Think, Give, Be

            With so many horrendous events occurring or tied to the Middle East and particularly the Muslims faith it’s easy for people in western cultures to view Muslims in a negative light. However upon any short inspection of Muslim teachings one would see that the Qur’an teaches people to love and respect all people regardless of their race or even religious preference (as long as that preference supports only one God). It seems common that the average person would love to live in a world of peace and equality among all, however little have the desire, energy, or know how to set forth on a path of change. Every generation sees a few leaders that do manage to accomplish change and show the average population the path towards better lives. Currently that is the goal of Cat Stevens, currently known as Yusuf Islam, the ex and now current musical star.

            Cat Stevens was once widely known in the west as a pop star in the 60’s and 70’s but due to personal life choices he left the industry. By visiting his web site, www.CatStevens.com, and doing a little investigating you will learn that his transition was not abrupt and has come full circle as he is currently recording again. In this transition he found the teachings of the Qur’an to speak to him and give true insights into life. He subsequently created a selfless life where his main goal was to help others less fortunate than himself and to raise awareness of some of the great moral teachings offered in the Qur’an. On his web site one can find links to biographical information, information about his new and old music, and links to other important web sites.

            One of the links on his web site holds the title “Give”. By clicking on this link a surfer will be directed to the Small Kindness web page. Small Kindness is a charity organization that focuses on helping individuals and families in need, primarily children. As stated on the page most charity’s are very emergency based, and once advertising and extreme need have subsided so does the charity leaving people who still require aid left out to dry. Small Kindness is a charity that keeps its roots small and focuses on the continued assistance to orphaned and unfortunate children and families with the focus of longevity not a quick fix.

            Another link present on the opening page of his web site has the title “Think”. Upon visiting this link a surfer is presented with a web site titled Mountain of Light. This is a web site based on guiding people who may not be familiar with religion, specifically the teachings of the Qur’an, a dialog to follow and understand why people believe in religion and what teachings it has to offer. Even for a stubborn mind like mine set in non-creational beliefs I left the web page with a sense that intelligent design can not be ignored. No matter what you believe, this page can offer moral insights that every good human should follow.

            Cat Stevens, or I should say Yusuf Islam, main goal now is to bridge the gap between the Muslim, Islam worlds with the west and to clear up any misconceptions that serve as a road block toward a peaceful and unified future. Most people always dream of making a change, while Yusuf Islam has made progress toward that change as one individual. Hopefully he can serve as a guide to more people creating a brighter future for everyone.