Did Michael Jackson die a Muslim?
The Telegraph’s story continued. “A source said Jackson had appeared a “bit down” and added: “They began talking to him about their beliefs, and how they thought they had become better people after they converted. Michael soon began warming to the idea. “An imam was summoned from the mosque and Michael went through the shahadah, […]
The Telegraph’s story continued. “A source said Jackson had appeared a “bit down” and added: “They began talking to him about their beliefs, and how they thought they had become better people after they converted. Michael soon began warming to the idea. “An imam was summoned from the mosque and Michael went through the shahadah, which is the Muslim declaration of belief.” Last year his brother, Jermaine, suggested Jackson would convert having taken an interest in Islam since Friday’s conversion in 1989.
The story said Jermaine, who’s a well-known convert, came back from Mecca with Islamic books. “He asked me lots of things about my religion and I told him that it’s peaceful and beautiful,” his brother reportedly said, adding: “He read everything and he was proud of me that I found something that would give me inner strength and peace. I think it is most probable that Michael will convert to Islam.”
More reports filtered in of Jackson’s conversion, but with one snag, still: No confirmation. To make it rage even further, Reuters published on its website, a report which had Jermaine “Yearning for Michael to convert to Islam.” It read: “If I didn’t have Allah and my prayer rug, I would not have survived and the reason why is because it kept me focused, it kept me calm,” he said. “And that’s the kind of peace [Michael] needs.”
One of the most popular aspects of the Michael Jackson conversion story is the mention of Yusuf Islam, the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens. A website called MuslimMatters.org even posted a run-down of the whole debacle. Portions read: “In November 2008, various news sources reported that Michael Jackson had officially accepted Islam, as he had been interested in it since 2005 with the help of his brother Jermaine.
Other news sources claimed that Muslim artists Dawud Wharnsby and Idris Phillips were also involved in his acceptance and that they were present when he took the shahadah and even that he was also meeting with singer Yusuf Islam, the former Cat Stevens. But since then, not much else had been said about his acceptance of Islam. What’s more confusing is taking into account recent statements both Dawud Wharnsby and Yusuf Islam that not only were they not involved in the reported shahadah, neither of them has ever met the pop star.” Then Yusuf Islam commented: “Contrary to persistent press rumours, I was not at any kind of conversion ceremony for Michael Jackson. Nor, I believe, was Dawud Wharnsby or any of the others mentioned in connection with the story. Granted, I was in Los Angeles at the time these rumours first appeared – but I was busy filming a video for a new song.”
Then what about the “Islamic Michael Jackson” songs making the rounds around the world, Nigeria inclusive? MuslimMatters.org said although it may sound really close, it’s not Michael. “It’s actually a Muslim brother named Irfan Makki, a Pakistani-born Canadian that recently joined Awakening Entertainment as a Muslim artist.”
While the issues seem to have been thrashed out in detail, no-one seems a hundred percent sure. Knowing Michael Jackson, there’s probably a shocking revelation waiting to be unleashed on the world, sooner or later.