His name was Dimitri Steven Georgiou (popularly known as Cat Stevens), born in a liberal country like Britain. At the tender age of 17 he created a commotion in the world of pop music, fame and following were his slaves; he was the heart throb of millions of fans. When he used to sing at concerts, thousands of boys and girls were mesmerized into swinging to his songs like animals. He had no want of money, each cassette being sold for thousands of pounds, and the proceeds of concerts swelling his resources. But despite the money, the fame, and the respect he commanded, he felt restlessness inside him, some disturbance he could not name. When he could not find contentment in pounds, beauties, wealth, cars, and the newest dresses, he started taking drugs.

This is what materialistic people commonly do, they run helter-skelter after fantasies and try to hide behind dreams; they try to find happiness in riches, renown, and in buildings made of sand and stone; they want to suck happiness from song and dance, play, and drugs; but none of these give lasting pleasure. Just as the pain jumps back after the effects of a painkiller wear off, so does restlessness and agitation return after the intoxication of material things fades, a vacuum appears that people try to fill with trivia, but it goes on expanding until the whole being is empty. They have no aim in life, no struggle, nothing more to accomplish.

Georgiou become conscious of this vacuum when he was standing at the pinnacle of his career. This feeling took him to the Qur'an. How could any one coming to this door be returned empty handed? This was a Book that knocked at the gates of hearts and transformed lives; it filled breasts with a divine light even if it be the son of Abi Jahal, Ikramah. When this Book imparts a new life to any and every person with sincerity, why should Dimitri Steven Georgiou have been left untouched? When the blessed shower of guidance rained upon an arid heart, shoots of faith raised their heads. He got immense pleasure from the study of the Qur'an. His aim in life became clear to him, he forsook music and immersed himself in the service and propagation of Islam.

He took the name of Yusuf Islam. Despite accepting Islam he is a peaceful citizen of Britain. He has never been a part of any illegal activity, his cautiousness does not let him even near any such organisation that America or Britain has black listed. Most of his attention is towards the establishment of educational institutions for Muslim girls and boys. After 9/11 he opposed religious extremism and declared it anti-human. He was a fore runner in helping out the victims of the incident, but still he is ostracized by America. His zeal for propagating Islam and, his support for the victims without distinction of religion or nation, was such an offence that entry to the United States of America was denied him. This year on the 21st of September when he flew to America from Britain with his 21 year old daughter, he was deported back to his country.

The admirers of western democracy and its 'devotion' to peace should have had their eye opened. The mask covering the face of America is slipping away; the one accusing others of fundamentalism is proving to be the biggest fundamentalist of all. The recent American elections and their results have surprised the world. This fact is not hidden from any learned or intelligent person that extremism has played an elemental role in the elections. The defeat of John Kerry is not because he wished to put an end to the so called war against terrorism, no, he had an even tougher view concerning the issue; he was defeated because he raised the slogan of liberalism and skipped the boundaries of religious ideology which made the fundamental Christians cross with him.

In contrast George Bush portrayed himself as conservative and a defender of religious traditions. The outcome was that the Americans with religious leanings gave him both notes and votes. This was what made George Bush's day. Many thought that after being re-elected, George Bush would revise his cruel policies concerning the Islamic world, and try to solve the political, economic, and geographical problems of the world in a peaceful way……..but this is not what has happened, in truth his aggressive aims have escalated. The sacking and appointments of ministers shows that he wishes to teach the Islamic world an unforgettable lesson.

It is another thing if our leaders wish to keep the public in fool's paradise, the ground fact is that a long crusade has already started, the result and date of conclusion is anybody's guess. After 9/11 Bush had instinctively called it a 'Crusade", although afterwards he tried to gloss over the mistake, it was in fact his heartfelt desire and worked out opinion that had slipped his tongue. It was a natural _expression of the angry lava boiling in the minds of Christians and Jews against the Muslims; this has been explained by the One Who knows what is in hearts thus,

"Let not the believers take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah. except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah. Say: "Whether ye hide what is in your hearts or reveal it, Allah knows it all: He knows what is in the heavens, and what is on earth. And Allah has power over all things." (Surah Aal Imran 28,29)

Every passing day the Qur'an is stamping the seal of truth on the predictions it has made concerning the Jews and Christians…………but how simple and innocent are those who still expect goodness from the ahle kufr; the people who cannot bear their own kind in colour, race, and nation just because of the difference in religious opinion would hardly bear "blacks" like us. What can I say for those imagining decency from them, but….
Chaak kar di Turk e nadan ne khilafat ki qaba
Saadgi Muslim ki dekh, auron ki ayyaari bhi dekh
(The gullible Turks tore the robe of the Caliphate Just look at the Muslim's innocence Just look at others' cleverness)