I thought everybody would embrace and understand my reasons for becoming Muslim.
I used Coldplay's mixer, Michael H. Brauer, on 'Roadsinger'; he's brilliant. He won a Grammy for their record.
I don't like applause, I must admit. Ultimately, artists are shy creatures; they're introverts.
The private little world that I create with my music is something that most people like to listen to alone and get into.
Maybe some people may have thought or imagined that Islam drains all creativity. In fact, when you look at history, you discover that the golden age of Spain is what actually produced what we call the guitar.
There's been this argument about Coldplay stealing this melody from Joe Satriani, but, if you listen to it, it's mine! It's the 'Foreigner Suite,' it is!
I'm afraid that a lot of things that people believe about Islam are totally different from the religion that most of us recognize. I was really fortunate that I got to know Islam before it became a headline.
I wouldn't be writing songs if I didn't have something to say.
My career is there for everyone to see and delve into.
I'm a little bit out of it, I suppose; I'm more of the golden oldie type.
There is a social need within our lives as human beings to have harmony.
I became a vegetarian, and I carried around a suitcase full of vitamins and special drinks everywhere I went.
It's an Islamic principle that you must follow the law of the land where you reside.
I'm a mirror glass for the Muslims as well as the Western world, which looks at me in a slightly different way, but they are looking in the same mirror.
People who want to remember me as Cat Stevens - welcome. Those who want me as Yusuf, you're here.
The spiritual quest was always the predominant aspect of my life. It's always been there. But there's also an incredible passion connected to it; it's not just a dry investigative process. I have been extremely emotional about it, and that comes out in the songs.
Music can be healing, and with my history and my knowledge of both sides of what looks like a gigantic divide in the world, I feel I can point a way forward to our common humanity again.
I had to learn my faith and look after my family, and I had to make priorities. But now I've done it all and there's a little space for me to fill in the universe of music again.
In the early days I had a very black-and-white view of everything. I think that's kind of natural for anyone who's just embraced Islam - or any religion - as a convert. It was important for me to duck out of the fast and furious life I'd been living as a pop star. I was in a different mood.
I've studied various schools of thought... I acknowledge that some Muslims consider music prohibited, but I've found a lot of evidence from the life of the Prophet to show that he allowed certainly, but even encouraged, music at certain times.
