World exclusive: interview with Sami Yusuf

Feature Item

Mon 03 Nov 2003

"Where did you come from?" is a question that many have asked since your meteoric rise in the nasheed world. Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
Sami: All praise is for God, Lord of the worlds, and may He bless and grant peace on His final messenger Muhammad, his family, companions, and all those who follow him until the Day of Judgment. Asalaamu Alaykum. I am originally from Persia, the part that most people would call Azerbaijan but sadly, because of the fact that I've been raised here, I don't really know that much about Azerbaijan to share with you. But, from the little that I do know, the Azeri people are very spiritual with a deep appreciation of art and beauty. I feel that being of Azeri background has certainly helped me appreciate how diverse, vast and colourful the Muslim world actually is. But nevertheless, we are all united in faith Alhamdulillah (thanks be to God).

Many of the tracks on your debut CD Al-Mu'allim are wonderfully poetic. What inspired them?
Sami: I have many sources of inspiration - classical Azeri, Arabic and Persian music and, of course, poetry from Turkey and the Indian Sub-continent. Alhamdulillah, I was given the opportunity to work with a very talented individual, Brother Bara al-Gannouchi who is actually the main lyricist and co-producer of the album. I thank him, and indeed everybody else who helped produce Al-Mu'allim. May Allah accept their efforts and grant them happiness in this life and the Hereafter Ameen!

You seem to be flying around the world performing at various events. In one month you were in Germany, Chicago as well as at the Foreign Office in London. Do you find that different audiences prefer different nasheeds? How do you read your audience?
Sami: Alhamdulillah the response I have received has been phenomenal and I have truly been overwhelmed by the positive feedback. Subhan-Allah (praise be to God), I've received positive comments from all types of people, Asians, Arabs, white non-Muslim, young and old, and from so many countries which I have no idea how the album got there! It's amazing how they can all listen to the same nasheed and enjoy in their own way. I think some tracks are perhaps more appealing to others for example, 'Ya Mustafa' or 'Allahu' are both remixes of famous Qawali songs, so naturally these tracks would be appreciated more by the brothers and sisters from the Asian sub-continent. But, generally I have found that the title track Al-Mu'allim has been the most widely claimed to be 'favourite' Alhamdulillah.

What are your future plans? Can we expect another CD soon? If not, why not? If yes, when?
Sami: I hope to have an album, that is quite different from Al-Mu'allim, ready for next year Insha-Allah (God willing), and my long-term goal is to be target a CD at the non-Muslim audience in order to invite them to the call of God. My other objective is to help others nurture their talents in the right way and for the right reasons, which is to please God by promoting the common and shared values of justice, kindness, humility, and love.

Where can we buy your album and do MCBDirect readers get a discount?
Sami:Al-Mu'allim should be available from all Muslim bookshops and Asian music stores. If they don't have any copies, then please contact Awakening (www.awakening.org). I am sure Awakening would not mind giving MCBDirect readers a discount, Insha-Allah

The following are comments:

Dear Sami, Brother...I am so happy to hear your wonderful voice. Your latest song "Mother" is very affecting, either your voice or the video clip. Sami. I hope I'll see you soon in Lebanon. Please send me even one email (message). Brother, God bless you and protect you. Ameen. Thank you...
Rasha

MashaAllah you have been blessed with such a beautiful voice. I also want to thank you, because of your beautiful supplication for the first time i will be able to read darud shariff THANK YOU!!! May Allah(swt) be pleased with you.
Qamar

احبك في الله أخي وبارك الله فيك نسأل الله أن يوفقك ويجعلك من رفقاء النبي في الجنة
Ilham

i like your way of singing.you are my favorite singer.
meriyemkhalfi

Hi from Bulgaria and from Bulgarian Muslims. Your voice and songs are very beautiful - thank-you.
NATALI

God bless you Yusuf for all that you have done. We needed someone like you to awaken Muslims and remember Allah. May God's belssing be with you.
AshAfterFire

It has been always my hope in life to listen to effective Islamic songs and watch Islamic video clips on TV, that's because media affects most peoples thoughts and feelings and this is what happened to me and my friends, but now we are at the begining of our religious lives. And you Mr Sami have been really encouraging us so thanks and may God protect you and your angelic voice.
Hadeel Mostafa

I'ld like to thank Yusuf so much for thinking of that style of songs in a time when other songs are a source of money. So God bless you brother Yusuf.
ikram

On behalf of people in Yemen we are proud of you.
HITHAM JARRALLAH

Keep it up! May Allah (swt) be with you at all times.
Ruba

You have made me very proud to be a Muslim. I live in Egypt. Your songs have come out at a time where darkness is truly surrounding us. You have a gift MashAallah. Please keep it up and continue to make us proud.
Lubna

You really have a beautiful voice I hope that I will see you soon in Egypt and may Allah bless you
Sara Muhammad

baraka alaho fika
fatima

sami yousef has a perfect voice ..may god bless him with his great voice
Ahmad

May Allah bless Sami for his contribution to Islam. Ameen!
Eram

My name is Abdullah .I am a great fan of Mr. Sami's. Could someone inform me from where I can get hold of his albums in Pakistan? I will appreciate your help.
abdullah

My name is Ichrak. My ethnic origin is from Algeria but I live in France. I am sixteen years old and am a convert to Islam. I want to say that Sami has helped me a lot through his work. I am highly thankful to him.
Maadadi

It is a very good interview.
Islam

I will like to thank Allah for this excellent CD. I play it to my children who were born in the United States. It is a good source of inspiration for them. I hope that Sami Yusuf will keep up his good work.
Suha Hantush Younis

Wallahi very good.. It is a great album and I hope to follow the same strategy in the next albums insha'allah. With the Care of Allah.
Hatem Shurrab, Palestine

I love your songs very much because when listening to your songs you teach about the love of Allan and his Prophet your sister Samia
samia

You have a verry beutiful voice, may Allah bless you, ameen.
zamzam

selemahlikoum, j'aimerai adresser ce petit message à SAMIYUSUF pour lui dire à quel point j'admire son travail et sa dévotion pour notre religion l'ISLAM.j'éspère qu'il pourra réussir à sortir d'autre album inchaallah.La vie est un peu dur en france pour les musulmans, surtout pour nous les soeurs.Faites beaucoup de douhas pour nous. Avec tout mes compliments. MYRIAM de FRANCE.
Myriam SLIMANI

Asalamalikum brother Sami may god bless you you have a beautiful voice & a lot of people love you in algeria Maashallah!.
samira

Thanks a lot for having such a beautifull voice, Sami. I know i should say that to Allah but thanks anyway!!!!!!!!
schiffer

Assalamu alaykum. I have to say that Sami Yusuf's album al mu'allim is an excellent album, i feel that i have learn't a lot, and i look forward to hearing more of his albums, and i hope that they are as successful as his first album. My prayers are with you. Allah hafiz
Naseem

Asalamalikum brother Sami and all bros and sisters I wanted to say Sami you have a gift from Allah my brother, mashAllah when I listen to you I am proud of my religion, subhanAllah brother keep it up ameen
Fahad Raja

Sami I would like to thank you for making an album that is so wonderful, when I listen to the it I really enjoy it and as well as this it also makes me ponder on the way I should live my life better in the Islamic way.
Rahbia

Please inform me about your concert in Malaysia because I want to see you with my friends and family.Hope you will inform me as soon as possible.Thank you so much. Nabila(university Islam Antarabangsa,malay)
Nabila ryan smith

in God's name... i want to thank sami Yusuf for everything he has done for me.He helped me to cry and love God more and more and love Muhammed rasol allah more and more ... all the time i still listen , and because of this my friends love it now ... and special thanks to Amr Khaled who had known us with Sami Yusuf ... your brother from EGYPT ... Marwan
Marwan

May Allah bless you....
AsmaAmalina Ismail

Assalam, My name is Danyal Mirza aged 8, just want to say that I love your nasheeds very much, I am a very big fan of yours, I've learnt all of your nasheeds and wish you could hear me sing them. I met you in Nottingham we took a photo together, that was very special for me, you kissed me on my forehaed & i havnt washed my face since then (only Joking) I would love to meet you again please perform in Manchester again, I've been to your concerts in Manchester and Nottingham and hope to attend many more.Love you loads...... Danyal Mirza from Oldham.
Danyal Mirza

Assalamu Alaykum ,Jazak Allah Khair my brother I cried when I listened to almua'llem. Iam very happy to find a good Muslim like you in this world. May Allah have mercy on you. Your Sister from Egypt
du

Salam,I want to say that the songs of Sami Yusuf are very popular and loved here in Germany!! God bless you
intissar

I would like to thank Sami Yusuf for those great songs, they are beautiful. And I thank Allah for this great voice.I hope that you have success in all that you do.
shahenaz

i wanna say that Sami Yusuf has an amazing and wonderful voice,and here in Egypt love him so much and wish he would come here to Egypt
habiba

Salam... Sami Yusuf you are the best,you have bought me into Islam through Music which I was really interested in and you have a beautiful voice...Salam
Talha

Salam Alaykum!!!
Nora

May Allah bless Sami Yusuf. When listening to his music I feel peace and the lyrics are beautiful. Maashallah!. You are a wonderful Muslim
asma

First, let me say: May ALLAH have peace and blessings upon Sami Yusuf. Secondly, Brother Sami is very creative and very well planned. He is a very great Muslim, may Allah bless his heart. AMEEN
Aya Sylte

My name is Nora, I live in France; I would like to know if the company Nasheeds, make some concert in France, more precisely, in Paris?
nora

In malaysia,where we can we buy Sami's album?
Amal

May Allah bless you and encourage you in spreading the message of islam..
aisha

I'm a Muslim from Egypt .. I'd like to put my signature for my beloved brother Sami Yosuf and say to him May Allah bless you and accompany all of us with our precious prophet Muhammad (PUH).
Hassan Sherif

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