Omar Isa, a former R&B artist from the UK who modeled his career after the likes of Justin Timberlake, Usher, and Justin Bieber, gave up the music industry, the nightclubs, and the pursuit of fame to embrace Islam. His journey from performing in clubs and chasing record deals to finding peace through submission to Allah is an inspiring reminder that no amount of worldly success can replace the contentment that comes from knowing your Creator.
Chasing Fame and Finding Emptiness
Omar Isa was deep in the UK music scene, working with a renowned manager, performing at nightclubs, and striving to break into the mainstream. The stress of wondering whether his songs would chart, the compromises required by the industry, and the hollow lifestyle of fame left him spiritually bankrupt. In 2011, Allah guided him out of that world and into the light of Islam, where he discovered that real success has nothing to do with record sales or celebrity status.
“I was from that world where it was all about the fame, the money, and all this kind of stuff. But Allah saved me.”
Using Music for the Deen Instead of the Dunya
Rather than abandoning his artistic talents entirely, Omar Isa redirected his gifts toward praising Allah and spreading the message of Islam. He shared an original nasheed titled “The One,” which celebrates the Oneness of Allah and the comfort that faith brings during trying times. His transformation shows that Islam does not extinguish a person’s talents but channels them toward what is truly meaningful and everlasting.
“I’m so tired, feels like I’ve walked a thousand miles, uninspired. Yes, got me on my knees, but thankfully I’ve got Islam. It gets me through trying times.”
- The word “Allah” appears in the Arabic Bible on the first page over half a dozen times, proving it is not some foreign deity but the same God worshipped by Christians and Jews
- Omar Isa’s last name literally means “Jesus” in Arabic, reflecting the deep love and reverence Muslims have for Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him)
- It is a pillar of Islamic faith to believe in and love Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), making the accusation that Muslims are “anti-Christ” absurd and laughable
- Islam encourages replacing harmful habits and entertainment with beneficial alternatives that nourish the soul and please the Creator
