Michael Jackson converts to Islam: report

Michael Jackson converts to Islam: report
Yousef Islam witnessed Jackson take shahada, the paper said

DUBAI (AlArabiya.net)

Troubled U.S. star Michael Jackson has converted to Islam and changed his name to Mikaeel, press reports said Friday.

A conversion ceremony was held at a Los Angeles mansion where Jackson was seen wearing 'Islamic garb' and declaring his new faith, British tabloid The Sun quoted an unnamed source as saying.

Jackson reportedly took the shahada—the Islamic declaration of belief—and became a Muslim, just days before he was due in a London court where he is being sued by a Bahraini prince.

The paper reported that British singer Yousef Islam—previously known as Cat Stevens before he famously became a Muslim—was also at the ceremony held at the Hollywood Hills home of Toto keyboard player Steve Porcaro, 51, who composed music on Jackson's Thriller album.


Jackson's new name is reportedly Mikaeel after he rejected the name Mustafa, the paper said, adding the decision to convert came about as Jackson was recording a new album.

The former 'King of Pop'—who has been accused and acquitted of child molestation—is back in court after Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the second son of the king of Bahrain, accused Jackson of owing him $7 million and said the star breached an agreement to record a new album.