Omar Carter grew up in the church in Jamaica, moved to the United States at age 12, and spent years searching for happiness in music, entertainment, and the fast life before discovering that the answer to every question he had ever asked was waiting for him in Islam. His story is a reminder that true fulfillment does not come from fame or fortune but from knowing your Creator and living according to His guidance.
Growing Up in the Church but Feeling Empty
Omar’s parents were both clergy members, and church was the center of family life every Sunday. But from a young age, something felt incomplete. The pattern of attending church on Sunday and then returning to worldly pursuits the rest of the week left a persistent emptiness. God was just one compartment of life rather than the foundation of it, and that spiritual vacuum only grew stronger with time.
“There was always something in the back of my mind wondering: is there something beyond all of this? At the end of the day when you go home and lay on the pillow, is there something else to this life?”
Searching Through Every “Ism”
- Omar stopped going to church at 14 and began researching Buddhism, Taoism, and every other belief system he could find
- A friend kept telling him that everything he was searching for could be found in Islam
- He had been a DJ deeply involved in the music and entertainment industry, thinking happiness was in that lifestyle
- Meeting wealthy and famous people showed him that they were no happier than anyone else despite having everything the world values
What Made Islam Different
Islam answered the fundamental question that no other path could: why am I here? The concept of one Creator, distinct from creation, who deserves all worship and who judges people by their deeds rather than their skin color or social status resonated deeply. Omar discovered that Islam had been teaching racial equality and human dignity for over 1,400 years, long before the modern world began to catch up.
“In Islam, you’re judged by your deeds and what you believe, not by your physicality. Fifteen hundred years ago, Islam already knew that having leadership of any color is not a big deal.”
Islam and the Question of Terrorism
- Terrorism has absolutely no place in Islam; a true Muslim cannot be a terrorist because Islam demands justice and the protection of innocent life
- When Islam ruled Spain, Jews, Christians, and Muslims all lived together peacefully in the same society
- The claim that Islam was spread by the sword does not hold up to historical scrutiny
- Islam is the key to happiness and success, the same key found by figures like Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali
