Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud asked Ibrahim Richmond, a former Christian priest from South Africa who just converted to Islam, to undertake Haj this year, 2023.
Now, this has caused a lot of controversial comments online, however, let’s find out who Priest Ibrahim Richmond is.
Who is Ibrahim Richmond?
Ibrahim Richmond is a South African priest who converted to Islam and became Muslim from Christianity religion.
His journey took an astonishing turn as he got an invitation from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to take part in this year’s Haj pilgrimage.
Priest Ibrahim Richmond Story
Richmond converted to Islam three months ago after hearing a ‘divine voice’ speak to him in a dream. Thousands of Christians in his congregation followed suit and converted to Islam.
Richmond and thousands of his followers were seen uttering Shahadah (testimony of faith) in a viral video that leaked on the internet in March.
According to rumors, he has landed in Saudi Arabia’s Makkah and has begun the holy Hajj ceremonies.
He’ll next take a train back to Muzdalifah, around halfway between Arafat and Mina, where he’ll spend the night and take part in the symbolic stoning of the devil at Jamrat Al-Aqaba alongside 2.5 million other pilgrims.
On Sunday, the Saudi authorities uploaded another video of Richmond on Twitter, in which he described his conversion to Islam.
“I was a priest for 15 years and the leader of the congregation in the church with 100,000 followers until I saw the dream,” he claims.
Richmond noticed him “sleeping in the church in a very small room.” “Then I heard a divine voice telling me: tell your men to wear white,” he recounts.
Richmond has this dream over and over again in the days that follow. “Each time, the voice grew stronger.” Richmond then went to church and told his congregation about his dream.
“Three months ago, I pronounced the shahadah in the same church, and they supported and repeated what I said.”
Later, I noticed a Muslim brother approaching us. “I told him I’d always waited for him; I had a dream he’d come here,” he adds.
“When I was first invited to perform Haj, I was unsure,” he stated of his decision to attend the journey. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to go.
But now I’m here… Millions of my people will follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad to see the light.”
