Friday 17 June 2011

Famous Reverts To Islam.


Al Salamu 'Alaykum.

Some famous recent reverts to Islam are in this list. Enjoy:

El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz - Better known as Malcolm X; black-rights activist and religious leader. In 1964, after a pilgrimage to Mecca, he announced his conversion to orthodox Islam and his belief in the possibility of brotherhood between blacks and whites.

Michael Wolfe - Author of The Hajj: An American's Pilgrimage to Mecca, and One Thousand Roads to Mecca: Ten Centuries of Travelers Writing About the Muslim Pilgrimage. Born of a Christian mother and Jewish father, he is most well known for his documentary "An American in Mecca", which aired on ABC’s "Nightline", April 18, 1997.

Muhammad Ali - Formerly Cassius Clay; three-time Heavy Weight Champion of the World. He converted to orthodox Islam in 1965.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Formerly Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor. Before the 1971-72 season he converted from Catholicism and took the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He played 20 seasons in the league with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. By the time the 7 foot 2 basketball player retired in 1989, he was a six-time MVP and is now one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Yusuf Islam - Formerly Cat Stevens, world famous British pop singer. He converted to Islam in 1973 and changed his name.

Haiqa Khan - Formerly Jemimah Goldsmith, Jewish daughter of billionaire Sir James. At the age of 21 she married famous Pakistani cricket player Imran Khan and converted to Islam.

Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall - Born William Pickthall in 1875 in London. He converted to Islam in 1917 and by 1930 Pickthall published The Meaning of the Glorious Koran; which was an English language translation of the Qur’an.

Maryam Jameelah - Formerly Margaret Marcus; Jewish American essayist, poet, journalist and author of several books. She converted to Islam in 1962. She wrote this Open Letter To Her Parents.

Art Blakey, Abdullah Ibn Buhaina - American drummer and jazz musician. His contribution to jazz from 1954 to 1990 as leader of the Jazz Messengers established the sound Hard Bop, greatly influencing later generations of musicians and entertainers.

Hamdan Chris Eubank - In March 1997, after former super middleweight world champion Chris Eubank defeated Camilo Alocon of Columbia at the Dubai Tennis Stadium in a light heavyweight contest, Eubank embraced Islam and took the name Hamdan.

Queen Noor of Jordan - Born Lisa Najeeb Halaby to a prominent Arab-American family. Raised by Christian parents, she converted to Islam when she married the late King Hussein, a Hashemite and descendant of the prophet’s line, on 15 June 1978. When she converted, she changed her name to Noor al-Hussein - the light of Hussein.

For additional information on other famous converts to Islam, see Famous Converts To Islam.
 
Wa salamu 'alaykum. 

No comments:

Post a Comment