Album review: The Very Best of Sami Yusuf



I know it is so outdated to review this but I can't help to write here how I love this album by Sami Yusuf. My husband always fond of his one of the popular song in Jejak Rasul, and we waited the credits of the tv programme to find out who is the singer. The song is Asma Allah.

We found this album at small kiosk in Restoran Jejantas Sungai Buloh and brought it back to Miri. The album was produced by Awakening Records, which also produced the album by Maher Zain. (Sami Yusuf no longer in this label as he moved to EMT Internation since 2009) .The songs included here are: Asma Allah, Al-Mu'allim, Eid Song, Allahu, Forever Palestine, Try not to Cry (feat. Outlandish), Supplication, My Ummah, Anything for You, Hasbi Rabbee, Ya Rasulullah, A Thousand Times, Mother, Hasbi Rabbee (live) and Al-Mu'allim (live).

My favourite song: Hasbi Rabbee (live) - as it have so many fantastic musical instruments
                             Try not to Cry (feat. Outlandish) - like hearing Yuna in man version
                             Al-Mu'allim (live)

To compare Sami Yusuf and Maher Zain is not fair, since Sami Yusuf is the senior in the industry, but their issues and messages in their songs are quite similar. While Maher Zain's songs are more catchy, Sami Yusuf in this album is more toward sufism.

Not to forget, the lyrics are calming and soothing, and give me another info , like in Al-Mu'allim,

"Abal Qasim, Ya Habibi Ya Muhammad,
Ya Shafi'i Ya Muhammad
Khayru Khalqillahi Muhammad" (Abal Qasim is one of the names of the Prophet)

The other song, Try not to Cry (feat. Outlandish) has telling a story about Prophet Daud and Jalut and their wars,
"Ayn Jalut where David slew Goliath/ This very same place that we be at/Passing through the sands of times/ This land's been thevictim of countless crimes/From Crussaders and Mongols to the present aggression/ Then the Franks, now even a crueller oppression/......'

The lyrics in Mother is just so beautifully-written, made me miss my mother..hmm
"Blessed is your face/Blessed is your name/ My beloved/ Bless is your smile/ Which makes my soul want to fly/ My beloved/ All the nights/ And all the times/That you cared for me/ But I never realised it/ and now it's too late/ Forgive me/..."

The lyrics in Al-Mu'allim (again), telling the sacrifice by our Prophet, and made us thinking that we should not just be a mere followers, but more than that.
"He prayed while others slept/ While others ate he'd fast/ while they would laugh he wept/ While they laugh he wept/ Until he breathed his last/ His only wish was for us to be/ Among the ones who prosper/Ya Mu'allim peace be upon you/Truly you are our teacher/Oh Mu'allim.../"

I read in newspaper that Sami Yusuf have new album tribute to Prophet Muhammad, released in this year for Maulidur Rasul. InsyaAllah.