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Sami
Yusuf: Breaking the Shackles of Bigotry Through Inshad
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By
Soha Elsaman
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16/03/2004
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Sami
Yusuf obtained a scholarship to study composition at the acclaimed
Royal Academy of Music in London
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Sami
Yusuf is a rising star in the sky of Islamic Inshad. Composition,
superior voice, carefully chosen lyrics and, above all, devotion to Islam, make
him the perfect model for a true artist with a noble cause.
Sami
Yusuf has his own view of how music can play a central role in delivering his
beautiful message to the average westerner; making them receives it with
sympathy, or at least without enmity or malice.
Here,
Islamonline.net has the privilege to interview the Muslim British artist,
despite his busy schedule.
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IOL: We know that you come from a musical background; can you tell us more about
it? When did you decide to start this career?
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Yusuf: Yes, I come from a musical background and it would be fair to say
that music played, and still plays, an integral part in my life. My whole family
is musical, including my two nephews and 60 or so cousins! Al hamdu-lillah,
by His grace I have been fortunate enough to have my father as my main teacher.
I am indebted to him for spending relentless hours teaching me, and also
teaching me the correct adab (good manners) required for a person who
learns not only art but also all kinds of knowledge.
He
taught me "dast balaye dast besiyaar ast", an old Persian proverb that
literally translated would be "hands above hands are many", of course
it sounds much more beautiful and eloquent in Persian! It basically means that
however much one might think he or she is good, or is arrogant because of what
he or she knows, they should remember that there will always be people who are
better than they are and know more than they know. As Allah said in Surat Yusuf
(translated meaning): “and over all endowed with knowledge is One, the
All-Knowing.” My father also taught me to fear Allah Most High and that
everything should be done for His sake, because we are only answerable to Him.
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IOL: You learnt to play several instruments at a very young age and you obtained
a scholarship to study composition at the acclaimed Royal Academy of Music in
London, do you consider yourself a professional musician? Are you ready to
produce your albums and projects to target the non-Muslim audience or you will
focus only on the Muslim audience?
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Yusuf: Well yes, I do consider myself a professional musician, composer and
producer, as I have been busy producing and composing for the past six years.
However, how good I am in any of these fields is a different issue altogether. I
do plan to release an album soon, which will be targeted at non-Muslims, in
sha’ Allah. May Allah give me the strength to work for His sake and only
for His sake.
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IOL: What kind of difficulties do you expect as a young Muslim British artist
practicing his Islam?
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Yusuf: Well, many. Some brothers are so obsessed with the fiqh, or
Islamic jurisprudence, of certain issues that they begin to show a lack of good
manners when stating their disagreement, opinion or even dislike.
We
sometimes forget the hadith of our master and teacher Muhammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) that said, "I was sent for no other reason but to
perfect your adab (good manners) and character." In another hadith,
when asked who the best Muslim is, he said, "The one who does not harm
others by his words or his actions."
As
a Muslim artist trying to practice his religion and call people to the way of
Allah Most High, I come across some brothers and sisters who are insensitive
when making their comments and have obviously not studied enough about the issue
they are addressing. Sometimes that can be disheartening.
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IOL: You have studied music in a western institution, but you also understand
the music theory of the Middle Eastern modes (or Maqams).Do you think this
should produce a different genre of Music and how can you see the differences?
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Yusuf: Yes, I do think we should create different genres, or even experiment
with existing ones; for the simple fact that for Islam to flourish, in sha’
Allah, and for the average westerner to receive this beautiful message with
sympathy, or at least without enmity or malice, we must reach out to them and
speak to them in their own language and culture!
However,
I must stress that I am not implying that in order to reach this goal we
compromise our fundamental beliefs-to this I say an emphatic no! Everything
should be in accordance to the Shari`ah (Islamic Law) and to the teachings and
guidelines set forth by our master and teacher Muhammad (peace and blessings be
upon him).
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IOL: Do you think that Muslims should pay more attention to music and the other
arts if they want to emphasize the different dimension of their lives and
civilizations?
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Yusuf: Subhan Allah, absolutely! Of course. Art (whether it is music,
fine art, drawing, architecture etc.) has always played a very important role in
introducing the richness and wealth of Muslim civilizations. Muslims throughout
history have been the pioneers of their time and explored the secrets and
mysteries of this world. Among them were art, music, philosophy, architecture,
mosaics, pottery, medicine, mathematics…the list goes on and on. Subhan
Allah, this is the contribution made to world civilization at large by the great
Ummah of Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
Unfortunately,
in recent years, we see that bigotry and fanaticism have crept in and are loudly
voicing themselves once more in the Ummah of Mohammad (peace and blessings be
upon him). Although they are not as widespread among normal Muslims, the
extremists have a very loud voice in spreading their narrow-mindedness and
ignorance, bringing confusion to the minds of many Muslims. I think that for
Islam to flourish in the West-and my belief is that it will, in sha’ Allah-it
is essential that we become forward thinking and break away from the shackles of
bigotry and fanaticism which act as a plague.
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IOL: Can we use music as a means of integration in European countries?
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Yusuf: Yes, I do think it can be used as a means for integration, but it
must be done according to the Shari`ah. For example, there should not be any
indecent or immoral connotations, basic things that go against our fundamental
understanding of Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Every religion has an innate characteristic; Islam's innate characteristic
is modesty."
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IOL: Who are your favorite nasheed singers?
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Yusuf: There are quite a few, the obvious ones that come to mind are Yusuf
Islam and Dawud Wharnsby Ali, but when I want to relax I listen to Ahmad
Bukhatir.
For
More Information: www.samiyusuf.com
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