabia. Michael Jackson asked me himself for some of these books for study. Before this, his opinion was influenced by the propaganda of American media against Islam and the Muslims. He was not inimical towards Islam, but he was not favorably disposed towards Muslims either. But after reading these books, he would keep mum and not say anything against Muslims. I think perhaps this is the impact of the study of Islam that he diverted his business interests towards Muslim traders. Now, he has equal shares with the Saudi billionaire prince Waleed bin Talal, in his multi-national company.

It was said earlier that Michael Jackson was against Muslims, then there are rumors that he had become Muslim. What is the real story?I testify this fact, at least there is nothing in my knowledge that Michael Jackson ever said anything derogatory against Muslims. His songs, too, give message of love for others. We have learnt from our parents to love others. Only those who have their own ax to grind hurl allegations on him. When there can be a nasty uproar against me when I became Muslim, why can it not be so against Michael Jackson. But, so far, media has not subjected him to scathing criticism, although he is threatened for his getting somewhat closer to Islam. But who knows what would it look like when Michael Jackson embraces Islam.

What are the views of the rest of the members of your family about you?
When I returned to America, my mother had already heard the news of my conversion to Islam. My mother is a religious and civilized woman. When I reached home, she put forth only one question, "you have taken this decision all of a sudden, or is it the outcome of some deep and long thinking behind it?" "I have decided after a lot of thinking about it," I replied, let me say we are known as a religious family. Whatever we possess, is due to the blessing of God. Then why we should not be grateful to Him? This is why we actively participate in the charity institutions. We dispatched medicines to the poor African countries through special aircraft. During Bosnian war, our aircraft were engaged in supplying aids to the affected. We are sensitive to such things because we have witnessed abject poverty. We used to live in a house which was hardly a few square meters capacious.

Did you ever discuss about Islam with your sister pop star Janet Jackson?Like other members of my family, my sudden conversion to Islam was a great surprise for her. In the beginning, she was worried. She has stashed into her head only one thing that Muslims are polygamous, they do have as much as four wives. When I explained this permission granted by Islam with reference to the state of the present American society, she was satisfied. This is fact that promiscuity and infidelity is very common in the western society. In spite of the fact that they are married, western men enjoy extramarital relations with a number of women. This has caused devastating moral decay in that society. Islam safeguards the social fabric from this destruction.

As per Islamic teachings, if a man is emotionally attracted towards a woman, he should honorably give this relation a legal shape otherwise he must be contented with only one wife. On the other hand, Islam has laid down so much conditions for second marriage that I do not think that an ordinary Muslim can afford to meet these conditions financially. There is hardly one percent Muslims in the Islamic world who have more than one wife. To my view, the women in an Islamic society is just like a well-protected flower which is safe from the stray penetrating looks of the viewers. Whereas western society is devoid of the vision to appreciate this wisdom and philosophy.

What are your spontaneous feelings when you look at the Muslim society?For the larger interest of humanity, Islamic society presents the safest place on this planet. For instance, take the example of women. American women are clad in their out-fit in such a manner that gives temptation to the male for harassment. But this is unthinkable in an Islamic society. Besides, the prevalent sins and vices have disfigured the moral fabric of western society. I believe if there is any place left where the humanity is still visible, it can not be anywhere else than in an Islamic society. Time would come when the world would be obliged to accept this reality.

What is your candid opinion about the American media?
American media is suffering from self-contradictions. Take the example of Hollywood. The status of an artist is measured here keeping in view the model of his car, the standard of this restaurant that he visits, etc. This is the media that raises someone from the dust to the skies. They do not consider the artist as a human being. But I have met so many artists in the Middle East. They have no misplaced arrogance in them.

Just look at the CNN, they do that much exaggeration about some news that it appears that nothing else has happened except that event in the world. The news of fire in the forests of Florida was given such a wide coverage as it gave the impression that the whole globe has caught fire. In fact, it was a small area, which was affected by that fire.

I was in Africa, when the bomb-blast took place in Oklahoma City. The Media, without any proof, started hinting at the involvement of Muslims in that blast. Later on the Saboteur turned out to be a CHRISTIAN!!! We may term this attitude of American media as its willful ignorance.

Can you maintain a Linkage between your Islamic personality and the culture of your family?
Why not? This linkage can be kept up for the achievement of good things.

After becoming Muslim, did you ever happen to see Muhammad Ali?
Muhammad Ali is our family friend. I have met him a number of times, after embracing Islam. He has provided useful guidance about Islam.

Have you visited Shah Faisal mosque in Los Angeles city?

Yes, of course! This is a beautiful mosque. I am myself interested to construct a similar mosque in 'Falise' area because there is no mosques in this area and the Muslim community is not resourceful enough purchase a piece of land for a mosque in such a posh area. God willing, I would do it.

Who is ignorant of the services of Saudi Arabia for the glorious cause of Islam?No doubt it has leisurely financed the projects for mosques. But this American media even does not spare Saudi Arabia; it spreads quite strange news about this country. When I first visited Saudi Arabia, I had the impression that there would be muddy housed and a very poor communication network. But when I reached there, to my great surprise, I found it culturally the most beautiful country of the world.

Who has influenced you, so far as Islam is concerned?
Many persons have impressed me. But the fact is that first I turn to the Holy Quran, therefore I do not run a risk of getting strayed on the way. However, there are many Islamic scholars that one can be duly proud of. God willing, I plan to go to Saudi Arabia with my family to perform Umrah.

Your wife and children are Muslims too?
I have seven sons and two daughter who, like me, are fully Islamic-oriented. My wife is still studying Islam. She insists on going over to Saudi Arabia. I trust Inshaallah, she would sooner join Islam. May God Almighty give us the courage and perseverance to remain on this true religion, Islam. (Ameen) http://www.despardes.com/