Jermaine Jackson: Islam would have saved Michael
Jermaine Jackson, who performed with his brother Michael as a member of the Jackson 5 and later became a high-profile convert to Islam, tells the BBC World Service that the faith would have saved him.
"I felt that if Michael would have embraced Islam he would still be here today and I say that for many reasons," Jackson tells the BBC's Ed Butler. "Why? Because when you are 100 per cent clear in your mind as to who you are and what you are and why you are and everybody around you, then things change in a way that’s better for you. It’s just having that strength. God is so powerful. He was studying. He was reading a lot of books, because I brought him books from Saudi Arabia. I brought him books from Bahrain. I was the one who originally put him in Bahrain because I wanted him to get out of America because it was having a cherry-picking time on my brother."
Butler asks whether Michael was willing to convert.
"Not that he wasn’t willing to convert," Jackson responds. "All of his security became Muslims because he trusted Islam, because these are people who would lay their lives down and also who were trying to be the best kind of human beings they could possibly be not for Michael Jackson, for Allah. So having those people around, you knew that you would be protected because it is protection from God.
"Michael was most concerned about children around the world going to bed without food. He would talk about it. And he was concerned about our planet, what we are doing to this planet because of greed. And that was his whole thing to bring an awareness. He was doing these things before the Al Gores, and global warming-ists, he was on it. And he sung about it. He did videos about it. Spent millions and millions and millions of dollars on videos just to show the world for three minutes, look at what we are doing."
More excerpts from the interview, which is scheduled to air Friday, after the jump.
On Michael’s child molestation charges and the posthumous adoration he should have received in life
Butler: Did you ever believe the child molestation charges brought against him?
Jackson: Do you believe them?
Butler: Well they were certainly discounted in court.
Jackson: He was cleared on all counts. The child Jordan Chandler came and said he had never touched him. His father committed suicide. And that’s what I mean about the media to attack my brother and to shame him around the world because of something that they know he did not do. And still a lot of people don’t want to believe it. The love that they are giving my brother now he is dead, is the love they should have shown him when he was alive. The FBI investigated my brother for 17 years and found nothing. And then they just vindicated him after his death. So that’s the BS that America does. It’s bullshit. And I will say they clearly should have given him that when he was alive. That would have made him feel better within his heart.
On life after Michael and being the Jackson family ‘rock’
Butler: What’s it been like since Michael’s passing?
Jackson: It’s been tough. There aren’t no words to describe the feeling. It’s a feeling that one would only know once they experience it. We are just learning to live with it. We’ll never get over it and it’s very tough.
EB: Do you miss him?
JJ: I miss him very, very much because we’ve been so connected throughout our lives, since the very beginning. We share a history that’s just unbelievable, from childhood all the way up to adult age. And what comes to mind is the memories of the tours and music and even before that, us just around the house, going to elementary school and things like that, it’s amazing.
Healing comes from performing the songs, accepting awards on his behalf, doing tributes and things like that because it’s just something that you can’t explain. You have to just remember all the good memories and all the things that he did and that he’s still doing and inspiring through his music and through his whole belief in trying to make this world a one-ness. That was his message in his music and his belief. That was his wake up.
Butler: You were there talking to the media on the day he died in Los Angeles. You were described as a “rock” to the family. Is that a role you recognise?
Jackson: I don’t really look at it like that. I just step forward and take charge. I don’t like hearing things that are not true about my family, it disturbs me quite a bit and I just have to say something and I have to let the world know that’s not who we are, this is who we are. And when the media takes a left-turn then I have to get them back on track.
On visiting Michael’s body in the morgue and how the media only understood him after death
Butler: Shortly after he died you spoke movingly about going to visit his body in the morgue. And you said at the time “I thought all about what they put him through”. Who are they?
Jackson: The media, the conspiracy, there are always people out to get you in your life when you are successful. My description of Hollywood is a beautiful woman with a sore on the side of her face and if you kiss her you will get infected. That’s Hollywood. And they smile in your face and they mean something else. Everybody that pats you on your back is not your friend. And they understood Michael after he was gone, they didn’t understand him while he was here.
On protecting Michael’s legacy and that of the Jackson family
Butler: Do you see your role now as protecting Michael’s legacy?
Jackson: Not just my responsibility, the whole entire family’s. Jackie’s, Rebbie’s, Tito’s, Marlon’s, Randy’s, Janet’s, La Toya’s, myself. It’s all of our role, to keep not just his legacy alive but the whole entire Jackson family. Because we are a family first, before all of this music and success. We’re family. We were a family before that, even if that goes away we will continue to be a family.
Jermaine on his unborn daughters and naming his son ‘Jermajesty’
Butler: You have seven kids yourself now, having lots of kids seems to run in the Jackson tradition.
Jackson: Well there's seven, and I'm having two more girls. The reason being is because I have six boys and one girl now, so when I have two more girls I'll be just like my father - three girls and six boys.
Butler: Have you planned names for them yet?
Jackson: Mecca and Medina.
Butler: No J's this time? You have six Js. Jermaine Junior, you've got a Jermajesty.
Jackson: Yes. He's the nine year old. ...But there is Jermaine Junior, Jeremy, Jourdynn, Jaimy, Jaafar and Jermajesty, and my daughter Autumn, who is the one girl.
Butler: How did you come up with a name like Jermajesty? It’s extraordinary.
Jackson: Jermajesty’s name came from not knowing what I’m going to name him and it’s part of my name which is J-E-R-M-A and instead of going I-N-E, I just said Jermajesty. And when I named him I didn’t think it was going to do anything but the media jumped on it. But the name was made up. I didn’t want him to have a nickname like Jerm or something so I said call him his name, Jermajesty, that’s his name, Jermajesty.
Comments
That Michael Jackson was talented and the mark he left on the music industry is undisputed. The persona and lifestyle he, himself, presented are subject to public opinion and judgement, good or bad. Unfortunately, we will be listening to this simple drivel from his family without end. Ugh.
Posted by: ruth | June 23, 2010 8:25 PM
The only thing that could have saved Michael Jackson was knowing Christ. Thats the way it is for any of us. We are only one heartbeat away from eternity, not knowing when our time will come to leave here. Many make an attempt to know Him, then walk away and pass away before they truly accept Him. The devil puts all kinds of things in our path to keep us from doing the right thing. Show business has more distractions than most occupations. One of the worst things that seems to go along with show business is drugs. Many stars started on drugs fairly early in their careers; Elvis in 1961 I believe was given pep pills by a dj. It is rumored that MGM gave Judy Garland pills when she was a teenager. Jim Morrison did many drugs, even while on stage. All of these stars died from it. Michael Jackson was no exception. How much was his latest facial transformation affected by drugs? Drugs distort your thinking. There were so many things in the way of this man knowing Christ. We need to keep things simple in our lives.
Posted by: Clay | June 24, 2010 8:52 AM
Only Jesus saves, jermaine. Perhaps you should try Him.
Posted by: Henryo | June 24, 2010 9:07 AM
I don't think anything could've saved Michael. He was too darn weird.
Posted by: Sean O'Donnell | June 24, 2010 11:01 AM
for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
Clay, do you presume to know whether Michael Jackson knew Christ or not?
Posted by: Camille Quelquejeu | June 24, 2010 11:19 AM
Well Camille, when someone knows Christ, you generally hear it coming out of them. I never heard any such thing coming out of Michael Jackson. What I read was he asked his doctor for his "milk" to get to sleep. Jim Morrison was in the bathtub on heroin and asked his girlfriend if she was there right before he died because she was in another room. So if they knew Christ, they were doing drugs to escape whatever when they died. When you truly know Him, you dont need to escape to somewhere else. Did they come to know Christ before they died? I hope so. I you read my post above, I didnt say that he didnt know Him. I said that there were many things in the way of it. What was in your heart when you decided to respond? God bless.
Posted by: Clay | June 24, 2010 12:24 PM
I recently rounded up a bunch of questions and answers from this Islam Q & A site. The answers from the Mullah were ridiculous. And not to mention hilarious.
http://doodiepants.com/2010/06/22/questions-and-answers-from-islam-qa-com-part-1/
The best thing is.......it's all true and straight from the horses mouth.
Posted by: Billy | June 24, 2010 12:41 PM
God only knows what was in my heart, Clay.
It's too hot to argue today. I'm going for a swim.
Posted by: Camille Quelquejeu | June 24, 2010 1:02 PM
"when someone knows Christ, you generally hear it coming out of them. I never heard any such thing coming out of Michael Jackson"
Clay while you may be correct who are you to judge?
Posted by: Anonymous | June 24, 2010 1:41 PM
I am not judging anyone. Perhaps he knew Christ. I am pointing out what distracted him, which is easily seen. How do you know that I dont have good intentions?
"Every time I think I've had enough,
And start heading for the door,
There's a very strange vibration,
Piercing me right through the core.
It says turn around you fool,
You know you love her more and more.
Tell me why,
Is it so.
I dont wanna let you go.
I never can say goodbye girl.
I never can say goodbye,
No no no, no no no.
I keep thinking that our problems,
Soon are all gonna work out.
But there's that same unhappy feelin',
There's that anguish, there's that doubt.
It's that same old dizzy hangup,
Can't do with you or without.
Tell me why,
Is it so.
I don't wanna let you go.
I never can say goodbye girl.
I never can say goodbye,
No no no, no no no."
At one year ago today, no one knows where Michael is except God. Thanks.
Posted by: Clay | June 25, 2010 9:17 AM
I just wonder whether the priests and Arch bishops havent yet known Jesus.they seem to have hard time keeping their hands of little kids.
@billy good one with the Q&A I couldn't stop laughing at how ignorant you are.
So Jackson,Monroe,Elvis,tupacedi guerrerow,Chris benoit, all had a hard time knowing Jesus.Why dont just follow the book that Paul and holy spirit brought out.All the answers are given there.
Posted by: Kryon | June 27, 2010 3:01 PM
I Know the truth about Michael Jackson and his Faith In God. and, stop believing in those ugly tabold media rumors!!!!! Go vist this website http://www.ReflectionsOnTheDance.com and know the real MJ!!!!
Posted by: Hope | June 29, 2010 6:19 PM
Thanks a lot Hope. In a cynical world that was what we really needed.
God bless.
Posted by: Dana LaRocca | June 29, 2010 6:37 PM
Help Clear Michael's Name: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmPxoyu9F3s
One of the Most Shameful Episodes In Journalistic History
http://huff.to/bbiyo3
Posted by: Faith | June 29, 2010 7:28 PM
Michael did profess Christ. Islam has done nothing for Jermaine.
Jermaine needs to close to his mouth. He was left out of the will with the rest of the siblings. Deal with it.
Posted by: Astrid | June 30, 2010 2:45 PM
Jermaine says if Michael beleieved in islam he would be alive today. I don't agree. No matter what religion you are everyone is going to die!! it says it in the bible. Jermaine seems to not want to except life or death for what it is. And Jermaine doesn't beleive in Christ anyways,as far as I'm concerned, Muslims beleive in god, But not Jesus. And just because Jermaine doesn't beleive in Jesus doesn't mean Michael didn't know christ well. Religion of Islam has nothing to do with being saved. Everyone is going to die, period. I mean, I DON'T have anything against Jermaine. But Jesus does save lifes and god does too
Posted by: Anonymous | July 2, 2010 6:11 PM
@anonymous wrong info dude Muslims do believe in Christ.just like they believe moses,Abraham,and Adam and lastly Prophet Muhammad(SM).Fortunately they dont believe that the universe revolves around the sun or Moon's light is its own light like the Bible said.because in Quran theres no room for scientific errors.What people should realise is what drives people like Cat Stevens,Jermaine,Muhammad Ali,Yusuf Estes, French scientist Jacque Iv Cousteau and really smart scientists accept Islam.
Posted by: kryon | July 7, 2010 7:45 AM