why do celebrities converted to islamwhy do celebrities converted to islam

In 2006 Caleb Carter from Colombia Missouri converted to Islam.[4]. Naturally, as human beings are prone to do we begin to question the nature of life. On "Grey's Anatomy," he played Isaac, a Muslim lab tech who learns that he has an inoperable tumor, then demonstrates patience, faith and optimism in the face of that diagnosis. The years have passed but the denunciation of Islam has grown more and more insidious, culminating in President Trumps vaguely worded executive order seemingly doing little more than targeting Muslims. He adopted it after converting to Islam during an 18-and-half-year prison stretch for armed robbery and kidnapping. I dont know what kind of spiritual power it takes to conquer such challenges, and I dont know if born Muslims would have been able to do the same had they been put in your situation. Converting to Islam - BBC - Home Ali is also thefirst Muslim actor to win an Academy Award. Your email address will not be published. [1] In Britain the number of converts to Islam almost doubled between 2001 and 2010; from 61,000 to 100,000. "Before sacrificing we should share a bond with that thing otherwise just killing of an animal will not serve the purpose. Some fans still call me Lew, then seem annoyed when I ignore them. That's what Jesus did with his disciples. But at the time I was adding my voice to the civil rights movement by denouncing the legacy of slavery and the religious institutions that had supported it. Born Michel Dimitri Chalhoub, the three-time Golden Globe-winning actorconverted to Islam in 1955 to marry Egyptian actress Faten Hamama, whom he later divorced in 1974. List of Celebrities Who Converted to Islam for - Home - Entertainism . He characterized Islam as the religion of peace, brotherhood and universal values. A little wave came from behind. The people were questioning the right of the Western Empires to rule over vast numbers of people. "I say I was born a Muslim. I'm cool with it. However, the boxer made little reference to his new faith upon his release from prison. The former One Direction band member was raised Muslim by his mother, who converted to the religion, and his British-Pakistani father. To my ever growing family of Muslims, May you find your new homes inside our hearts, through our prayers and within our love and support. Find out which ones actually did and which ones didn't! Becoming Muslim feels like the final step to reaching true peace. Theres no middleman here. Why some people were born in luxury and ease and others into chaos and despair. I feel the same way. Id always been an exceptional student, so when I wanted to know more about Islam, I found a teacher in Hammas Abdul-Khaalis. He converted to Islam in 1971, while still playing with the Milwaukee Bucks. In 1995, A Tribe Called Quest rapperQ-Tipprofessed his shahada and converted to Islam. So, no one can tell me that music is haram," or forbidden, he said. Thus they set out on a journey of discovery that led to many thousands of them to the religion that was being vilified. I should know. Or perhaps a tornado had hit the converts house, and Muslims came along and helped them. You may also like: Arabic Conjugation (Verb), Pronouns and the Quran. Akon, the R&B singer known for hits like "Smack That" and "I Wanna Love You," is a Muslim; his full name is Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam. "I read the Koran and it appealed to me," Q-Tip told The Guardian of his conversion. Islam is a religion of open and honest communication with God. June 18, 2020 / 1:41 PM The poster boy for how anybody from any background regardless of race, religion or economic standing could achieve the American dream. The Compton native converted to Islam in 1993 and quickly shacked up with the controversial Nation of Islam. "Allah he's going to let it be what it be, and whenever he wants to fix it, he's going to fix it," the Wu-Tang Clan rapper said. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Janet Jackson is now Muslim: 10 celebrities you didn't know converted You will not see all the features of some websites. When they have a motivation that is biblical, such as the desire to be righteous, that becomes a point of connection. May you find your new homes inside our hearts, through our prayers and within our love and support. And He is most knowing of the (rightly) guided (Holy Quran, 28:56), To all of those who never inherited this beautiful religion but actually sought it out like a rare gem. Finally, dont be in a hurry. Some fans took it very personally, as if I had firebombed their church while tearing up an American flag. However, this event that has led to confusion and anger has done a little bit more than President Trump expected. 1. They'd rather be in the Islamic group than to be subject to molestation. And although it is too soon to see any evidence it is easy to predict that many of the protesters have started their own journeys of discovery. Some famous converts to the Muslim faith were previously Christian, while others weren't very religious. "You're either devoted to your job, or to your desires. But unlike Sameeah, 35, who has Pakistani heritage and grew up reading the holy book, Aisha is newer to it: she used to be called Laura and only converted to Islam two years ago. I came to realize that the Lew Alcindor everyone was cheering wasnt really the person they imagined. In 2017 rapper Lupe Fiasco, born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, told the Chicago Tribune that "I think you've got a lot of people who want to represent and show the world that Islam is not just some Arab dude with a full gown and a long beard. Honestly, no matter what the reasons are, I believe theres a higher divine wisdom that we can never fully conceive. Seriously, how do you guys do it? The American rapper converted to Islam in 2009. The goals and desires of the convert. Just over 100 years later many people are asking the same sorts of questions about womens rights and the right of some countries and some people to rule over others against their will. The Wild World singer formally converted to Islam at the end of 1977, adopting the name Yusuf Islam the following year. In 2005 she even appeared on the reality television series I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall went on to publish an English translation of the Quran, which remains a standard work to this day. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera America's editorial policy. Arabic Conjugation (Verb), Pronouns and the Quran, 5 Reasons Why I am A Muslim From My Heart, 9 Gratitude Teachings from the Quran and Sunnah, 3 Spiritual and Emotional Benefits of Seeking Istighfar. And journeys begin when people begin to ask questions. [1] http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/number-muslims-u-s-doubles-9-11-article-1.1071895, [2] http://www.brin.ac.uk/2010/converts-to-islam/, [3] http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/03/four-ways-911-changed-americas-attitude-toward-religion/, [4] http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/americans-who-converted-to-islam-after-9-11-share-stories-of-acceptance-fear-of-rhetoric-129414428.html, [5] http://www.news.com.au/world/lauren-booth-explains-why-she-feel-in-love-with-islam/news-story/1cb6edf2b249087cd19e51e37d757cb7, (This article is from Reading Islams archive and was originally published at an earlier date.). Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. However, generally avoids talking about his faith, explaining that he does not want Islam to be associated with his personal shortcomings. It's cool. Thousands of Americans of all colors and creeds have joined forces and protests at airports across The USA. "At the end of the day, I think that's pretty much what grounds me in the way that I think most people should be grounded. Now they're reading the Bible and theyre saying, Wow. The comic reeled in his public appearances after his split from Comedy Central, but in 2016 exploded back onto the scene with a $20 million Netflix deal. I'm probably not getting out of here. The intolerance attacks hail on all Muslims like thunderbolts, blaming Islam for the carnage and never giving a chance to explain. The former heavy-weight champion converted to Islam in the mid-1990s when he was serving time in prison. MC Ren is best known for his work with hip-hop pioneers N.W.A. He was born Alvin Antonio Burke, Jr. When asked in a2010 interviewwho he thought the best center of all time was, Shaq answered, "Another Muslim brother, Hakeem Olajuwon." In 1990, he converted to Islam and changed his name to Kamaal Ibn John Fareed. The tide somehow had changed and I was able to get back to land. Even though I became a Muslim more than 40 years ago, Im still defending that choice. I'm also listening for their core concerns, their life-controlling and life-defining values and issues. While this is understandable given Ali's status in the industry, it means another all-time great is often overlooked. He then led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA Championships in 1994 and 1995, taking home the title of NBA Finals MVP both years as well. However, she quickly fell out of favor with American audiences when she desecrated a picture of Pope John Paul II on an episode of Saturday Night Life. I had to bow down.. While MVP is certainly the name that people will recognize the most, iHassan Hamin Assad remains the wrestler's legal name. Only God can do that; and God can convert somebody gradually, or in a dramatic moment. The following is adapted from an interview with Dr. Carl Ellis on Crescent Project's Podcast (Listen to Part 1 of the Interview). Christians often put an emphasis on a conversion experience, rather than on discipleship. And may peace always and forever be upon you, >>> Understand the Quran in as little as 10 minutes/day. Jesus said, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.). You also probably know that he was once disqualified for biting Evander Holyfield's ear. In the early 1960s, the Kentucky native was the hottest young prospect in professional boxing. To him, Christianity was a foundation of the white culture responsible for enslaving blacks and supporting the racism that permeated society. Sorry, your comment was not saved due to a technical problem. We shouldnt be holding out for a particular conversion experience. It is not clear if Chappelle still practices the faith. After signing with WWE - the Mecca of professional wrestling - he became known as Montel Vontavious Porter. "Even if you look at the daily prayers in Islam, we pray in melody. I introduce them to the Bible, but Im not putting pressure on them to convert. In 2008, various reports came out that Michael had converted to Islam. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Los Angeles in 1970. The former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Mike Tyson has held all three major championship belts that boxing has to offer. Most famous converts to Islam changed their names when they adopted their new faith. Booth finally made her Shahadah in 2010.Enter your text here Outside of Muhammad Ali, Cat Stevens' conversion to Islam is perhaps the most famous. But the more I studied history, the more disillusioned I became with the role of Christianity in subjugating my people. Eventually, Malcolm rejected the group right before three of its members assassinated him. 31 famous celebrities who are Muslim - CBS News - Breaking news, 24/7 She rose to international fame in 1990 with her cover of the Prince classic "Nothing Compares 2 U". His conversion did not become public knowledge until 2010, when he tweeted a picture of himself clad in a white robe and stationed outside the Kaaba during his Hajj. Is there a more famous conversion than that of Cassius Clay? This was the first album to be released under the Yusuf Islam name and proved a massive success. That stuff is minutiae. Some non-Muslims practice our faith without even knowing it, while some Muslims need to convert to Islam and start learning about their religion. "My religion plays a big role in my success," he said. Every cable news show suddenly had their stable of Muslim experts.[3]. The Turkish-American doctor is also a Muslim. God is not subject to time, time is subject to him. I'll play the other games. His stock as an artist rose exponentially in 2005, when he walked away from a $50 million contract with Comedy Central in protest of the direction the network had taken. It makes sense to worship the Creator alone, and not His creations. Growing up in the 1960s, I wasnt exposed to many black role models. I was riveted by Malcolms story of how he came to realize that he was the victim of institutional racism that had imprisoned him long before he landed in an actual prison. Did you know that they celebrities were Muslim? We both reverted to Islam six months ago.. This is the final part of a four article series discussing conversion to Islam as a process of discovery. "I'm Muslim and Egypt was a very progressive place. Who is the most famous person who converted to Islam? Many are born Muslim while other has convert. The question Im often asked is why I had to pick a religion so foreign to American culture and a name that was hard for people to pronounce. [NB: YouTube has restricted our show to limited advertisements because it claims our content is too \"controversial\" (i.e. Keep reading to see what these celebrities had to say about being a part of the Islamic faith. The video of the interview has since been removed from YouTube and it is not clear if O'Neal still practices the faith. Although I was greatly influenced by Malcolm X, a leader in the Nation of Islam, I chose not to join because I wanted to focus more on the spiritual rather than political aspects. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Abdul-Jabbar detailed his reasons for converting in an editorial piece for Al Jazeera. Now Im Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the manifestation of my African history, culture and beliefs. Then again, maybe the path isnt supposed to be smooth; maybe its supposed to be filled with obstacles and detours and false discoveries in order to challenge and hone ones beliefs. Evidently, there is much of Sinad O'Connor to be found in Shuhada' Davitt. "It's just about doing positive You fear not doing the right the thing.". This decision set me on an irreversible course to spiritual fulfillment. Then, a few months after 9/11, he picked up a guitar again. This was later shortened to simply MVP. ", Ahmed has frequently spoken outabout the realities of being Muslim in western countries. According to USA Today, Tyson converted to Islam in the 1990s. In a never before published letter, Ali tells his former wife why he joined the Nation of Islam. Pakistani-American actor Faran Tahir, best known for his roles in "Iron Man," "Star Trek" and "24," is Muslim in real life has also played memorable Muslim characters onscreen. Instead, we should be looking for faith: does the person really believe in Jesus? By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. List of 10 hollywood and bollywood celebrities who converted in islam from Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Paganism, Atheism. Since then, Westerners have been converting to the religion in droves. God is the one who brings transformation to the lives of our friends, and he does it in his time. Although I had my doubts about some of Hammas instruction, I rationalized them away because of the great spiritual fulfillment I was experiencing. The word Islam was literally the highest rated search term on Google for a long time. He's on his way, he gets knocked down, and the Lord confronts him. First published on December 18, 2015 / 3:47 PM. Supercharge your understanding of the words of Allah SWT in your worship. After leading the University of Houston to three Final Fours, Olajuwon was selected by the Houston Rockets as the first overall pick of the 1984 NBA draft, over Michael Jordan. His name felt like a branded scar of shame. Around this same time, he changed his name to "Yusuf Islam". They wanted me to be the clean-cut example of racial equality. Then in 1971, when I was 24, I converted to Islam and became Kareem . Jermaine Jackson was raised as a Jehovah's Witness but converted to Islam later in life, after a trip to Bahrain. During his time behind bars - which ultimately lasted a mere three years - Tyson converted to Islam. Several famous rappers, actors, and athletes have converted to Islam. Time to quote the familiar Quran verse echoing in your mind right now? Under the guidance of prominent Islamic scholars, Stevens retired from pop music and even went so far as to ask his record label to pull all of his albums from circulation. In 2011, John Blake, writing a blog for news network, CNN correctly noted that, The 9/11 attacks prompted more Americans to learn about Islam. "My mother is an ordained minister, I'm a Muslim. When I ask a disciple to tell me their stories, I have a database of biblical stories in my head. Start your journey to easily understand the Quran in Arabic. Many celebrities are rumored to have converted to Islam. At 17, Yousafzai became the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. JazkaAllah Khairan. In the mid-1960s, Cassius Clay changed his name to MuhammadAli after converting to Islam. After a year I could not hold myself back. In my experience talking with Muslims, 99% of conversions were because of a situation they were in, or because of some personal goal, or both. Aisha is also a published writer in both internet and print media and in 2009 -10 she was the Queensland editor at a national Australian Islamic newspaper ~ Crescent Times. I made serious mistakes along the way. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Many people are born into their religion. Colleges started offering more courses on Islam. It could be any number of circumstances, but the common thread is that a specific situation drove the conversion. The rules of Islam are all based on logic, morals, justice and matters of the heart. Hadid later told Porter magazine that she protested in honor of her heritage and her religion. Shortly after that, he would become known professionally as Antonio Banks and, briefly, Lord of War. Indian actor Sahabzade Irrfan Ali Khan, known professionally as Irrfan Khan or just Irrfan, appeared in a number of major Hollywood and Bollywood films. According to NBA.com, Olajuwon still observed the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan during his NBA seasons. So I stopped singing and started taking action with what I now believed, he told Laverne. . The English-born singer-songwriter made the Shahadah at the height of his fame in December of 1977. All Rights Reserved. Keeping the name of my familys slave master seemed somehow to dishonor them. Not only did I have the usual teenage angst of becoming a man, but I was also playing for one of the best college basketball teams in the country and trying to maintain my studies. 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The dark comedy is loosely based on Youssef's life as a first-generation Muslim American millennial and the struggles that come with balancing those identities.