Yusuf Islam believes that the negative focus by the media on his statement regarding Pope Benedict XVI was unnecessary, and that his respect for the head of the Catholic Church remains unwaivered. However, he believes the quote the Pontiff chose was inappropriate and suggested another quote by Mahatma Ghandi, whose interpretation of Islam was much more peaceful. In Young India, he wrote:

“I become more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers and his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle.”

In response, Yusuf has decided to speed the re-release of his earlier book on God’s Messenger, ‘The Life of The Last Prophet’, to help people see another side of this great religion which links to Christianity and Judaism, though the life and story of the man who was sent to represent it. The Audio/Book will be available from his label, Mountain of Light.

Yusuf is also sending a personally signed copy of the book to the Pope for his library, hoping the understanding and dialogue between people of the great faiths of Islam and Christianity will advance towards a more enlightened future of knowledge, charity and peaceful co-existence.