Former professional wrestler Jerome Claire — now known as Abu Claire — came to Islam not through a spiritual crisis but through the autobiography of Malcolm X. In this energetic conversation at the ICNA convention in Chicago, he shares how the message of one Creator captured his heart, why Malcolm X’s story should be essential reading for Western Muslims, and why dawah is the “ultimate multi-level marketing that actually works.”
From the Wrestling Ring to Islam
Brother Abu Claire learned to wrestle at age nine and became a professional in his late twenties. During that time, he read the autobiography of Malcolm X, and the story transformed his worldview. Malcolm’s charisma and his description of Islam — one all-powerful Creator who is the Lord and Sustainer of all that exists — captivated him immediately. Though he was not actively searching for faith, the message of pure monotheism was exactly what he had always believed.
“I always believed in God. I just didn’t know what He wanted from me. I figured that if He wants me for something, He’ll show me what it is — and He did.”
The Importance of Dawah
- Think big picture: A person may reject Islam today but accept it tomorrow. You still receive the reward for planting that seed
- The ripple effect: If someone you give dawah to becomes a speaker or activist who guides thousands, you receive the reward for every single person they bring to Islam
- Never give up: Dawah is a long-term investment with eternal returns. One conversation can spark a chain of guidance that lasts generations
Why Read Malcolm X
Brother Abu Claire passionately recommends the autobiography of Malcolm X for every Muslim living in the West. Understanding the cultural context of America and the struggles people face in finding Islam helps soften hearts toward the work of dawah. Malcolm’s journey from the streets to Hajj — where he witnessed millionaires and poor men wearing the same two white sheets, eating from the same pot, black and white united — remains one of the most powerful testimonials for Islam’s message of equality before Allah.
Whether you are a wrestler, a doctor, or a student, the call is the same: believe in the One Creator, worship Him alone, and share that message with everyone you meet. The reward is not limited to this world — it extends to the Day of Judgment and beyond.
