why do celebrities converted to islamwhy do celebrities converted to islam

He then confirmed his plans to visit Turkey and one day undertake the Muslim pilgrimage, called the Hajj. Thousands of Americans of all colors and creeds have joined forces and protests at airports across The USA. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. In the mid-1960s, Cassius Clay changed his name to MuhammadAli after converting to Islam. Raekwon, born Corey Woods, was asked by GQ in 2017 if he was keeping up with news of the Trump administration's "travel ban"on refugees and visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries. On Sunday, the 72-year old musician born Steven Demetre Georgiou to a Swedish mother and Greek Cypriot father appeared on the BBC 4 radio program Desert Islands Discs to discuss his life, including the 1976 near-death experience that resulted in him turning to the Muslim faith. [1] According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Germany has up to 4,000 a year. In 2006 Caleb Carter from Colombia Missouri converted to Islam.[4]. I'm kind of like PlayStation 3. The intolerance attacks hail on all Muslims like thunderbolts, blaming Islam for the carnage and never giving a chance to explain. Seriously, how do you guys do it? MC Ren MC Ren is best known for his work with hip-hop pioneers N.W.A. Celebrity made me nervous and uncomfortable. "I think if the Western world really looked at Islam for what it really is, and stopped trying to put this terrorist word with Muslims and Islam, the world could be a much better place because this is the most pure religion ever," Jackson said in a 2010 interview with Al-Arabiya TV. MC Ren is best known for his work with hip-hop pioneers N.W.A. '", 'American Gladiators' alum Nitro calls Netflix's 'Muscles and Mayhem' a 'nostalgic romp into the past,' not like 'sad' '30 for 30', Actor Julian Sands, 65, confirmed dead after going missing on winter hike in California, Princess Diana's 'Swan Lake' necklace auction is called off after it's privately sold to a 'prominent museum', Jennifer Lawrence denies cheating with Liam Hemsworth after Miley Cyrus's 'Flowers' music video: A look at the drama. I was still young, so I couldnt really articulate why I felt so shy of the spotlight. And He is most knowing of the (rightly) guided (, And its only when you truly submit to the Magnificent Lord that youll feel the glory of it all. This reason might seem weird but go with me. I'm going to take it as if they're attacking my motivation my desire to be a more righteous person. After a year I could not hold myself back. Our belief is based on a combination of faith and logic because we need a powerful reason to abandon the traditions of our families and community to embrace beliefs foreign to both. My parents were not pleased by my conversion. Dave Chappelle convertedto Islam in 1998, though he rarely speaks publicly about his faith. I soon found that I disagreed with some of Hammas teachings about the Quran, and we parted ways. / CBS NEWS. theyr surely are some of the most inspiring people on Earth. On the other hand, if you asked Timothy, How did you come to Christ?, he wouldnt have the same dramatic point-in-time conversion story. 1. He characterized Islam as the religion of peace, brotherhood and universal values. Like, you know how it's backwards compatible? If you can articulate the other persons views, and if you have something to share, such as a common motivation, it dramatically lowers the barriers between you and your Muslim (or Hindu, or Atheist) friend. So, no one can tell me that music is haram," or forbidden, he said. In 1995, A Tribe Called Quest rapperQ-Tipprofessed his shahada and converted to Islam. "Right now, I'm just focusing on my children, my career and really just letting it be what it's going to be, at the end of the day it'll work itself out.". Shaquille O'Neal played for six different teams over the course of his 19-year NBA career, most notably the Orlando Magic, the L.A. Lakers and the Miami Heat. Legendary heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky converted to Islam in the 1960s and was a devout Muslim. During his time behind bars - which ultimately lasted a mere three years - Tyson converted to Islam. Abdul-Jabbar's greatest success came during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, whom he played for from 1975 to 1989. 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. Is there a more famous conversion than that of Cassius Clay? SinadO'Connor converted to Islamin 2018, taking on the nameShuhada' Davitt. "With my mum and dad, they were always there to educate us I did go to mosque, I did study Islam," Malik said. Theyll tell me about something going on in their life, and Ill say, for example, You remind me of Samson. Then I paraphrase the story of Samson using their own language: Samson had this thing for women across the tracks. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Islam is a religion of open and honest communication with God. I don't introduce myself as a Muslim woman, but I guess the distribution company put the dots together and felt it's too early for this," Aghdashloo said. No need for private confessions to priests and no need for salvation. His pursuits as a writer and producer have garnered acclaim in the rap community and from the music industry at large. She rose to international fame in 1990 with her cover of the Prince classic "Nothing Compares 2 U". ", "I feel like there's a moment in the history of this country, and American Muslims do need to speak out. And while I realize that many Christians risked their lives and families to fight slavery and that it would not have been ended without them, I found it hard to align myself with the cultural institutions that had turned a blind eye to such outrageous behavior in direct violation of their most sacred beliefs. During my years playing with the Milwaukee Bucks, Hammas version of Islam was a joyous revelation. Jermaine Jackson was raised as a Jehovah's Witness but converted to Islam later in life, after a trip to Bahrain. When Mike Tyson won the World Heavyweight Championship in 1986, he became the youngest man ever to do so. Some fans took it very personally, as if I had firebombed their church while tearing up an American flag. All we can do is serve God and serve these folks, and let the Word of God do the heavy lifting. Stacy Umm Nuh, mom to 3 boys, spent 11 years living in Egypt, where she learned to speak and understand the Arabic language. "I read the Koran and it appealed to me," Q-Tip told The Guardian of his conversion. Times of chaos and change, as the second decade of the 21st century certainly is, often have unexpected consequences. However, he is certainly not the only artist or even musician who has converted. 12 International Celebrities Who Converted to Islam Being 7-foot-2 and athletic got me there, not a level playing field of equal opportunity. On February 9th 2003, Tony Snow claimed that Prince Charles wears "Arab. Though they werent strict Catholics, they had raised me to believe in Christianity as the gospel. Professional wrestler MVP has gone by a lot of names. And in order to find that out, I ask them to tell me their story to tell me how they came to be a Muslim. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I'm probably not getting out of here. And then we begin to exchange notes. If you'd like to register, please fill in the username, password and name fields. If it were true that almost two billion Muslims are actually taught killing non-Muslims was their gateway to eternal heaven, they would have united and erased the rest of the population in no time at all! 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 Chappelle's Show. It is not clear if Chappelle still practices the faith. An interesting question to ask is why conversions to Islam continue to grow even as the US is becoming increasingly intolerant of Muslims. The poster boy for how anybody from any background regardless of race, religion or economic standing could achieve the American dream. Part of my restraint was the feeling that the person the public was celebrating wasnt the real me. Hadid later told Porter magazine that she protested in honor of her heritage and her religion. I used to believe that God had a stopwatch in his hand. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Some non-Muslims practice our faith without even knowing it, while some Muslims need to convert to Islam and start learning about their religion. Mozlems raise their kids to join ISIS and terrorize the world!. Very seldom was it because of the theology or the doctrine of Islam. I'll play the other games. "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. Since 2006, Stevens has been steadily releasing albums while touring and making public appearances. Here is the list of those famous English personalities who converted to Islam! Im asking why you think conversion rates to Islam are constantly on the rise. I added as he walked away. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. However, Booth has carved out a successful career for herself in the media. It's cool. 1. Or perhaps a tornado had hit the converts house, and Muslims came along and helped them. In an interview with PBS,Dr. Oz explained that his father comes from Turkey's "Quran Belt" and his mother was a secular Turk. I knew better. The former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Mike Tyson has held all three major championship belts that boxing has to offer. . 31 famous celebrities who are Muslim - CBS News - Breaking news, 24/7 It could be any number of circumstances, but the common thread is that a specific situation drove the conversion. The media driven hostility pushes some people into a journey of discovery. Eventually, Malcolm rejected the group right before three of its members assassinated him. Towards the end of the 1980s, Tyson's erratic behavior outside the ring began to land him in trouble. Is there another point of view that we are giving? 5 Ways to Bring the Barakah from the Quran into Your Life. Anelka's conversion to Islam came in 2004, at the height of his playing career. Islam comes in every form and every color.". The truth is, theres more to life than this life, And its only when you truly submit to the Magnificent Lord that youll feel the glory of it all There was only one thing to do and that was to pray to the almighty to save me. Alcindor was a French planter in the West Indies who owned my ancestors. Who is the most famous person who converted to Islam? Find out which ones actually did and which ones didn't! ", Ahmed has frequently spoken outabout the realities of being Muslim in western countries. For most people, converting from one religion to another is a private matter requiring intense scrutiny of ones conscience. It's beautiful, it's amazing, it's incredible and it has put so many blessings upon me and my family," he told Esquirein 2018. The comic converted to Islam in 1998. 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. Malcolm X converted to Islam while serving time in prison as a young man. Did you know that they celebrities were Muslim? ", In 2016 the rapper, born Karim Kharbouch, told MTV that being Muslim is part of the reason he is so successful. This fact is extremely comforting and appealing, especially for those desperately seeking the truth. Celebrities who converted to Islam. Girls like me could go to school. Ill say, That's great! Most famous converts to Islam changed their names when they adopted their new faith. I was born and raised Muslim in an all-Islamic country to religious parents, so I wont pretend I understand the struggle that comes with changing your whole belief system, your life style, and suddenly being the odd one out within your own social circles, where sometimes you feel like you no longer belong with non-Muslims and dont quite fit with the deep-rooted and established Muslim community. Some fans still call me Lew, then seem annoyed when I ignore them. Although I had already achieved a certain degree of national fame as a basketball player, I tried hard to keep my personal life private. [1], In Britain the number of converts to Islam almost doubled between 2001 and 2010; from 61,000 to 100,000.[2]. we expose US, Indian and Israeli human rights violations), which means we are totally dependent on the generosity of our supporters] In a February 2000 interview with The Guardian, he explained the nuances of his identity as a Muslim: "I mean, what I call myself is a natural Muslim, 'cause it's just me and God. As Malcolm X said, I guess a mans entitled to make a fool of himself if hes ready to pay the cost.. If this isnt a miracle, I dont know what is. 16 Celebrities That Have Converted to Different Religions 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. Actually, I was rejecting the religion that was foreign to my American culture and embracing one that was part of my black African heritage. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. I also followed his advice not to invite my parents to the wedding a mistake that took me more than a decade to rectify. My father was a cop with a set of rules, I attended a Catholic school with priests and nuns with more rules, and I played basketball for coaches who had even more rules. According to a Pew Research Center poll on attitudes about major religious groups, the U.S. public has the least regard for Muslims slightly less than it has for atheists even though Islam is the third-largest faith in America. You know, going to the mosque, the ritual and the tradition, it's just not in me to do. Throughout her time in journalism, she has served as a columnist for a number of noteworthy UK publications, including The Mail on Sunday and New Statesman. I approached a nice looking couple at the train station and asked the same question. Abdul-Jabbar has attributed much of his success to the positive influence of the Quran on his life. First published on December 18, 2015 / 3:47 PM. . The Word of God does all that. By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://studioarabiya.com/. 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. May you find your new homes inside our hearts, through our prayers and within our love and support. Around this same time, she began sharing videos of herself singing and speaking in Arabic and even changed her name to Shuhada' Davitt. The talented 7-foot-1-inch center led his teams to four NBA Championships and was a 15-time NBA All-Star. However, the boxer made little reference to his new faith upon his release from prison. Theres no middleman here. Lets say that I became a Muslim because I really wanted to be righteous, and somebody comes along and starts shooting down my doctrine. Keep reading to see what these celebrities had to say about being a part of the Islamic faith. God is the one who brings transformation to the lives of our friends, and he does it in his time. In June 2015, ahead of a performance in Morocco, he spoke with The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi about his career and his faith: "I was born a Muslim and there has always been a debate about Islam and music. I decided to turn back and head for shore and, of course, at that point I realized, Im fighting the Pacific. There was no way I was going to win. "It's life for me. 2023 Quran Academy. Average citizens are ultimately seeing through these schemes and making their own decisions. She didn't do backflips when I called her to tell her I converted 17 years ago," he said. It was just simply pushing me forward. I always start with where they are, and then I move up from there. For me, the most high is Allah And I live my life by Islam. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. I even agreed to marry a woman whom Hammas suggested for me, despite my strong feelings for another woman. The "Wild World" singer formally converted to Islam at the end of 1977, adopting the name Yusuf Islam the following year. Ali remained with the group for a number of years, but revealed in his 2004 autobiography that he converted to Sunni Islam under the guidance of Warith Deen Muhammad. Indeed (O Muhammad), you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. Their belief is based on faith, not just in the teachings of the religion but also in the acceptance of that religion from their family and culture. It would be nice to have that counterpoint. 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. Learn 50 essential Arabic words in 7 days and start understanding the Quran, Indeed (O Muhammad), you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. The Iranian-American actress was born into a Muslim family. Ill take either one, as long as there is faith! I came to realize that the Lew Alcindor everyone was cheering wasnt really the person they imagined. celebrities converted to Islam Now Im Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And I did. Had this happened, we would have lost classic tunes, including "The First Cut is the Deepest", "Here Comes My Baby", and "Peace Train". After much research, binging on YouTube videos filmed by converts and sifting through many emails sent from new Muslims kind enough to help me write this piece objectively, here are the top most common answers to this intriguing question: Despite the war against Islam, how did converts find peace? Christians often put an emphasis on a conversion experience, rather than on discipleship. Well discuss things we've learned about our desire to be righteous, which creates a wide-open conversation. He also largely abandoned his music career, though he resumed recording in 2006. Irish singer-songwriter Sinad O'Connor has had a complicated relationship with religion. Of course, his career was not all championships and glory. While MVP is certainly the name that people will recognize the most, iHassan Hamin Assad remains the wrestler's legal name. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The rules of Islam are all based on logic, morals, justice and matters of the heart. Dave Chappelle is one of the most successful comedians of all time. Hes turned Turk., Reflecting on the reaction to his conversion, Stevens shared, That was very difficult because at one point I was an icon of the majority and now I am part of the minority who are looked down upon and certainly, to a large extent, misunderstood., Gayle King questions Nancy Pelosis insulting and egregious nickname for Trump supporters, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and more encourage fans to register to vote, John Legend says America is exhausted from President Trump's leadership: 'We cant bear another four years of this', The Alarm's Mike Peters opens up about album he wrote in cancer ward: "I thought, 'This is it. 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. I emerged from this pilgrimage with my beliefs clarified and my faith renewed. You should receive an email from us to confirm your email address. In the interest of impartiality, and instead of boring you with textbook answers and philosophical conclusions, I headed out to the streets with my virtual camera crew to ask people this very same question. He later changed his name to Hassan Hamin Assad. I knew, of course, that the Second Vatican Council in 1965 declared slavery an infamy that dishonored God and was a poison to society. During his playing career, Abdul-Jabbar was named NBA Most Valuable Player a record-breaking six times. In 2015 Yousafzai told British TV Network Channel 4 that she believes being Muslim does not conflict with her feminist views. As Muslims share their story, I'm listening for their reasons. Converts to Islam Total population According to The Jerusalem Post, in the United Kingdom and France, up to 100,000 people converted in the last decade in each country. His acting performance on the show earned him a Golden Globe award in 2020. When it got to zero, he would call out, Okay, Gabriel, come on and blow your horn. So the best way to spend your life is to try to be devoted to prayer, to Allah.". In a never before published letter, Ali tells his former wife why he joined the Nation of Islam. In fact, the first of the Ten Commandments in the Bible clearly states Do not have any other god before God. Then in 1971, when I was 24, I converted to Islam and became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (meaning the noble one, servant of the Almighty). 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. All I know is we value the thing we earn, and appreciate the beauty in it more. Your email address will not be published. You also probably know that he was once disqualified for biting Evander Holyfield's ear. 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. Excuse me sir, can I ask you, why do you think so many people are converting to Islam? I stopped a grumpy-looking middle aged man. Required fields are marked *. But it became the gateway. In 1917, four years after Lord Headly chose the religion of peace a successful novelist and scholar named Marmaduke Pickthall also converted to Islam. I should know. English Muslim Converts. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The Compton native converted to Islam in 1993 and quickly shacked up with the controversial Nation of Islam. Honestly, no matter what the reasons are, I believe theres a higher divine wisdom that we can never fully conceive. And I believe it is beautiful if you learn it the right way.". Shortly after that, he would become known professionally as Antonio Banks and, briefly, Lord of War. Colleges started offering more courses on Islam. 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. She firmly believes that it can make the crispiest sweet potato fries. 5- The Holy Quran has never been changed and will never be changed till the end of time. Insider rounded up 16 famous figures that have spoken about converting or practicing new religions. And as I hear them come up, I make a mental note of them. 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. Becoming Muslim feels like the final step to reaching true peace. Raised by a Unitarian Universalist minister, Chappelle converted to Islam in 1998. 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. In recent years, he has returned to the Cat Stevens name for his professional life, having come to the realization that Cat Stevens and Yusuf Islam can indeed co-exist. We are even fighting some of the same wars. As a footballer, French forward Nicolas Anelka played for a number of major Premiership teams, including Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal. Legendary Lakers center and all-time NBA leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born Lew Alcindor in New York City and raised Roman Catholic. Although I had my doubts about some of Hammas instruction, I rationalized them away because of the great spiritual fulfillment I was experiencing. Wallet Settings . "), "You're not gonna get through life without being worshipful or devoted to something," he told Beliefnet in 2001. Why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Converted to Islam - Breaking News, World News This creates defensiveness and shuts down spiritual conversations, rather than opening them. Omar Sharif converted to Islam so he could marry Faten Hamama in 1955. According to NBA.com, Olajuwon still observed the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan during his NBA seasons. InshaAllah, by the end of the 7-day Quranic Arabic Challenge, you will build a solid foundation to deepen your relationship with the Quran, feel more connected in your Salah, and ultimately become closer to Allah SWT.