A Is for Allah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids A Is for Allah |
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| Released | 11 July 2000 | |||
| Genre | Children's music, Nasheed | |||
| Label | Mountain of Light | |||
| Yusuf Islam chronology | ||||
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| AllMusic |   |
A is for Allah is a special music album made for Muslim children. It was created by the famous musician Yusuf Islam, who was once known as Cat Stevens. The album was released on July 11, 2000.
Yusuf Islam wrote the main song, "A Is for Allah," in 1980. He wrote it when his first daughter, Hasanah, was born. He wanted his daughter to learn the Arabic language and understand the Qu'ran, which is the holy book of Islam. Yusuf grew up in London, England, and still lived there. As a new Muslim, he wanted to make sure his children received a good Islamic education.
Yusuf Islam used the songs on the album to help children learn the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet. This type of Islamic music is called nasheed in Arabic. Other Muslim musicians also helped with the album. One of them was Zain Bhikha from South Africa, who sang on almost every song.
The idea for the album had been developing since 1994, though the main song was much older. The album also came with a big, colorful book. Each page of the book showed a letter of the Arabic alphabet. This book was published by Mountain of Light, which is Yusuf Islam's own record company.
What's on the Album?
The album A Is for Allah is a double album, meaning it has two discs full of songs. Each song helps children learn about the Arabic alphabet and important Islamic ideas. The album is designed to be a fun way to learn.
Disc One Songs
The first disc starts with an "Introduction." Then it goes through many letters of the Arabic alphabet. For example, the song for the letter "A" is about Allah, which is the Arabic word for God. There are also songs like "Ayat al-Kursi" and "Say He Is Allah."
Other songs on this disc teach about important Islamic terms. For instance, "B" is for Bismillah, which means "in the name of Allah." "T" is for Taqwa, which means being mindful of God. There are also songs about Jannah (paradise) and Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca). Some songs also feature parts of the Qur'an, like "Surah Al-Kahf."
Disc Two Songs
The second disc continues the journey through the Arabic alphabet. It includes songs like "Turn to Allah." It also covers more letters and Islamic concepts. For example, "F" is for Fatihah, which is the first chapter of the Qur'an. There's also a song about the Qur'an itself.
Other songs teach about the Kalimah (the declaration of faith) and Muhammad Rasul-Allah (Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah). The album also includes songs about Hijrah (the migration of Prophet Muhammad) and Wu'du (washing before prayer). The final songs include "Yawm Ad-Deen" (the Day of Judgment) and a reprise of "A Is for Allah." The album ends with a "Last Word."
