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January : January 13.
The Brondesbury College tops the London Borough of Brent’s examination league table with an unbeatable 100% pass rate. The Islamia Girls’ School finishes a highly commendable third with a 95% pass rate.January : January 31.
Yusuf performs at a tsunami benefit concert in Jakarta in aid of the victims of the South East Asia tsunami.February : February 20.
Yusuf receives an award from Friends of Islam in recognition of his “contribution towards a greater understanding between Islam and the West”. Friends of Islam is a UK-based all party Parliamentary group that has a membership of some 125 Parliamentarians.March : March.
Yusuf’s new song ‘Indian Ocean’ officially released as a download in aid of the victims of the South East Asia tsunami.April : April 21.
Yusuf receives a standing ovation during a celebration and remembrance ceremony at the National Theatre, Abu Dhabi. He delivers a short lecture titled ‘Celebrating The Prophet’ and continues with a solo rendition of the classical nashid song, Tala’ al Badru ‘Alayna, and a new arrangement of Wind East And West.May : May 28.
Yusuf is the keynote speaker at the Adopt-A-Minefield Gala in Düsseldorf where he duets with Sir Paul McCartney.June : June 2.
Yusuf travels to Nigeria where members of his International Board of Educational Research and Resources conduct workshops for schools and teachers in the region. Yusuf delivers lectures in Abuja and Lagos.June : June 11.
Together with his wife and son, Yusuf visits Darfur to assess humanitarian needs.July : July 14.
Pupils and staff at Yusuf’s schools stand together in the playground at noon, joining millions of other Londoners in observing a two minute silence to remember those who died in the July 7 attacks.September : September.
The UK Home Office invites Yusuf to convene an education working group to help identify a “full range of education services, in the UK, that meet the needs of the Muslim community.” The working group publishes a range of recommendations.September : September.
Yusuf is invited to the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia to take part in the twice yearly cleaning of the Kabah ceremony. Participation in the ceremony is a blessed privilege afforded to a rare few during which honoured guests ritually clean the Kabah’s structure, both inside and outside.September : September 20.
Yusuf opens the new Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK in Cardiff, Wales.October : October 19.
Yusuf is named Songwriter of the Year by the American Society
of Composers, Authors and Publishers in London and receives Song of the Year honours for The First Cut is the Deepest.October : October 20.
Yusuf delivers ‘The Muslim Citizen in a Global Village’ lecture at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi.November : November 4.
The University of Gloucestershire awards Yusuf an honorary doctorate for services to education and humanitarian relief. -
