Jermaine Jackson
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
Abdul-Aziz. He lives in one of the luxurious palaces in the outskirts of Los
Angeles (USA). The palace of Abdul-Aziz 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
--- On Tue, 11/18/08, Mohammed Yaser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
From: Mohammed Yaser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: {IIG} interviews
To: [email protected]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 5:45 PM
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
Nor can Goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (evil) with what is better; then the
enmity between him and you will become as if it were your friend and intimate!
Visit: sultan.org
Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Post to group: [email protected]
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
