A little wave pushed Yusuf Islam

A little wave pushed Yusuf Islam, once Cat Stevens, to Islam

Sun Dec 3, 3:55 PM ET

Yusuf Islam, formerly the pop star Cat Stevens, said that a small wave literally washed him ashore and pushed him toward Islam, in an interview with CBS television.

Islam, who recently released his first commercial album in nearly three decades, "An Other Cup" said that he got caught in a current off Malibu beach in California in 1975 and prayed for help.

"Suddenly I was petrified. I thought this might be it," he said. "I said, 'God, if you save me, I'll work for you.'"

"And then a little wave, you know, came behind me," he said. "It wasn't very big. But it was that miraculous moment when suddenly the tide was going in my favor."

The singer, now 58, said he was already on a spiritual quest, but that the frightening swim gave him a push. He read a copy of the Koran given to him by his brother. Two years later he converted to Islam, changed his name and ended his career as a pop singer.

Islam made headlines in 2004 when a US-bound plane he was in was diverted due to post-September 11 security measures.

As Stevens, the singer had several hits in the 1970s, including "Wild World," "Moonshadow" and "Father and Son." But early reviews of his new album have not been enthusiastic.

Yusuf Islam, pictured in 2004, formerly the pop star Cat Stevens, said that a small wave literally washed him ashore and pushed him toward Islam, in an interview with CBS television.(AFP/File/Paolo Cocco)