Yusuf Islam to Perform First Mideast Show in Doha

Doha, January 26 (QNA) - World-renowned singer-songwriter Yusuf Islam will perform live for the first time in the Middle East at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park in Doha on February 16. The concert which will journey through the extensive catalogue of musical hits by Yusuf Islam will be the first in a series of musical performances planned at MIA Park throughout the year, Qatari daily (The Peninsula) reported. Yusuf Islam was born in London to a Greek Cypriot father and a Swedish mother. Formerly known as Cat Stevens, he was one of the biggest solo artists of the 60s and 70s, selling more than 60 million albums with hits including, Father and Son, Wild World, Peace Train and many more. Following a serious illness and after a near drowning incident, he received a translation of the Quran and converted to Islam in 1977 in which he found peace and universal understanding. He decided to withdraw from the music industry at his peak and changed his name to Yusuf Islam beginning a new life. Following his conversion to Islam, Yusuf Islam became an energetic philanthropist, humanitarian and an enthusiastic supporter of Islamic Education in UK after the birth of his first child. He has been recognised worldwide for his humanitarian efforts. In the 1990s, Yusuf gradually returned to the music business and eventually began performing songs from his time as Cat Stevens. Commenting on his return, he said: "I needed to reconnect with the fans I left back in the 70s, those who still held the same ideals for peace and love which I sang about and which I still promote today as a Muslim." Yusuf Islam was one of the first Muslim converts to write Islamic songs in English. A pioneering Islamic Nasheed artist and producer, his record company, Mountain of Light, has produced some of the most popular recordings for children, including A is for Allah and I Look, I See, which teach children the basics of Islam. He has also recorded the spoken word Biography of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). As a new recreational facility in Doha, MIA Park will host Yusuf Islam s concert marking the launch of several activities aimed to engage the local community and offer a new venue for entertainment, creativity and leisure. (QNA)