Famous people who embraced Islam
Muhammad Ali
Boxer · embraced IslamThe most famous boxer in history. He joined the Nation of Islam in 1964 and moved to mainstream Sunni Islam in 1975, remaining proud of his faith and known for his humanitarian stands.
Malcolm X
American activist · Letter from Mecca, 1964On Hajj in 1964 he wrote letters describing the brotherhood of pilgrims of every race and colour, and afterwards abandoned racial separatism. Source: his Letter from Mecca, 1964.
Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens)
British singer · embraced Islam in 1977A world-famous singer-songwriter who embraced Islam in 1977 after reading a translation of the Quran’s meanings, and afterwards devoted much of his work to charity and education.
Mike Tyson
Boxer · embraced Islam in 1992Heavyweight world champion. He embraced Islam in prison in 1992, took the name Malik Abdul Aziz, and has spoken in interviews about its effect on his life.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Basketball legend · embraced IslamAn NBA legend. He embraced Islam in 1968 and took his present name in 1971; he is also a writer and civil-rights advocate.
Yvonne Ridley
British journalist · embraced Islam in 2003She was held by the Taliban in 2001 as a journalist and promised to read the Quran on her release, then announced her Islam in 2003 and became a known media voice.
Joram van Klaveren
Former Dutch MP · embraced Islam in 2018He was an MP for the right-wing Party for Freedom, known for its stance against Islam, and told the newspaper NRC in February 2019 that he had embraced Islam on 26 October 2018. He said the book he began writing against Islam turned into a reply to non-Muslims’ objections, and that if everything he had written was true he was in effect a Muslim. His opponents criticised the move, and some called it publicity for his book.
Dave Chappelle
American comedian · reported to have embraced Islam in 1998Press sources, including The National, report that he embraced Islam in 1998. In a 2005 Time interview he said he does not usually speak about his religion publicly so that his flaws are not blamed on it, and he called Islam a beautiful religion if you learn it the right way.
Non-Muslims who spoke well of Islam
Bill Clinton
Former US president · clip published by Al JazeeraA clip published by Al Jazeera on TikTok under the headline: “Bill Clinton: I am tired of the distortion of Muslims’ image; there are bad actors in every faith.” We have not yet verified the original speech and its date, so we give the headline as the channel published it.
Mahatma Gandhi
Leader of India · 1924He wrote in Young India in 1924 that he had become more convinced than ever that Islam did not spread by the sword, but through the Prophet’s ﷺ simplicity, sincerity and faithfulness to his promises.
Thomas Carlyle
Scottish writer · 1840In his lecture “The Hero as Prophet” in On Heroes he rejected the charge that the Prophet ﷺ was an impostor and described him as a sincere, earnest man.
Michael H. Hart
American author · 1978In his book The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History he placed Muhammad ﷺ first, for his success in both religious and worldly spheres.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
German poetHe studied the Quran and Islamic culture, and his West-östlicher Divan (1819) grew out of that interest and his admiration for the East.
Prince Charles (King Charles III)
King of the United Kingdom · 1993In a lecture on Islam at Oxford in 1993 (Sheldonian Theatre) he said the rights of Muslim women to property and inheritance, to protection in divorce, and to conduct business were set down in the Quran 1,400 years ago, adding that some were novel even to his grandmother’s generation in Britain.
Ben Affleck
American actor · 2014On HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher (3 October 2014) he objected to sweeping condemnations of Islam, calling the argument “gross” and “racist,” and reminded viewers that the vast majority of Muslims are not extremists.
Will Smith
American actor · 2024In an episode of the Big Time Podcast (hosted by Amr Adib, aired in Ramadan 2024) he said he read the Quran cover to cover in Ramadan and praised its clarity. By published reports he has not announced embracing Islam.
Liam Neeson
Irish actor · 2012 and 2015In 2012, while filming in Istanbul, he described being moved by the call to prayer. Reports that he was converting were denied, and in 2015 he told Al Arabiya he was not converting; he admires the call to prayer but is not a Muslim.
Steve Harvey
American TV host · 2019At the Sharjah International Book Fair in 2019 he said cultural dialogue and visiting Muslim countries can correct misconceptions about Islam. He describes himself as a Christian.
Muslim figures with global influence
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool forward · EgyptThe Egyptian football star known for prostrating after scoring. A 2019 Stanford study found hate crimes in the Liverpool area fell by about 19% after his arrival, dubbed the “Salah effect.”
Karim Benzema
Footballer · FranceA Muslim who won the Ballon d’Or in 2022, known for holding to his faith and for performing Umrah.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Fighter · RussiaUFC lightweight champion who retired unbeaten (29–0), known for his humility and for keeping prayer and fasting.
Mo Farah
Runner · BritainWinner of four Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016 over 5,000 and 10,000 metres, and a practising Muslim.
Ibtihaj Muhammad
Fencer · USAThe first American to compete at the Olympics in a hijab (Rio 2016), winning team bronze.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Basketball player · Nigeria / USAAn NBA great and a Muslim, famous for fasting in Ramadan while playing during the season.
Frequently asked questions
Is a celebrity’s opinion proof that Islam is true?
No. It is personal testimony that introduces Islam and shows its effect on people; the proof lies in the Quran, the Sunnah and reasoned reflection.
How do you verify what is attributed to famous people?
We include only what has a known published source and avoid quotes circulating without one, since many are fabricated or misattributed.
Texts and translations are under scholarly review.