World

Obama's grandmother prays for him to be Muslim

US President Barack Obama's grandmother says she prayed for him to convert to Islam during her Hajj pilgrimage

Afp November 25, 2010

RIYADH: The Kenyan grandmother of US President Barack Obama who was on Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah has said that she prayed for the American leader to convert to Islam, a newspaper revealed Thursday.

"I prayed for my grandson Barack to convert to Islam," said Sarah Omar, 88, in an interview with Al-Watan Saudi daily held in Jeddah after she had performed Hajj.

The paper said that Omar was in Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage along with her son, Obama's uncle Saeed Hussein Obama, and four of her grandchildren.

Omar told the newspaper that she could only discuss Hajj matters and would not comment on Obama's politics.

The family appeared to have been hosted by the Saudi government for Hajj. Saeed thanked King Abdullah for his "kind hospitality," the paper said.

US opinion polls in August revealed that roughly one in five Americans believe that Obama is a Muslim, a claim categorically denied by the White House which has maintained that he is a "committed Christian."

COMMENTS (13)

Rima Farid | 13 years ago | Reply May Obama become *Muslim. So that he can have some sense to rule a little better.* The words of a true believer @Hafsa, the heaven. Let the Muslim leaders be a beacon of everlasting light where our present day so called Muslim leaders are mired in corruption....sexual hangama...violence...terrorism...and the innocent killing of men..women & minorities...the Almighty light shines on these Muslim leaders as they lead us into DARKNESS. May be its better Barak-Hussain-Obama is NOT Muslim.

Hafsa, the heaven | 13 years ago | Reply May Obama become Muslim. So that he can have some sense to rule a little better.

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Ahsanullah Mehsud | 13 years ago | Reply If the Americans has been true democrats and true liberals they would have no concern with the faith, their president practice.Their constitutional constrains make it obvious that Christianity still rules.

Mrs. Jahanzaib | 13 years ago | Reply WoW @Ramzaan such strong words...Curses of Kafir Hindus. that dares to infuse the love of music in our veins! What do you think flows in the blood of your Muslim brothers now the urge to create violence and bloodshed killing innocent men, women & children to die horrific death in a land filled with chaos? What do you think flows in the blood of your Muslim brothers now the urge to rape women and create terrorize minorities creating mayhem as Jinnah turns in his grave with disgust! What do you think flows in the blood of your Muslim brothers the corruption that now is the fabric of society where the poor is down trodden and the others enjoy their corrupt ills? The music from Pakistan is some of the finest ever produced; we have super talented singers and musicians who have unleashed extreme talent never before witnessed from an Asian country by women & men from Pakistan that is hitting the music media airwaves all over the world. Given the limited resources of technology & Government support these artists have succeed against all odds to keep a thriving interest and that we share this musical interest with our neighbor India and the Indian musical community have enjoyed and supported this endeavor speaks volumes of the peace & harmony that is to follow. We are grateful that people like you @Ramzaan are a minority and the majority that love music will eventually drown such negative thoughts.

G. Din | 13 years ago | Reply @Ramzaan "...I understand that we have heavy Hindu/Buddhist ancestry, but that does not mean that we take their music." If you understand (and correctly) that you "have heavy Hindu/Buddhist ancestry", the blood running through your veins shall yearn for "their music". And, it does, too. Look at the pirating of Bollywood films in your country. You have no control over it, I am sorry to say. Wait till your limbs will unconsciously move with that music. That is called dancing and you can't stop that either!!!

Ramzaan | 13 years ago | Reply We Pakistanis do not realize the severity of Indian cultural Invasion on Pakistan, their Classical Music adopted by our bands and singers are all of Hindu Origins. indian Ragas and haranas are not gifts of Islam but Curses of Kafir Hindus. They will conquer us with this and if we want music then we shall go to Naat... even sufi singers like Nusrat/Rahat are making our kids slaves of hindu culture...Shame...I understand that we have heavy Hindu/Buddhist ancestry, but that does not mean that we take their music

Sehba Musharraf | 13 years ago | Reply @Kanishka Wake up dude this is 2010...you still demand to live in the dark ages..Dance, Music, Theater, and women playing cricket without Hijaab Pakistani women have made tremendous strides in equality. Despite what you as a male chauvinist decides what is good for us women we are NOT LIVING in your ideal world where your so called brothers have strict rules to put down women while the male counter parts have prostitutes and other deviant practices to fulfill their desires. Hence the question lies as to why don't YOU move to Saudi Arabia and you can contribute to the putting down women in the name of Islam.

Rizwan T Khan | 13 years ago | Reply @ Kanishka, I agree with you that we should strive to be pure muslims but no we don't want to be like Saudi Arabia. Who told you they are following the religion in the manner it should? Please review the facts thoroughly.

Kanishka | 13 years ago | Reply I dont understand one thing, Is Pakistan really Islamic? Dance, Music, Theater, and women playing cricket without Hijaab etc are Haraam as per Islam and Pakistan the land of the pure is not doing justice to our Arab Prophet (PBUH). We must strive to be like Saudi Arabia from where our roots began…..I am sorry to say, our majority blood is somewhere making us impure and lean towards these sins…..

ik | 13 years ago | Reply Obama could pronounce his being a muslim after he leaves the presidency. Allah knows best

Rehan | 13 years ago | Reply By his own choice and free will, everyone should feel free to practise any religion... Afterall, the values underlying the very foundation is the same.

Mohammed Abbasi | 13 years ago | Reply A persons heart only Allah knows - so long as they are good and look out for and help others they are good despite a persons religious background. May Allah bless Sarah Omar

Zaidi | 13 years ago | Reply Interesting.

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