The music of Sami Yusuf is fit for all occasions, not only Ramadan.
For two decades, the British artist has built a successful career with stirring compositions blending mystical traditions such as Sufi music from Turkey, Mugham from Azerbaijan and Qawwali from South East Asia with western sensibilities including classical music and electronica.
Underpinning all that sonic adventurism, however, are Yusuf’s evocative lyrics which often takes inspiration from Islamic prayers, sacred texts and poems.
Here are 10 songs showcasing the spiritual and innovative sounds that have made him a global success.
1. ‘Al Mu'allim’ (2003)
With the debut single, Yusuf showcased his self-labelled "spiritique" approach to his craft, which is an amalgam of styles including eastern percussion, western harmonies and spiritual lyricism.
Al Mu'allim, a song extolling Prophet Mohammed's wisdom, cracked the top 10 charts in both Egypt and Turkey and immediately garnered Yusuf a regional fan base.
2. 'Supplication’ (2004)
While the lyrics, an Islamic prayer praising Prophet Mohammad, and melodies have been used for centuries, Yusuf's version of the tune is powerful due to the choral arrangement. Backed by light percussion, the minimalist production allows listeners to focus on the mesmerising chanting. Supplication also featured in 2007 film The Kite Runner.
3. ‘My Ummah’ (2005)
The title track of Yusuf's best-selling second album, the song exemplifies the more adventurous route he took with the release, including the use of strings and traditional percussion from South East Asia.
The lyrics have Yusuf declaring that, through cooperation and the healing of divisions, the beauty of the faith will be realised: "I swear that with firm belief in our hearts, we can bring back the glory of our past."
4. ‘Hasbi Rabbi’ (2005)
Some nasheed artists like to record songs in various languages to appeal to as wide of an audience as possible. Not Yusuf, however. For one of his biggest hits, he switches languages throughout the song as he pleads for God's mercy in Arabic, Hindi and Turkish.
5. ‘Wherever You Are’ (2010)
The opening song and title track for Yusuf's third album represents a new career phase, where compositions are bolder and the lyricism more personal.
Over piano and strings, and sung in English, Arabic and Farsi, Wherever You Are can be taken as both an ode to faith or a love song: "In each smile in every single sigh, every minute detail, traces of you are found there."
6. ‘Forgotten Promises’ (2012)
If there is a secret to Yusuf's success, it's his keen eye for innovate arrangements. Forgotten Promises is ingenuously powered by finger snap percussion as Yusuf calls for unity and forgiveness.
7. ‘Mast Qalandar’ (2016)
Yusuf turns his focus on traditional sacred music from the Muslim world with the album Barakah.
From the release, Mast Qalander is a vibrant reworking of an old Sufi song popular in the Indian subcontinent.
Accompanied with a sumptuous video set in the desert, the song hit No 2 on BBC Asian Music Charts and racked up over 25 million views on YouTube.
8. ‘Shadowless’ (2019)
Yusuf may have viewed his 2019 Sami EP as a stop-gap release, but it remains home to some of his most underrated songs to date with its nods to electronica, lo-fi and pop music. The moody Shadowless is a case in point.
9. ‘The 99 Names’ (2020)
Released during Ramadan, The 99 Names is one of Yusuf's most epic compositions.
Over eight and a half minutes, he goes through the 99 divine attributes of God – a cornerstone of Islam – over an almost cinematic production full of shimmering percussion and ethereal backing vocals.
Immersive and mystical, The 99 Names is a career milestone for Yusuf.
10. ‘Madad’ (2021)
The latest single not only pays tribute to his heritage but illustrates why Yusuf remains an exhilarating live act.
An Arabic version of previously released Azerbaijani song Nasimi, Madad was recorded as part of 2019's Fes Festival of World Sacred Music in Morocco.
Stunningly shot and backed by a large ensemble, including Moroccan vocalists and Azeri folk musicians, Madad is Yusuf at the top of his game.
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Read more:
Songs of praise: 12 of the best nasheed songs to hear this Ramadan, from Yusuf Islam to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Sami Yusuf: 'If one has a strong spiritual discipline, it lessens the burden'
Sami Yusuf has 'great hope' that 2020 will become a 'year of global awakening'
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
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%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Jared%20Stern%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Dwayne%20Johnson%2C%20Kevin%20Hart%2C%20John%20Krasinski%2C%20Keanu%20Reeves%2C%20Olivia%20Wilde%2C%20Kate%20McKinnon%2C%20Jameela%20Jamil%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
List of alleged parties
- May 15 2020: Boris Johnson is said to have attended a Downing Street pizza party
- 27 Nov 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
- Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
- Dec 13 2020: Mr Johnson and his then-fiancee Carrie Symonds throw a flat party
- Dec 14 2020: Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative Party headquarters
- Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
- Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDavid%20Ayer%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJason%20Statham%2C%20Josh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Emmy%20Raver-Lampman%2C%20Minnie%20Driver%2C%20Jeremy%20Irons%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3EFounder%3A%20Hani%20Abu%20Ghazaleh%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20with%20an%20office%20in%20Montreal%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%202018%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Virtual%20Reality%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%20%241.2%20million%2C%20and%20nearing%20close%20of%20%245%20million%20new%20funding%20round%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
%3Cp%3EDavid%20White%20might%20be%20new%20to%20the%20country%2C%20but%20he%20has%20clearly%20already%20built%20up%20an%20affinity%20with%20the%20place.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20the%20UAE%20shocked%20Pakistan%20in%20the%20semi-final%20of%20the%20Under%2019%20Asia%20Cup%20last%20month%2C%20White%20was%20hugged%20on%20the%20field%20by%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20captain.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWhite%20suggests%20that%20was%20more%20a%20sign%20of%20Aayan%E2%80%99s%20amiability%20than%20anything%20else.%20But%20he%20believes%20the%20young%20all-rounder%2C%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20winning%20Gulf%20Giants%20team%20last%20year%2C%20is%20just%20the%20sort%20of%20player%20the%20country%20should%20be%20seeking%20to%20produce%20via%20the%20ILT20.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20is%20a%20delightful%20young%20man%2C%E2%80%9D%20White%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20played%20in%20the%20competition%20last%20year%20at%2017%2C%20and%20look%20at%20his%20development%20from%20there%20till%20now%2C%20and%20where%20he%20is%20representing%20the%20UAE.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20influential%20in%20the%20U19%20team%20which%20beat%20Pakistan.%20He%20is%20the%20perfect%20example%20of%20what%20we%20are%20all%20trying%20to%20achieve%20here.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20about%20the%20development%20of%20players%20who%20are%20going%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE%20and%20go%20on%20to%20help%20make%20UAE%20a%20force%20in%20world%20cricket.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
Pakistan T20 series squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shahzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammed Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammed Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Amir Yamin, Mohammed Amir (subject to fitness clearance), Rumman Raees, Usman Shinwari, Umar Amin
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
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EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
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Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
POSSIBLE ENGLAND EURO 2020 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson.
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Joe Gomez, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Ben Chilwell, Fabian Delph.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Harry Winks, Jordan Henderson, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi.
