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In a starling Interview, Jermaine Jackson, brother of world-famous
star Michael Jackson, tells how he embraced Islam.
Islam is a religion, which
transcends all petty prejudices of color, race and territorial boundaries.
That is why the followers of other religions, with a nearsighted vision,
have a sense of overflowing pride and relief when they embrace Islam.
Deserting the religion of one?s forefathers is one of the most difficult
decisions, but the golden principles and the virtues of broadmindedness of
Islam have persuaded mankind to adopt it as a way of life.
Now, therefore, Islam has
emerged as the greatest religion of the world. Jermaine Jackson, brother of
world-famous Michael Jackson is one of those men who have left the religion
of their forefathers and made Islam the inseparable part of their life.
From Jermaine Jackson, he has re-named as Muhammad Abdulaziz. He lives in
one of the luxurious palaces in the outskirts of Los Angeles (USA). The
palace of Abdulaziz is surrounded by beautiful gardens. This is the place
where he and his sisters compose their musical notes. This remains under
surveillance of more than 15 security vans round the clock. This area which
is known as? Falis? in Los Angeles is considered one of the most expensive
areas the world over London based Arabic "al-Mujallah" has
recently published an interview of Jermaine Jackson for the first time
since he became Muslim. In this interview, he has expressed his passionate
love for Islam. Let us see how he responded to various questions: -
When and How did you start your journey towards Islam?
It was way back in 1989
when I, along with my sister, conducted a tour to some of the countries of
Middle East. During our stay in Bahrain, we were accorded warm welcome. There
I happened to meet some children and had a light chitchat with them. I put
certain questions to them and they flung at me their innocent queries.
During the course of this interaction, they inquired about my religion. I
told them, "I am a Christian." I asked them, as to what was their
religion? A wave of serenity took over them. They replied in one voice ?
Islam. Their enthusiastic answer really shook me from within. Then they
started telling me about Islam. They were giving me information, much in piece
with their age. The pitch of their voice would reveal that they were highly
proud of Islam. This is how I paced toward Islam.
A very short interaction
with a group of children ultimately led me to have long discourses about
Islam with Muslim scholars. A great ripple had taken place in my thought. I
made failing attempt to console myself that nothing had happened but I
could not conceal this fact any longer from myself that at heart I had
converted to Islam. This I disclosed first to my family friend, Qunber Ali.
The same Qunber Ali managed to take me to Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia.
Till that time, I did not know much about Islam. From there, in the company
of a Saudi family, I proceeded for Mecca for the performance of
"Umrah". There I made public for the first time that I had become
Muslim.
What were your feelings after you proclaimed that you were a Muslim?
Having embraced Islam, I
felt as if I were born again. I found in Islam the answers to those queries
which I had failed to find in Christianity. Particularly, it was only Islam
that provided satisfactory answer to the question relating to the birth of
Christ. For the first time I was convinced about the religion itself. I
pray my family members might appreciate these facts. My family is the follower
of that cult of Christianity, which is known as AVENDANCE of JEHOVA
(Jehova's Witness). According to its creeds, only 144,000 men would finally
qualify to enter into paradise. ?How comes, It remained always a perplexing
creed for me. I was surprised to know that Bible was compiled by so many
men, particularly about a volume scripted by King James. I wondered if a
man compiles a directory and then ascribes it to God, but he does not fully
comply with these directions. During my stay in Saudi Arabia I have had the
opportunity to buy a cassette released by the erstwhile British pop-singer
and the present Muslim preacher, Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens). I
learnt a lot from this as well.
What happened when you got back to the US after embracing Islam?
When I returned to USA,
American media orchestrated heinous propaganda against Islam and the
Muslims. The gossips were let loose on me which really disturbed my peace
of mind. The Hollywood was hell-bent upon maligning the Muslims. They were
being projected as terrorists. There are many things where there is
consensus between Christianity and Islam, and Quran presents Holy Christ as
a virtuous Prophet. Then, I wondered, why Christian America levels baseless
allegations against Muslims?
This made me gloomy. I made
up my mind that I would do my best to dispel the wrong image of Muslims,
portrayed by the American media. I had not the slightest idea that American
media would not digest the news of my accepting Islam and raise such a
great hue and cry. It was virtually acting against all its tall and
much-publicized claims about the freedom of expression and the freedom of
conscience. So the hypocrisy of American society came to surface and lay
uncovered before me. Islam unknotted many complications for me. As a matter
of fact, I came to think of myself as a complete human being, in the
literal sense of the word. After becoming Muslim, I felt a tremendous
change in me. I discarded all thing prohibited in Islam. This made things
difficult for my family too. In short, the Jackson family tumbled
altogether. Threatening letters poured in, which further intensified the
worries of my family.
What sort of threats?
Well, they would tell me
that I had nurtured the animosity of American society and culture, by
entering into the laps of Islam, you have deprived yourself of the right to
live with others. WE would make life unbearable for you in America so on,
so forth. But I confess that my family is broadminded. We have held all
religions in esteem. Our parents have trained and groomed us in that way.
Therefore, I may say that the Jackson family enjoys friendly relation with
people belonging to almost all religions. This is the result of that
training that I am being tolerated by them so far.
What was the reaction of your brother Michael Jackson?
On my way back to America,
I brought a number of books from Saudi Arabia. Michael Jackson asked me
himself for some of these books for study. Before this, his opinion was
influenced by the propaganda of American media against Islam and the
Muslims. He was not inimical towards Islam, but he was not favorably
disposed towards Muslims either. But after reading these books, he would
keep mum and not say anything against Muslims. I think perhaps this is the
impact of the study of Islam that he diverted his business interests
towards Muslim traders. Now, he has equal shares with the Saudi billionaire
prince Waleed bin Talal, in his multi-national company.
It was said earlier that Michael Jackson was against Muslims, then
there are rumors that he had become Muslim. What is the real story?
I testify this fact, at
least there is nothing in my knowledge that Michael Jackson ever said
anything derogatory against Muslims. His songs, too, give message of love
for others. We have learnt from our parents to love others. Only those who
have their own ax to grind hurl allegations on him. When there can be a
nasty uproar against me when I became Muslim, why can it not be so against
Michael Jackson. But, so far, media has not subjected him to scathing criticism,
although he is threatened for his getting somewhat closer to Islam. But who
knows what would it look like when Michael Jackson embraces Islam.
What are the views of the rest of the members of your family about
you?
When I returned to America,
my mother had already heard the news of my conversion to Islam. My mother
is a religious and civilized woman. When I reached home, she put forth only
one question, "you have taken this decision all of a sudden, or is it
the outcome of some deep and long thinking behind it?" "I have
decided after a lot of thinking about it," I replied, let me say we
are known as a religious family. Whatever we possess, is due to the
blessing of God. Then why we should not be grateful to Him? This is why we
actively participate in the charity institutions. We dispatched medicines
to the poor African countries through special aircraft. During Bosnian war,
our aircraft were engaged in supplying aids to the affectees. We are
sensitive to such things because we have witnessed abject poverty. We used
to live in a house which was hardly a few square meters capacious.
Did you ever discuss about Islam with your sister pop star Janet
Jackson?
Like other members of my
family, my sudden conversion to Islam was a great surprise for her. In the
beginning, she was worried. She has stashed into her head only one thing
that Muslims are polygamous, they do have as much as four wives. When I
explained this permission granted by Islam with reference to the state of
the present American society, she was satisfied. This is fact that
promiscuity and infidelity is very common in the western society. In spite
of the fact that they are married, western men enjoy extramarital relations
with a number of women. This has caused devastating moral decay in that
society. Islam safeguards the social fabric from this destruction.
As per Islamic teachings,
if a man is emotionally attracted towards a woman, he should honorably give
this relation a legal shape otherwise he must be contented with only one
wife. On the other hand, Islam has laid down so much conditions for second
marriage that I do not think that an ordinary Muslim can afford to meet
these conditions financially. There is hardly one percent Muslims in the
Islamic world who have more than one wife. To my view, the women in an
Islamic society is just like a well-protected flower which is safe from the
stray penetrating looks of the viewers. Whereas western society is devoid
of the vision to appreciate this wisdom and philosophy.
What are your spontaneous feelings when you look at the Muslim
society?
For the larger interest of
humanity, Islamic society presents the safest place on this planet. For
instance, take the example of women. American women are clad in their
out-fit in such a manner that gives temptation to the male for harassment.
But this is unthinkable in an Islamic society. Besides, the prevalent sins
and vices have disfigured the moral fabric of western society. I believe if
there is any place left where the humanity is still visible, it can not be
anywhere else than in an Islamic society. Time would come when the world
would be obliged to accept this reality.
What is your candid opinion about the American media?
American media is suffering
from self-contradictions. Take the example of Hollywood. The status of an
artist is measured here keeping in view the model of his car, the standard
of this restaurant that he visits, etc. This is the media that raises
someone from the dust to the skies. They do not consider the artist as a
human being. But I have met so many artists in the Middle East. They have
no misplaced arrogance in them.
Just look at the CNN, they
do that much exaggeration about some news that it appears that nothing else
has happened except that event in the world. The news of fire in the
forests of Florida was given such a wide coverage as it gave the impression
that the whole globe has caught fire. In fact, it was a small area, which
was affected by that fire.
I was in Africa, when the
bomb-blast took place in Oklahoma City. The Media, without any proof,
started hinting at the involvement of Muslims in that blast. Later on the
Saboteur turned out to be a CHRISTIAN!!! We may term this attitude of
American media as its willful ignorance.
Can you maintain a Linkage between your Islamic personality and the
culture of your family?
Why not? This linkage can
be kept up for the achievement of good things.
After becoming Muslim, did you ever happen to see Muhammad Ali?
Muhammad Ali is our family
friend. I have met him a number of times, after embracing Islam. He has
provided useful guidance about Islam.
Have you visited Shah Faisal mosque in Los Angeles city?
Yes, of course! This is a
beautiful mosque. I am myself interested to construct a similar mosque in
?Falise? area because there is no mosques in this area and the Muslim
community is not resourceful enough purchase a piece of land for a mosque
in such a posh area. God willing, I would do it.
Who is ignorant of the
services of Saudi Arabia for the glorious cause of Islam? No doubt it has
leisurely financed the projects for mosques. But this American media even
does not spare Saudi Arabia; it spreads quite strange news about this
country. When I first visited Saudi Arabia, I had the impression that there
would be muddy housed and a very poor communication network. But when I
reached there, to my great surprise, I found it culturally the most
beautiful country of the world.
Who has influenced you, so far as Islam is concerned?
Many persons have impressed
me. But the fact is that first I turn to the Holy Quran, therefore I do not
run a risk of getting strayed on the way. However, there are many Islamic
scholars that one can be duly proud of. God willing, I plan to go to Saudi
Arabia with my family to perform, ?Umrah?.
Your wife and children are Muslims too?
I have seven sons and two
daughter who, like me, are fully Islamic-oriented. My wife is still
studying Islam. She insists on going over to Saudi Arabia. I trust
InshaAllah, she would sooner join Islam. May God Almighty give us the
courage and perseverance to remain on this true religion, Islam. (Ameen)
Published by ‘al-Mujallah’
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