MJ or Zain Bhikha?

Give Thanks To Allah
Is it Michael Jackson or Zain Bhikha singing in praise of Allah?
And has Michael converted to Islam?
I know the story of Michael Jackson's serious flirtation with Islam is an old one. But it rekindled my interest over the May Day holidays when I happened to catch the nashid, "Give Thanks To Allah". My kids, Adel and Shaira downloaded it. I happened to be near Adel's room and heard a nashid sung by someone who sure sounded like Michael. You know, the Michael Jackson -- Ben, I'll Be There, Thriller, Billy Jean. Adel and Shaira insisted it was MJ. I was convinced too.

Here's a re-cap of the story:
For some time since his acquittal in 2005 on child molestation charges in the US and his move later to Bahrain, pop star Michael Jackson had been rumoured to have shown deep and serious interest in Islam. Then, last year, the rumour mill worked overtime with speculations that he would be converting to Islam.

I'd like to know if he has already by now. Just curious.
It is entirely possible. After all, his older brother, Jermaine Jackson (Mohammed Abdul Aziz since his conversion to Islam in 1989) was instrumental in encouraging him to read about the religion.
Really, anything is possible. Besides, stranger things have happened.

In February this year, Jermaine gave an interview to The Muslim News (UK), predicting that Michael will convert to Islam.
Jermaine was sure that his brother would convert to Islam because Michael had shown a lot of interest in the religion.
"When I came back from Makkah [Mecca] I got him a lot of books and he asked me lots of things about my religion and I told him that it's peaceful and beautiful. He read everything and he was proud of me that I found something that would give me inner strength and peace. I think it is most probable that Michael will convert to Islam," he was quoted to have said.

Now, the nashid, "Give Thanks To Allah" which, incidentally, was recorded about 3 years ago, has really piqued my interest. Like I said, it sure sounds like MJ. If it really is MJ singing Allah's praises, then it is indeed hard to imagine that he is NOT a Muslim because his enunciation and intonation of Arabic seem faultless. Perfect. It is beautfully sung.
Then again, MJ is such a professional that he would have got expert help to perfect his Arabic pronounciation.
There are sources who say that this song was sung by nashid artiste Zain Bhikha. I don't know Zain Bhikha but those who are familiar with him, are convinced that it was him, not MJ.
And then there are those who claim that it was sung by Yusuf Islam (the former Cat Stevens). This, I find very hard to believe. I mean, Yusuf? Michael? A world of a difference between them.
Anyway, while in Bahrain, Michael reportedly donated a large sum of money towards the building of a state-of-the-art mosque. He did so as a token of appreciation to the Bahraini people who had treated him well, as one of their own.

If you can download the song, listen to it. Here's the one in youtube. What do you think?

Here are the lyrics:

Give thanks to Allah,
For the moon and the stars
Praise Him all day for,
What is and what was
Take hold of your iman
Dont give in to shaitan
Oh you who believe please give thanks to Allah.

Allahu ghafur
Allahu rahim
Allahu yuhibbu'l-muhsinin,
Wa-khaliqhuna
Wa-raziqhuna
Wa-huwa `ala kull ah-sha'in qadir

Allah is Ghafur
Allah is Rahim
Allah is the one who loves the muhsinin,
He is our creator
He is our sustainer
And He is the one who has power over all.

Amin