3 expat women who practiced prostitution in a hotel arrested in Riyadh    Tunisian president and Saudi interior minister discuss security cooperation    Saudi, US defense ministers discuss over phone ways to enhance strategic cooperation    Grand Mufti expresses pride over Saudi Arabia's firm position on Palestine issue    Saudi Arabia's inflation records slight rise reaching 2% in January 2025    Electromin celebrates victory of "Nissan Formula E Team" in "Jeddah E-Prix" as first Saudi private-sector global partner in Formula E    Saudi Arabia vows full support to Lebanon's actions to safeguard citizens' security    US-made heavy bombs arrive in Israel after Biden-era hold    Death toll from New Delhi railway station stampede rises to 18    US, Russia to begin Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia    Al Ittihad CEO calls for fairness as Al Hilal raises officiating concerns ahead of Saudi Classico    LG Electronics Saudi Arabia and Shaker Group mark 30 years of sustainable innovation in HVAC solutions    Benzema shines with goal and two assists as Al Ittihad dominate Al Wehda French star leads Al Ittihad to 4-1 victory, extending lead over Al Hilal ahead of top-of-the-table clash    Saudi Arabia among world's top 10 energy storage markets    Al Hilal held to controversial 1-1 draw against Al Riyadh, missing chance to reclaim top spot    Al Hilal accuses SPL's Michael Emenalo of bias and SFF's Manuel Navarro of pressuring team to accept local referees Club criticizes officiating, calls for elite foreign referees in Saudi Pro League    Maya Diab joins Arab stars and celebrities in celebrating the Centrepoint Ramadan 2025 collection launch at Riyadh Boulevard    Oilatum tackles rise in Eczema and Dry Skin in Saudi Arabia    HONOR brings together AI and luxury with PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic7 RSR at LEAP 2025    Chinese film stirs national pride, rakes in $1bn in days    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Yusuf Islam visits to promote cultural center in London
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 05 - 07 - 2008

Yusuf Islam, philanthropist, educator, and formely international pop star known as Cat Stevens until his conversion to Islam in 1977, was recently in Jeddah to promote the opening of the 4.5 million pound sterling Al-Maqam cultural center in London. Developed by the UK charity Waqf Al-Birr Educational Trust founded by Yusuf in 1992, the center, apart from providing community services, is intended to improve the image of Islam in Britain.
“Al-Maqam is a multifunctional, community center whose purpose is to present Islam and Islamic civilization to Britain and to the West in general in a way that counteracts the negative news about Islam and Muslims often dominating the media especially after the horrendous events of September 11,” Islam told the Saudi Gazette.
Al-Maqam, which means ‘place of learning' in Arabic, has conference facilities, a youth center, an exhibition hall, a bookshop, and a café. The center will hold exhibitions of Islamic art, crafts and drama, and the youth center will cater to the spiritual and social needs of the new generation of young British Muslims.
Yusuf Islam said that the center would be educational as well as cultural providing an ecumenical environment for creative expression, where scholars and artists from around the world could meet, work, and interact.
Widely known for his philanthropic and educational activities in Britain and elsewhere, Yusuf Islam has founded a number of Islamic primary and secondary schools in London. His charity, Small Kindness, supports victims of famine in Africa and orphans in other countries of the world. He has received a number of international awards and honorary degrees for his work promoting world peace and for his humanitarian and educational endeavors.
Yusuf stopped writing and recording songs after his conversion to Islam, but in the 1990's began making recordings with Islamic themes and supporting international charity events, such as, Live Aid and Band Aid, as well as concerts promoting tsunami disaster relief and minefield clearance.
He famously credits his return to recording to the time when his son, Mohammed, brought a guitar into the house, and Yusuf picked it up and started playing it, which eventually led to the 2006 release of his first all-new pop album for 30 years, entitled, “An Other Cup.” __


Clic here to read the story from its source.