As a rapper, at the beginning of Islam, Abd al-Malik was upset when he heard of Islam is not in line with his chosen musical art. In his autobiography, entitled Sufi Rapper (2009), 'Abd al-Malik said the French rap culture was born in the context of racism and xenophobia (fear of strangers excessive) are widespread.
He lived in a ghetto (the residence of the immigrant minorities) in France. "When I was in school, I often see politicians saying 'We are all French,' but I'd never seen a black man was on television. There was no French politician who is black, "he said.
He still remembers how he criticized the lack of opportunities for the children of immigrants, as well as the climate of poverty and crime in their homes. This was further exacerbated discrimination in many ways, also abuse by police. Therefore, when it became popular in the 1990s, criticized rap music as an art that glorifies violence and heightens racial tensions.
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Before embracing Islam, he was named Regis. Born in Paris on March 14, 1975 with the name Régis Fayette-Mikano. In 1977, a small Regis bloody Congolese parents take them back to their home country and live in Brazzaville (the capital as well as the largest city in the Republic of Congo). Régis spent his childhood there, before he and his family returned to France and settled in the ghetto district called Neuhof (southern city of Strasbourg) in 1981.
When Regis a teenager, her father left home. Since then, her mother had to struggle alone Regis raise and educate children. And since it did, Regis began to grow into petty criminals.
In his new, harsh environments, without a father, Regis learning meets the limitations and shortcomings he found in the house. From petty crimes he does, he continues to grow into criminals who managed to build dominance with some friends.
He snatching and stealing cars, in order to generate money that can not be obtained from the home. In that condition, Regis serving three life roles at once. He was a child who struggles to maintain his family, students who excel in school, and a wily street criminals.
Regis also chose to channel the frustration of rap music, as well as telling stories and convey social criticism of all that happened. Inspired by American rap in the 1980s, Abd al-Malik joined with his brother and a group of friends and create a New African Poets, abbreviated as NAP.
Amid kekritisannya, Régis hooked on the Black Power movement and idolized Malcolm X as a black Muslim hero who had dared to oppose injustice. For him and a number of immigrant youth in France at that time, Islam offers a challenging identity.
Knowledge gained from Islam Islamic preachers who preach in the streets. At the age of 16, Regis decided to convert to Islam and changed his name to Abd al-Malik. For several years thereafter, with the Muslims, he toured France for calling young men to go to the mosque, and lengthen the beard grow, and stop drinking alcohol and taking drugs.
Some time involved, Abd al Malik saw a popular teaching in French ghettos is not something that is explicitly violent. However, he said the Sufi Rapper, a fanatical teachings encourage young immigrants to revile everything secular, modern and westernized. "And that just deepens our sense of isolation," he said.
That's where he returned to find his inner turmoil within. As a teenager, Abd al Malik feel the sincerity and passion for Islam as great as his desire to rap, an art that should he scorn and stay away. "Because rap music is modern and westernized it."
Abd al Malik caught in a paradox for several years. "That hurt," he said. Pain was getting into because he financed his music with a crime and being a drug dealer. "These actions were not very religious."
Until finally, one day, Abd al Malik went to a local criminal leaders and asked for a loan. After that, holding a garbage bag full of money, Abd al Malik sat down and cried alone in her apartment.
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Inner turmoil that prompted him to get a deeper understanding about his faith. In that search, he received an answer from Sufism, a contemplative branch of Islamic Sufism.
He met a spiritual teacher from North Africa who taught that the essence of religion is love and awareness of the spiritual nature of every human being. "So, Islam is a religion of love. Islam is peace with yourself and others, "he said.
He came to the conclusion, that the position of Islam as a religious minority with a minority within Islam itself. "And that is not the real Islam."
Shift in thinking that broaden Abd al Malik about rap music and its role through art. He began writing songs for his solo album, and brought the message calling for inter-racial understanding. One song, "12 September 2001," is a plea to separate politics and religion. An other song, "God Bless France," describes the evolution of his personal hatred of patriotism.
In his autobiography, 'Abd al-Malik wrote that in his music, he was just trying to translate the language of the heart. He also decided to leave the rap hard and began collaborating with various musicians to develop a new sound that mixes jazz music, singing, and poetry aesthetic criticism.
When the other rappers continue to create 'music anger' and-some of them-were accused of inciting violence, Abd al Malik stays with his choice. Rather than criticize the French system, Abd al Malik pushed the country to live up to the ideals of democracy. Through his music has won numerous awards, he pointed out that Muslims do not have to avoid things modern. "Especially if we can do something with it."
source: kisahmuallaf.com
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