Famous Converts to Islam

Khadijah - wife of prophet Muhammad sala Allahu alaihu wa salam. First convert to Islam.

Shabbetai Tzevi - seventeenth-century Turkish Jew who had claimed to be Messiah and attracted a large following. His conversion to Islam largely dissolved this mass messianic Jewish movement, but also resulted in the development of the ongoing Donmeh religious movement.

Malcolm X - More popularly known as Malcom 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.

Cat Stevens - World famous legendary British pop singer. He converted to Islam in 1973 and changed his name to Yusuf Islam.

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.

Muhammad Ali - Greatest sportsman of all time. Boxing legend, three times world champion, and convert to Sunni Islam.

Matthew Saad Muhammad - world champion boxer (formerly Matt Franklin) .

Dwight Muhammad Qawi - World champion boxer (formerly Dwight Braxton).

Eddie Mustapha Muhammad - World champion lightweight boxer (formerly Eddie Gregory).

Mustafa Hamsho - World champion boxing legend.

Akbar Muhammad - Boxer.

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.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Formerly Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor. Before the 1971-72 season Alcindor converted from Catholicism to Islam 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, Abdul-Jabbar was a six-time Most Valuable Player and is now one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Queen Noor - 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.

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

Daniel Moore - Highly talented Anglo-American poet.

Muhammad Marmaduke (William) Pickthall - He was 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 (meaning) of the Qur?an.

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 on ABC?s Nightline which aired on April 18, 1997 called An American in Mecca.

Aminah Assilmi - Denver area broadcast journalist; now director of the International Union of Muslim Women (former Baptist)

Jemima Goldsmith - daughter of British billionaire Sir James Goldsmith, who married Imran Khan. Converted to Islam and changed name to Haiqa Khan.