Yusuf Estes, (b. 1 January 1944 in Ohio, grew up in Texas), is an American convert to Islam and former National Muslim Chaplain for the United States Bureau of Prisons and Delegate to the United Nations World Peace Conference for Religious Leaders.
Yusuf Estes was brought up in Houston in a Protestant Christian family; members of the Disciples of Christ.
From 1962 to 1990, his career was 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 Statescable TV in Florida, entitled 'Estes Music Jamboree'.[1] from the mid 1960's until his last endeavor for
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[edit] 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 first-hand and then converted to Islam[2]. He has since pursued Arabic language and Qur'anic studies in Egypt, Morocco and Turkey.[3]
Since 2004, Yusuf Estes has been regularly appearing on Islam Channel 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 WatchIslam.com TV Channels.
His latest efforts are directed toward English speaking Muslim youth and include Muslims sharing videos, and Muslim Chatroom and for young children Preschool Learning
His latest Television series is aimed toward English speaking children of Muslim parents and is entitled, "Qasas Ul Anbiya" - Stories of the Prophets.
[edit] 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 ( including Carnegie Mellon Qatar)
- 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.
[edit] 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."[See Discussion]
[edit] Personal life
Estes is currently semi-retired, living with his wife in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., in the United States.
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