Famous Muslims

There are many 'famous' Muslims that everyone knows, but not everyone realises that they are all Muslims. Below are 2 of the 'famous' Muslims that I have decided to discuss in more detail (see bottom for more picture of other 'famous' Muslims):

Yusuf Islam (Previously known as Cat Stevens)
Muhammad Ali (Previously known as Cassius Clay)

Yusuf Islam

Cat Stevens' real name is Stephen Demetre Georgiou. He later changed it to Yusuf Islam when he converter to Islam now over 20 years ago. He was born on July 21st, 1948 in London. Cat Stevens was a hugely popular rock muscian in the 70s and 80s, having released 12 albums officially and 23 greates hits compilation albums. One of his most famous songs that I can think of was "Mathew and son" which was later covered by boyband Boyzone and released as "Father and son".

He now lives a quiet life in London with his wife and children and is a highly respected and much loved member of the Muslim community. He converted to Islam during one of the high points in his career when he felt that there was something missing from his life. That there should be more to life than all the glamour, money and drugs. He was once caught in a life threatning situation where he made a 'promise' as he put it to God, that if God would save him, he would "help" do his part for the religion (as he has been researching Islam for a while already). When he survived he instantly converted to Islam. He now donates money that still comes in from record sales around the world to charities and uses his studio now to record Islamic CD full of stories, history and children's songs. He now has his own Islamic media company Mountain of Light. Read more about Yusuf at Cat Stevens dot com which provides information about Yusuf and Cat's life (the before and after the convertion).

Muhammed Ali

Always inspired by the toughest of challenges, Ali would face many of history's greatest fighters, almost always leaving the ring victorious. He would win the world heavyweight championship three times by utilizing his lethal combination of blinding speed and awesome power. As Ali's speed slowed with time, his intelligence and cunning became his main weapons in the ring. However, perhaps Ali's greatest moments came in the life he led outside the ring. Ali was as confident in the public circle as he was in the boxing ring, and he continued to meet every challenge with a mind that was as powerful as his fists. As a black man living in an era that continued to question his rights as a person, Ali faced and battled issues of race and class, and to this day ranks as one of the champions of the Civil Rights movement. His conversion to Islam, and his subsequent refusal to be inducted into the military, created the largest controversy of his life and he was stripped of his heavyweight title. Not surprisingly, this adversity only made Ali stronger, prouder, and more determined than ever to live his life with dignity and by his own conviction. And while it may have looked to some that the count was nearing ten and the final bell was about to ring, Ali emerged from this battle with chin high and hands raised, and years later would be selected the greatest athlete of modern times by Sports Illustrated.

No other athlete has transcended the glamour and glory pinned to the lapels of sports champions the way Muhammad Ali has. His grace under fire, his confidence tinged with cockiness, the spirit of his convictions, and his pride of self make Muhammad Ali not only the greatest sports figure who ever lived, but one of the greatest human beings to ever grace the Earth. Ali was truly a champion of the people, a hero in the truest sense of the word, and a testament to humanity. Ali used to say, "I am the greatest." And he is...greatest boxer that is...he stopped saying it because...Allah is The Greatest.

Other Famous Muslims

Macolm X

Mike Tyson

Jermaine Jackson- ex Jackson 5 member

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the one on the left, playing for the LA Lakers.

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