May 15th 11:46AM
Yusuf (AKA Cat Stevens) Plays The Colbert Report
After three decades out of music, it's great to have the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens back. There's so much we can learn from Yusuf. For example, what made him leave the spotlight, and how can we apply that to Carrie Prejean? And while he didn't reveal that secret on last night's Colbert Report, he still gave a great interview and performance.
After the jump, Yusuf performs the title track from his new album "Roadsinger."
The Colbert Report airs Monday through Thursday at 11:30pm / 10:30c.
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Where ever you are, whoever you are, whatever your beliefs, religious or political, you should keep one thing in mind that transends anything that you can conjure up: "We should all LOVE one another". Love is more important and powerful than any mean spirited hex that you try to place upon a person or community. If you don't have something nice to say about a person or group, just don't say it. That's the message that this man has tried to impart. Let's not attack him. Let's appreciate his fine works.
Where ever you are, whoever you are, whatever your beliefs, religious or political, you should keep one thing in mind that transends anything that you can conjury up: "We should all LOVE one another". Love is more important and powerful than any mean spirited hex that you try to place upon a person or community. If you don't have something nice to say about a person or group, just don't say it.
As Winston Churchill said " A man adopting Mohammedanism is like a dog catching hydrophobia" Still a great analogy. Hey Cat " Men invent gods" always have always will.
http://www.flameout.org/flameout/islam/yusuf_rushdie.html
Yusuf Islam Issues A Formal Statement On The Rushdie Affair
Taken from Catstevens.com
By Yusuf Islam
March 2nd, 1989
Under Islamic Law, the ruling regarding blasphemy is quite clear; the person found guilty of it must be put to death. Only under certain circumstances can repentance be accepted.
On 21st February, I was speaking to a group of students at the Kingston Polytechnic, and in response to a question, I simply stated the Islamic ruling on the Rushdie affair. Suddenly. my picture was splashed on the front page of newspapers all over the world next to the headline: 'Kill Rushdie says Cat Stevens (Bio)'. It is very sad to see such irresponsibility from the 'free press' and I am totally abhorred.
My only crime was, I suppose, in being honest. I stood up and expressed my belief and I am in no way apologizing for it. I expressed the Islamic view based on the Qur'an, the Prophet's sayings (peace and blessings be upon him) and the rulings of the Caliphs and renowned schools of Islamic jurisprudence.
However, that is not to say I am encouraging people to break the law or take it into their own hands: far from it. Under the Islamic Law, Muslims are bound to keep within the limits of the law of the country in which they live, providing that it does not restrict the freedom to worship and serve God and fulfil their basic religious duties (fard'ayn). One must not forget the ruling in Islam is also very clear about adultery, stealing and murder, but that doesn't mean that British Muslims will go about lynching and stoning adulterers, theives and murderers. If we can't get satisfaction within the present limits of the law, like a ban on this blasphemous book, 'Satanic Verses' which insults God and His prophets – including those prophets honoured by Christians, Jews as well as Muslims – this does not mean that we should step outside of the law to find redress. No. If Mrs. Thatcher and her Government are unwilling to listen to our pleas, if our demonstrations and peaceful lobbying don't work, then perhaps the only alternative is for Muslims to get more involved in the political process of this country. It seems to be the only way left for us.
The fundimental issue which has put the non-Muslim world at loggerheads with Islam, is not that of the book or attempts to ban it. Indeed it is encouraging that many non-Muslims, including the Archbishop of Canterbury endore the request of Muslims that the Blasphemy Law be extended to cover the Islamic faith. When Jim Allen's play 'Perdition' was harassed out of existance by angry jews – some of whom burned an effigy of the writer – the British reaction was muted. The present attitude of the Government and press is obviously as a result of their opposition to the Islamic legal ruling that Rushdie should be executed and the fact that it has come from an Islamic country.
The fact is that as far as the application of Islamic Law and the implementation of full Islamic way of life in Britain is concerned, Muslims realize that there is very little chance of that happening in the near future. But that shouldn't stop us from trying to improve the situation and presenting the Islamic viewpoint wherever and whenever possible. That is the duty of ever Muslim and that is what I did.
I used to LOVE Cat Stevens and still love his old music. It always touches my heart as other music rarely does. I was so saddened when he left the music business prematurely. I always felt that he had much more music to share with the world. His music is unforgetable. Steven took the words out of my mouth that I have been thinking, non stop, for years. I remember feeling so shocked and disapointed when he left. I was also shocked that he became a Muslim. To each, their own, I guess. I don't know why the writer of the comment above says that Cat is a homophobe! He is product of the 60's and was deeply engrossed in the culture. I find him to still be soft-spoken and spreading the message of love-only! It doesn't what religion you are or even if you don't have one at all, to be a loving, kind, honest person! There are extremists in every religion. Christians are still fighting today and murdering one another in the name of god! It's time for people to stop judging others! Look up to people who are good and kind and stop using religion as a guide to judge them. I know many "religious" people who are horrible human beings and know MANY people that have absolutely no religion that are the greatest people you would ever want to meet. While I respect Cat Stevens for following his heart, I must say that I really wish that he would sing (and write) the music that made him famous! I miss him, I wish he would come back…
I am normally very fond of Colbert, but his being Stevens's plug dhimmi makes me very very very disappointed in him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD9w3rU5McA
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Whatever he now calls himself, the former "Cat Stevens" is a rabid homophobe who has used his Muslim "religious" agenda against gays for decades (apparently he had a bad gay experience when he was a glorified pop twink in the early 60's, and has yet to get over it). Giving him a forum is reprehensible. Any person who respects their own and others' sexuality should boycott this self-loathing creep and any venue that promotes him.