When UFC legend Royce Gracie walked into the Deen Center in Florida, no one could have predicted what would happen next. In a powerful conversation with Shaykh Uthman ibn Farooq, the man who single-handedly launched the Ultimate Fighting Championship and changed combat sports forever sat down to learn about Islam. What began as a discussion about current events and common misconceptions became a life-changing moment of clarity, as Gracie recognized the pure monotheistic message at the heart of the faith and took his shahada (testimony of faith), declaring that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger.
How Royce Gracie Found Islam at the Deen Center
Shaykh Uthman explained that Gracie, like many Americans, had only been exposed to Islam through mainstream media distortions. Yet when he sat with Muslims and heard the actual teachings, everything resonated with what he already believed in his heart. He affirmed belief in one God, rejected the worship of any human being including Jesus (peace be upon him), and acknowledged all the prophets from Abraham to Moses to Muhammad as true messengers. His conversion was not the result of pressure but of natural alignment between his innate beliefs and the pure Islamic creed.
He continuously said that he believes in one God, he believes none should be worshiped, he didn’t believe Jesus was God, he believed Jesus was a messenger, and he believed the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a messenger. It ended with him accepting Islam on the show.
Why Islam Is the Fastest Growing Religion by Conversion
- Islam offers a clear, rational belief in one Creator that aligns with the natural human instinct (fitrah)
- The Islamic creed requires no mysteries, no contradictions, and no blind acceptance of illogical doctrines
- High-profile conversions like Royce Gracie, Andrew Tate, and many professional athletes demonstrate the faith’s universal appeal
- According to research institutes, Islam leads all religions in conversion rates worldwide, not merely through birth rates
- The Quran remains 100% preserved, unchanged across every copy in every country, a miracle of preservation unmatched by any other scripture
The Miracle of Prophet Muhammad Splitting the Moon
Shaykh Uthman also presented a compelling evidence-based case for one of the greatest miracles mentioned in the Quran: the splitting of the moon by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Unlike figures from Western history such as Cleopatra or Alexander the Great, whose existence is accepted based on far less documentation, the moon-splitting miracle is supported by named eyewitnesses with verified lineages, including companions like Abdullah ibn Abbas and Anas ibn Malik. Even enemies of the Prophet such as Abu Jahl and Abu Sufyan confirmed they witnessed the event, and historical records from Indian kings who saw the splitting from across the ocean further corroborate the account.
We have more evidence for this miracle than for any event in pre-modern Western history. Muslim eyewitness accounts, non-Muslim enemies confirming it, Indian kings who witnessed it from thousands of miles away, and even NASA has confirmed cracks running across the entire surface of the moon with two distinct sides that suggest the moon was once separated.
The Evidence That Sets Islam Apart
- Multiple named eyewitnesses from Makkah and Madinah reported the moon splitting through verified chains of narration
- Hostile non-Muslim witnesses, including Abu Jahl and Abu Sufyan, confirmed the event despite wanting to deny it
- Traveling caravans and Bedouins on the outskirts independently confirmed the same observation
- Indian historical traditions record a king who witnessed the splitting and later accepted Islam, building a mosque that still stands today
- NASA imagery shows deep cracks traversing the lunar surface with two geologically distinct halves, consistent with a separation event
- Indian Prime Minister Modi himself gifted a gold replica of the mosque built by the Indian king who witnessed the miracle to the King of Saudi Arabia
The story of Royce Gracie’s conversion and the undeniable evidence behind Prophet Muhammad’s miracles both point to the same truth: Islam stands on a foundation of reason, historical proof, and divine guidance that speaks directly to the human heart. Whether you are a world-famous martial artist or an everyday person searching for answers, the door to Islam is open, and the evidence is waiting for anyone sincere enough to examine it.
