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The Quran talked about how humanity is a family, how it was just one race and one family with no distinction. Religion wasn’t as alien as I was led to believe. I thought to myself, so that is what it is and means. As I read the Quran, one of the biggest things that struck me was the clarity in the first commandment. Stevens said” “I’m an open minded person. He then found his answer a little while later, when his brother gifted him the Quran from his travels. Then the waves pushed me back on land and I was alive. At that point, I called to God, and said if you save me I’ll work for you. At that point I thought it could be the end. As I went into the waves, I began to get tired and exhausted, and didn’t realize that the current was pulling me out of the land - and not any closer. “The water was looking good that day, so I went for a swim.
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Then a major turning point occurred in 1975, when Stevens visited his record chief’s house in Malibu. Then we were suddenly entering the space age and now the moon was the new battlefield.” He explained that while he was making all these records, peace did not come with it, and that he still felt unfulfilled. “While on tour, there was the Vietnam war. He then composed some big hits related to his search and the events that occurred around him, such as ‘Miles from Nowhere’ and ‘Peace Train’. He said, “Before death comes, I wanted to know what was going to happen. While performing on the road, he began to look for answers, and read books of different faiths and religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, numerology and much more.
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It was from this moment on that Stevens created a new catalogue of songs that reflected his new perspective on what he wanted his music to be about. After being admitted to the hospital, I became aware of mortality, and started realizing the certainty of death.” “On the road, I often found myself staying up late, partying, smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol to the point I couldn’t take it anymore. “I then went on the road and that was when the beginning of my career really began,” he explained. He developed a great talent for creating catchy songs and achieving big hits. Citing ‘the Beatles’ as a great example of successful songwriters ‘making it’ he decided to embark on a similar journey. He then made the decision to do his best to become successful. Making it was the idea of the ‘American Dream’ – the idea to get rich, to be on top, to stay healthy, and maybe even have a beautiful woman later on by your side, if you’re lucky.” The world was geared towards one thing - making it. Speaking about his heritage – being born in England and raised as a Christian, he reminisced: “What was going on outside the church was much more exciting. Dubai-UAE: On the concluding day of the World Government Summit (WGS 2016), Yusuf Islam, more commonly known by his previous stage name ‘Cat Stevens’, held a key note speech at the GEMS Education Hall entitled “Journey to the Peace Train.”ĭuring the session, the renowned former singer, songwriter and now turned philanthropist, described his personal journey of finding Islam and how it had a significant and lasting impact on his life and career.