Speaking Tour by Yusuf Islam (Formerly Cat Stevens)

April 8, 2000

Source: The Boston Globe

On April 8, 2000, The Boston Globe published an article on Yusuf Islam, the popular singer/songwriter who used to be known as Cat Stevens, and his speaking tour around the United States about his life-long spiritual journey and his conversion to Islam. In a recent appearance at Harvard University, Yusuf Islam spoke of his flirting with Buddhism, astrology, and Pythagorean numerology in his quest for truth. He was introduced to Islam when his brother gave him a copy of the Koran. When he read the Koran, Islam stated: "I found my place and my identity," and that every question he had was answered by the Koran. Since his conversion, he gave up playing the guitar because it might be offensive to Orthodox Muslims. He resumed singing in 1995, reissued old songs, and has recorded spoken-word albums about Islam.