The Worst of Cat Stevens

The Weekly Standard ^ | 9/24/04 | Stephen Schwartz

[Valin]

EARLIER THIS WEEK, I commented that, as Yusuf Islam, the singer Cat Stevens has held to an extreme Islamic fundamentalist position regarding music. I wrote, "Wahhabism, the state religion in Saudi Arabia, and the inspirer of al Qaeda, is especially known for its hatred of music. In Wahhabi theology, all music except for drum accompaniment to religious chanting is haram, or forbidden. . . . Yusuf Islam has demonstrated his sympathy for this posture on several occasions. . . . In 1997, he released an album titled I Have No Cannons That Roar, dedicated, he said, to the cause of the Bosnian Muslims. In an interview with Stephen Kinzer, appearing in the New York Times on December 8, 1997, he commented on the project, 'I've . . . used a very conservative approach. You only hear my own voice, a slight choral accompaniment and drums. Let's say that's the safest option according to certain Islamic schools of thought.'"

On this topic, a correspondent sent me a fascinating article from the Toronto Globe and Mail of August 7, 2000, by a Canadian Muslim woman named Rahat Kurd, under the title, "Why Cat Stevens had it all wrong: The former pop star should never have turned me off to the beauty of music in the name of Islam." Kurd's article included the following recollection of an encounter with Stevens: "I read about how the views of this singer-turned-Islamic-activist have 'developed,' and that 'his hard line on music has softened' . . .

[baltodog]

If the music of Cat Stevens is evil, I'd hate to see what they think of Metallica...

[sgtbono2002]

I dont really think about Cat Stevens, he made his bed , let him sleep in it. If he wants to take an overseas trip let him buy a rowboat.

[Alia]

Thank you for posting; and many thanks to Stephen Schwartz for researching. I'm relishing this. Liberals created "words equal action" -- and now are reeling from the repercussions. ;>

[BigDoom]

I wrote, "Wahhabism, the state religion in Saudi Arabia, and the inspirer of al Qaeda, is especially known for its hatred of music.

Cool, but we should go further, impose a trade-ban on the Wahhabism-State and terrorist-sponsor aka Saudi-Arabia. Seize the oilfields and let them play in the desert ..

[boycott]

I believe Cat must have done some bad LSD while he was a star. The flashbacks got to him.

[Valin]

I'd pay cash money to see it.

[TexasTransplant]

A thread that mentions "Cat" and "Cash Money" it brings back many fond memories of large Bank deposits and happy lip smacking, liberal customers.

Those were the days

[Jack_1]

The Arabs think that they are so smart, by spelling their names in one hundred different ways, they think that that will confuse security checks.

Time, in its online edition, quoted aviation sources with access to the "no-fly" list as saying there was no entry on the list under the name Yusuf Islam, but that there was a Youssouf Islam. They said that name was added to the list this northern summer.

And do we have to let any Tom, Dick and Harry into the country just becouse they want to?

Mr Islam, back in London, said he had begun legal action against US authorities.

Spelling error led to Cat Stevens mix-up

[joesnuffy]

Islam is so great...and so right...

Where does Stevens care to live and ply his trade....

In the center of Mecca?

[texasbluebell]

Steven Schwartz really should identify himself as a moslem convert. He always fails to do so. He's an opponent of Wahhabism, it's true. I never know what to make of him though.

My coming to Islam by Suleyman Ahmad Stephen Schwartz

[Luis Gonzalez]

I guess Cat was followed by something other than a moonshadow, those were Feds on his tail.

[babble-on]

Cat Stevens NO
Ray Stevens YES

[Luis Gonzalez]

"In my book, The Two Faces of Islam, I contrast the legitimate, self-defensive jihad (i.e. military struggle) of the Bosnians, with the terrorist "jihad" of the Wahhabis. But the Bosnians have never incited local Muslims to go off to perform jihad; that was a habit only among bin Ladenite Arabs who injected themselves into the Bosnian war, and who had no real effect on the struggle except to make things more difficult for the Bosnians. That is one of the main reasons Bosnians do not show up in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other theatres of conflict chosen by the Wahhabi warriors."

Interesting paragraph from the article, I wonder if this holds true for Chechens as well.

It seems to me that Russia is attempting to legitimize years of brutal attacks on the population of Chechnya, by attaching the Chechen war to our War on Terror, yet they are two distinct and separate issues; the Chechnes are fighting to rid themselves of Russia, and the Wahhabis are fighting to destroy western influence on the world.

To the best of my knowledge, there have been few (if any) who have comitted terrorists acts against any nation other than Russia.

[oilfieldtrash]

After having been to Cyprus on numerous occasions, any Greek Cypriot who converts to Islam, in my book is a sell out, and nuts in addition.

After the Turks seized the northern portion of the island and made 100,000 + greek refugees and desecrated all signs of christianity in the north in the most hideous way, it is hard for me to understand how anyone Greek Cypriot could convert to islam.

I say great the the FBI in which they embaressed and humiliated him. Just as he has done to his own people.

I am not greek or cypriot.

[Valin]

The Two Faces of Islam,

It's a good book not great but good.
I say this because he get's something wrong(IMO) particularly when he writes about "fundamentalist Christianity". BUT when writing about the Saudis he pretty much nails it.

[winodog]

the Chechnes are fighting to rid themselves of Russia

They were given independance twice by russia. Both times they did not stop. They will never stop. They are the same as the wahhabis. They are waging a holy war against everyone who does not bow to allah and follow a murdering,pedophile. They will never stop chopping off heads of innocent men, women and children. It is what their culture is all about. Rape and pillage and murder in the name of their god. They have been doing it since mohammed and satan got together and proclaimed it a religion 0ver 1300 years ago. Chop off their heads, rape their women and children and make slaves of those who they do not murder for some strange reason.

[Gary - Peters]

Although an accomplished musician, his Vietnam war folk songs were still anti-American military / anti-war.

Now we know a little deaper into his understanding of why he held that perspective.

[Born Conservative]

When he released his latest album, why did he release it under the name "Cat Stevens"? I thought he changed his name to Yusef Islam?

[VOA]

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