From fame to Islamic faith: Famous athletes who switched to Islam

• Gervonta Davis is probably the latest prominent figure to join the list of athletes who switched to Islam
• Davis made the bold decision to pursue a different path in his religious life towards the end of last year 

Boxing star Gervonta Davis is probably the latest prominent figure to join the list of famous athletes who switched to Islam. Davis made the bold decision to pursue a different path in his religious life towards the end of last year and adopted the Muslim name Abdul Wahid, which means “Servant of the One God”.

Today we’ve decided to bring you the names of other top athletes who made the decision to convert for one reason or another.

1. Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali. Photo/ The New York Times.

Muhammad Ali is a well known former professional boxer from the United States. Ali was a significant figure in sports during his days and is widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He was just 18 when he won a gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics and what followed was years of success in the boxing scene. He fought in several historic boxing matches facing the likes of George Foreman, Joe Fraizer and Larry Holmes.

Apart from his prowess as a fighter, one things Muhammad Ali is also remembered for is being one of the famous athletes who switched to Islam. Ali was born in a predominantly Baptist community and had the name Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. As he gained fame in the boxing world, he began exploring different spiritual practices and that’s how he switched to Islam.

The boxing icon received a lot of backlash for converting to Islam but he remained steadfast. He used his fame to advocate for civil rights and social justice. Ali passed away in 2016 after battling Parkinson’s disease for several years.

2. Mike Tyson

Everybody knows Mike Tyson was a big fan of Muhammad Ali. He followed his footsteps in the ring and became one of the most successful boxers. But he didn’t stop there.

While serving his prison sentence, Tyson decided to become a Muslim, just like his idol Muhammad Ali. Tyson’s conversion was a long-draw process and it just happened during one of the darkest periods of his life when behind bars for rape. The boxing veteran was sentenced to six years in prison for raping 18-year-old Desiree Washington but was released three years after serving his sentence.

Mike Tyson. Photo/ Fox News.

Mike Tyson’s Islam name is Malik Abdul Aziz and he has spoken about his religion several times. He was initially a Christian who was born in a Catholic family. The boxing icon is mostly remembered for his dominance in the ring and a good number of fans don’t even know that he is one of the famous athletes who switched to Islam.

3. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is a former basketball player who is best known for his time in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and Vancouver Grizzlies. Mahmoud was a standout performer in the league during the 1990s. However, he spend the last years of his career playing overseas after being suspended in the NBA due to a controversy that related with his faith as a Muslim.

To start with, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was born a Christian and was known as Chris Jackson in his early years. He converted to Islam in 1991 and would make headlines in 1996 after refusing to stand for the national anthem. Mahmoud believed that standing during the national anthem conflicted with his faith.

After the story hit headlines, the former player was accused of being unpatriotic and started receiving death threats. The NBA responded by handing him a one-match suspension.

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is among famous athletes who switched to Islam. Photo/ The Athletic.

Mahmoud would eventually agree to stand but he did saw his head lowered and eyes closed in prayer. This controversy eventually led to him leaving the NBA. His last career days were spent playing for various basketball leagues around the world.

Speaking about Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and his decision not to stand for the national anthem, NBA great Michael Jordan said, “I’m not going to condemn him. But if I was on a team and he did that, I would have to distance myself from him.”