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 DJ Khaled and Mike Tyson performing Hajj rituals. Source: DJ Khaled's page on Instagram

DJ Khaled (right) and Mike Tyson while performing Hajj rituals (Source DJ Khaled’s Instagram page)

Osama Saffar

6/24/2023

Angelina Jolie converted to Islam, Liam Neeson converted to Islam, Princess Diana converted to Islam before she died, and Michael Jackson died as a Muslim...

This news and others like it occur more often in Muslim-majority societies. Although most of them are nothing more than rumors, some of them contain a share of the truth, as Jermaine, the brother of American singing legend Michael Jackson, stated after he died in The National newspaper newspaper newspaper that he believes that Michael was in the process of converting to Islam before his sudden death in 2009, and most importantly... This is because when the Muslim public admires a star, they wish him goodness and guidance, and the rumor seems like an unseen invitation to the beloved star.

There are currently more than 30 Muslim actors and stars in Hollywood, some of whom have won the most prestigious cinema awards in the world. In this report, we tell the stories of 9 of the most famous Muslim stars in the world cinema capital:

1- Mahershala Ali

He is the first Muslim to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the nearly 100-year history of the competition, for his roles in the films “Moonlight” in 2016 and “Green Book” in 2018. He also appeared In famous series such as “House of Cards” and “True Detective”.

Ali was born in Oakland, California, grew up in Hayward, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Saint Mary's College. He made his professional debut at the California Shakespeare Festival and received a master's degree in acting from New York University.

Ali converted to Islam in 2000 and changed his surname from Gilmore to Ali. He stated in press interviews that he was subjected to racial profiling at airports and banks following the attacks of September 11, 2001.

2- Riz Ahmed

British actor and musician Riz Ahmed is the first Muslim to be nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Actor category for his role in the film “Sound of Metal” in 2019, and he is of Pakistani origin.

Ahmed won an Emmy Award for Lead Actor for his role in the series “The Night Of” in 2017.

Ahmed speaks frequently about his situation as a Muslim living in a Western country. In a discussion at a diversity celebration in California, he told the audience, "I'm here mainly to ask for your help because it's really scary to be a Muslim right now, very scary."

3- Dave Chappelle

American actor, producer, screenwriter, and stand-up comedian. He converted to Islam in 1991. He says, “I wanted to have a meaningful life, a spiritual life, and not just what I could hold. I felt like I always had this idea that life should be... "It means something."

Chappelle, 47, recalled in a television interview how he came to his faith through visits to a local pizza shop as a 17-year-old in Washington, D.C., and it was the positive vibes of the Muslim employees that caught his attention.

“The pizza place was across from my house and all the people working there were Muslims,” Chappelle says. “I would go there and make jokes. I’m also a curious guy by nature and I would ask the owner questions about his religion and the guy was very passionate about it. He was very persuasive. I liked the way he "HisThinking thinking about these matters."

4- Ramy Youssef

Ramy is a young Egyptian-American man who grew up in New Jersey. He worked as a stand-up comedian during his twenties and filmed an hour-long film for HBO called “Feelings” that was released in 2019.

In addition to the inappropriate provocations that he is exposed to in his work, Youssef always remembers what it means to be a committed Muslim, in a state of constant negotiation with the surrounding reality that is completely opposite to what it means to be a Muslim, which is a religious identity that is not portrayed in films or television, and that is why his insistence on... Eat it.

5- Busta Rhymes

American hip-hop artist Busta Rhymes, born Trevor Smith, is a Muslim who attributes much of his success to the way he has maintained his faith.

Rimes has received 11 Grammy Award nominations for his various works.

In an interview with Hollywood TV in 2007, Rhimes said, "I try to really understand every aspect of the faith as I live my life in Islam. I think that's what people should believe. Human life is not just fun. There is a deeper vision and meaning." "From the fact that we enjoy life and then nothing else."

6- Mike Tyson

Boxer Tyson competed in boxing tournaments from 1985 to 2005 and was famous for his nickname, the Human Tank, as one punch from him in the first seconds was enough to end the fight quickly. He chose the name “Malik” after he converted to Islam upon his release from prison.

"Religion is not bad," Tyson says. "It's people who make religion bad."

7- Akon

Hip-hop star Akon said in press statements in the first decade of the twenty-first century that he is a devout Muslim. He was born and raised in Senegal before he and his family settled in the United States, where he discovered hip-hop and the world of crime. He was imprisoned but used the time to work on his musical ideas.

Akon began writing and recording his music in a home studio, and the tapes found their way to the production company that released his first album. It was an interesting combination and began his path to success.

8- Jermaine Jackson

He is the older brother of the legendary singer Michael Jackson. He is a singer and musician who grew up Christian and follows the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses, but he converted to Islam after a trip to the state of Bahrain. “I think that if the Western world really looked at Islam for what it is, and stopped trying to associate the word terrorism with Muslims and Islam, the world could be a much better place because this is the most pure religion of all,” he says.

Jermaine says about the story of his conversion to Islam, “A very short conversation with a group of children led to long discussions about Islam with Muslim scholars. Something like a coup occurred in...