Sami Yusuf was born in July 1980 in Tehran, Iran, but he grew up in London, UK. Sami is a practicing Muslim who sees songs as a means of promoting the message of Islam and encouraging the youth to be proud of their religion and identity.

Sami Yusuf learned to play several instruments at a very young age and gradually began to show a keen interest in singing and composing. He studied under several composers who had graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London.

As Sami Yusuf mentions in his interviews, at the age of sixteen, he was spiritually awakened. He wanted to leave Music and do something for Islam. He even thought about joining Law School instead, but his best friend Bara Kherigi persuaded him otherwise. In 2003 he started working on Al Mu`alim (The Teacher), his first album. Sami and his friends started their company or foundation by the name of Awakening which produces musical products all over the world.

Sami Yusuf can speak fluent English, Persian and Azeri, Sami has also performed many songs in Arabic and Turkish.