French actor Gerard Depardieu, who recently received Russian citizenship, described the reason for his conversion to Islam in his self-written book “The Innocent.” Russia Today published excerpts from the book.
Depardieu said the songs of Umm Kulthum, known as the Star of the East, inspired him to learn about the Quran and then embrace Islam.
He said he first encountered Umm Kulthum in 1967, when she came to France and performed at the famous Olympia theater. He attended the concert with Muslim friends and said her beautiful, sweet voice affected him deeply. After the concert, he decided to embrace Islam.
Depardieu said that after converting, he began visiting the Grand Mosque of Paris to perform the five daily prayers. He found spiritual calm through contemplation and reflection inside the mosque that he had not found anywhere else.
May God bless him. God willing, he will deepen his understanding of Islam and find safety and peace of heart and spirit. He will surely find peace and joy there, for he had been in darkness.