Several famous rappers, actors and athletes have converted to Islam. Some famous converts to the Muslim faith were previously Christian, while others weren't very religious. Most famous converts to Islam changed their names when they adopted their new faith.
Who is the most famous person who converted to Islam? Mike Tyson tops our list. The former heavy-weight champion converted to Islam in the mid-1990s when he was serving time in prison in conjunction with a rape conviction. Another boxing legend, Muhammad Ali, also converted to Islam in the mid-1960s.
After touring the Middle East in 1989, Jermaine Jackson converted to Islam. He said, "A great ripple had taken place in my thought. I made failing attempts to console myself that nothing had happened, but I could not conceal this fact any longer from myself that at heart I had converted to Islam." In 1995, A Tribe Called Quest rapper, Q-Tip, professed his shahada and converted to Islam. Other famous celebrities who converted to Islam include Ice Cube, Dave Chappelle, and Malcolm X.
Are you surprised that so many famous people converted to the Muslim faith? Take a look at this list and get in on the conversation in the comments section.
17 Famous People Who Converted to Islam,
Yusuf Islam
Yusuf Islam, AKA Cat Stevens, converted to Islam in 1976 after nearly drowning in the Pacific Ocean. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he said, "The Iranian Revolution wasn't even on the horizon. I felt like I was discovering something that was an amazing and immense secret."
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Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle converted to Islam in 1998, though he rarely speaks publicly about his faith.
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Ice Cube
In the 1990s, Ice Cube converted to Islam.
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Jermaine Jackson
After touring the Middle East in 1989, Jermaine Jackson converted to Islam. He said, "A great ripple had taken place in my thought. I made failing attempts to console myself that nothing had happened but I could not conceal this fact any longer from myself that at heart I had converted to Islam."
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar changed his name when he converted to Islam in the late-1960s.
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Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson converted to Islam after retiring from the NBA.
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Malcolm X
Malcolm X converted to Islam while serving time in prison as a young man.
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Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson converted to Islam in the mid-1990s when he was serving time in prison in conjunction with a rape conviction.
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Muhammad Ali
In the mid-1960s, Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali after converting to Islam.
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Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif converted to Islam so he could marry Faten Hamama in 1955. At that time, he changed his name from his given name, Michel Chalhoub.
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