Yusuf Estes

Infobox_Philosopher |region = Sheikh Yusuf Estes
color = lightsteelblue


image_size = 200px
image_caption = Sheikh Yusuf Estes
name = Sheikh Yusuf Estes
birth = Birth date|1944|01|01
Ohio, United States
death =
school_tradition = Islam
main_interests = Islamic Dawah
notable_ideas =
influences =
influenced =


box_width = 20em
website = [http://www.islamtomorrow.com]

Sheikh Yusuf Estes, PhD. (born in 1944 in Ohio), is an American convert to Islam and Director of the "Islamic Mission Foundation International", an islamic research group dedicated to presenting the message of Islam in English according to the Quran and Sunnah. [cite news | publisher=Advance, University of Connecticut | date=2003-11-17 | title=Ramadan Awareness Event Designed To Debunk Negative Images | author=Elizabeth Omara-Otunnu | url=http://advance.uconn.edu/2003/031117/03111715.htm]

Background

Yusuf Estes was brought up in Texas in a Protestant Christian family; as members of a Church denomination called the Disciples of Christ. He answered to his nickname "Skip Estes".

Between 1962 to 1990, he had a career in the music industry, entertainment, marketing, as a music instructor and music minister and owned several musical instrument companies including the Estes Piano and Organ Company. He produced and directed live entertainment programs throughout the United States from the mid 1960's until his last endeavor for cable TV in Florida, entitled 'Estes Music Jamboree'. [http://thetruereligion.org/modules/xfsection/article.php?articleid=362 TheTrueReligion.org] ]

Conversion to Islam

In 1991, Estes had business dealings with a Muslim named Mohamed from Egypt. In trying to preach Christianity to Mohamed, Skip Estes learned about the religion of Islam firsthand and thereafter converted to Islam [ [http://www.islamtomorrow.com/Yusuf_story.htm Priests & Preachers Enter Islam] by Chaplain Yusuf Estes] . He has since pursued Arabic language and Qur'anic studies in Egypt, Morocco and Turkey. [ [http://www.islamtomorrow.com/yusuf.asp Yusuf Estes] , on IslamTomorrow.com]

Since 2005, Yusuf Estes has been regularly appearing on IslamChannel in the UK, as well as Peace TV and on Huda TV which are 24/7 Islamic channels broadcasting in many countries around the globe, via satellite and the website [http://www.watchislam.com WatchIslam.com TV Channels] .

His latest efforts are directed toward English speaking Muslim youth and include [http://www.YouTubeIslam.com Muslims sharing videos] , and [http://www.ChatIslam.com Muslim Chatroom] and for young children [http://www.WorldPreschool.com Preschool Learning]

His latest Television series is aimed toward English speaking Muslim children and is entitled, "Qasas Ul Anbiya" - Stories of the Prophets.

Islamic Activities

His Islamic activities have included:
* Volunteer Imam in a Texas military installation.
* National U.S. Chaplain for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, starting 1994.
* Delegate to the United Nations Peace Summit for Religious Leaders in August 2000.
* University guest speaker.
* Television program producer and director, preacher, syndicated television programs on satellite and cable networks.
* Developing many hi-tech Islamic websites, including chatrooms, video conferencing, news sites, reference sites and entertainment sites for youth.
* Estes takes a dim view of public education in the United States for Muslim children, and recommends schools where they might receive an Islamic education as well as a more advanced scholastic education too.

Closing motto

He is also well known for his motto which he regularly uses at the end of speeches and interviews, on the internet, "Visit Islamalways.com, where we're always open 24 hours a day and always plenty of free parking."fix|link=Wikipedia:Contents|text=See Discussion

Personal life

Estes is currently semi-retired, living with his wife in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., in the United States.

References

Further reading

* Blade, David Yonke Toledo. (July 14, 2001) Journal Gazette "Proselytizing preacher finds faith in Islam: Sheik Yusuf Estes." Page 1.
* Tilove, Jonathan. (October 23, 2001) The Star-Ledger "To be a white U.S. Muslim: Converts embrace the oddity." Section: News; Page 10.
* Pinsky, Mark I. (January 6, 2003) Orlando Sentinel "Muslims' radio message: we are regular people." Section: Life & Times; Page C1.
* The Hamilton Spectator (February 14, 2003) "A Christian attends a mosque; A visitor finds a warm welcome and wonders if he'd be as liberal."
* Columbia State (SC). (April 7, 2003) "Chaplain to speak at USC about Islam." Section: Metro/Region; Page B5.
* U-WIRE (March 1, 2004) "U. New Mexico speaker asks religions to unite."
* U-WIRE (April 18, 2005) "Muslim speaker educates U. Northern Colorado students about faith."
* US State News. (April 12, 2006) "National Muslim chaplain Yusuf Estes to speak at senior center on April 14."
* The Modesto Bee (April 22, 2006) "Converted preacher to speak about 'pure Islam.' Section: Lifestyles; Page G1.
* Nomani , Asra Q. (October 22, 2006) Washington Post "Wife-Beating, Chapter and Verse."
* Wen, Sarah. (January 23, 2007 ) University Wire "UCLA Muslim student group to promote Islam, religious unity."

External links

* [http://www.yusufestes.com Yusuf Estes (Official site of Yusuf Estes)]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7657333391410735923&pr=goog-sl The story of how he become a Muslim, as told by him]
* [http://www.watchislam.com Yusuf Estes Videos]
* [http://www.hearislam.com Yusuf Estes Audios]
* [http://www.youtubeislam.com Sharing Video Uploads for Yusuf Estes]
* [http://www.newu.uci.edu/showArticle.php?id=5323 www.newu.uci.edu]
* [http://advance.uconn.edu/2003/031117/03111715.htm advance.uconn.edu]
* [http://dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/2007/jan/22/week_promote_islam_religious_unity/ dailybruin.ucla.edu]
* [http://gec.tamucc.edu/article.pl?sid=06/10/22/1720214&mode=thread gec.tamucc.edu]
* [http://www.stp.uh.edu/vol71/27/news/news4.html www.stp.uh.edu]
* [http://www.da.wvu.edu/archives/021104/news/021104,01,04.html www.da.wvu.edu]
* [http://www.hartford.edu/Daily/events.asp?id=819 www.hartford.edu]