It was reported that Cat Stevens and his wife first met through a marriage arrangement as it was a common practice in the Islamic world. There are other claims that Stevens’s late mother, Ingrid Wickman (1915–1989) chose Fauzia for her son to get married to.

Cat Stevens’s first singles include hits: “I Love My Dog” which reached number 28 on the UK Singles Chart. “I’m Gonna Get Me a Gun” was his second UK top-10 single, reaching number 6.

Cat Stevens’ 1967 debut album and its title song “Matthew and Son” both reached the top ten in the UK charts.

Cat Stevens’ albums Tea for the Tillerman (1970) and Teaser and the Firecat (1971) were certified triple platinum in the US. In 2014, Cat Stevens released the album Tell ‘Em I’m Gone and began his first US tour since 1978.

In September 2020, Cat Stevens released Tea for the Tillerman 2, a reimagining of his classic album Tea for the Tillerman to celebrate its 50th anniversary.