Sami Yusuf

Sami Yusuf
File:Samiyusuf224js.jpg
Born	July, 1980 Tehran, Iran
Occupation(s)	Singer, composer,lyricist and arranger.
Website	http://www.samiyusuf.com (Official Website) http://www.samiyusufonline.com (Official Fan Site)

Sami Yusuf is a British singer-songwriter of Azeri origin described as the Islamic Bono [1]& [2] He was born in Tehran, Iran to Azerbaijani parents[3] in July 1980 and raised in the United Kingdom.

Signed to the Awakening label his first album, Al-Mu'allim, was released in July 2003 and attained huge success. His second album, My Ummah, which was released in 2005, comes in two versions, a musical version and one with just percussion. Yusuf's music comprises mostly of songs to do with Islam and being a Muslim in today's world. He also deals with many social and humanitarian issues in his music. At present he is fast becoming a very popular figure in the Islamic world, and has made several videos of his songs.[4] A third album is planned for release during Ramadan or in (Sept-Oct) of this year. Sami showed off two of his songs from his yet-to-be released album in Wembley concert and USA tour concerts organized by Islamic Relief. [5]

Nevertheless, he has also sparked controversy due to the nature of his shows which critics claim have more in common with western pop concerts than Islamic spiritual values he claims to espouse.[6] However he has published a rebuttal to these claims on his website.[7]

His international status has taken a clear enhancement on the second album with the participation of the trio of Outlandish on the track "Try Not to Cry".

Biography

Sami Yusuf was born in July 1980 in Tehran, Iran, but he grew up in London, UK. Sami is a practicing Muslim who sees songs as a means of promoting the message of Islam and encouraging the youth to be proud of their religion and identity.

Sami learned to play several instruments at a very young age and gradually began to show a keen interest in singing and composing. He studied under several composers who had graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London.

As Sami mentions in his interviews, at the age of sixteen, he was spiritually awakened. He wanted to leave Music and do something for Islam. He even thought about joining Law School instead, but his best friend Bara Kherigi persuaded him otherwise. In 2003 he started working on Al Mu`alim (The Teacher), his first album. Sami and his friends started their company or foundation by the name of Awakening which produces musical products all over the world. Sami can speak fluent English, Persian and Azeri, Sami has also performed many songs in Arabic and Turkish.

Sami Yusuf has performed in the UK, Middle East, United States, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Azerbaijan, Sudan, Germany, France, Holland, Turkey, Belgium, Morocco, Algeria, Austria and some other countries. He has released six music clips.

Album cover	Album information
File:Al-Mu'allim.jpg	Al-Mu'allim Released: July, 2003 Total Sales: 1,000,000 Singles: "Al-Mu'allim" "Supplication"
	My Ummah Released: September, 2005 Singles: "Hasbi Rabbi" "Mother" "Munajat"

He has also recorded a new song on the occasion of Ramadan 2007 called "Asma Allah."

External links

• Sami Yusuf Official Website
• Sami Yusuf Turkish Official Website