Michael Abraham, a public school teacher and author with a degree in political science, was born to a Syrian Orthodox Christian father and a Roman Catholic mother. His journey from being raised heavily Catholic to becoming a practicing Muslim began when university orientalist teachings about Islam clashed with what he observed from actual Muslims — and five verses from the second chapter of the Quran changed everything.
From Catholic Upbringing to Seeking Truth
Michael’s father descended from Syrian immigrants who came to New York in the early 20th century, and by his generation, the family had largely assimilated into American culture. His mother was a strong Catholic who took the family to services and Sunday school regularly. While studying political science at university, Michael encountered academic portrayals of Islam from orientalists — but watching real Muslims live their faith convinced him there had to be something more than what the media portrayed.
“He said to me ‘Rasheed, you’re Muslim, right?’ and he said ‘yes.’ And I said ‘you know, I want to become a Muslim.’ I remember saying that to him. All it took was reading five verses from the second chapter of the Quran — the living miracle — to know this was the truth.”
Free Speech, Salman Rushdie, and the Limits of Mockery
The episode also addresses the case of Salman Rushdie and the broader question of free speech versus deliberate provocation of religious communities. While freedom of expression is valued, Islam teaches that there is a difference between genuine intellectual inquiry and calculated blasphemy designed to hurt and provoke. The discussion highlights how Andrew Tate himself was effectively “cancelled” — showing that free speech has limits that are selectively enforced depending on who is being targeted.
“Where people talk about freedom of speech and availability of free speech, there was an attack on freedom of expression — because when they go to cancel you, it comes hard and fast. More than $200,000 was spent on efforts against those who speak uncomfortable truths.”
The Universal Message of All the Prophets
- Michael Abraham’s last name is actually the anglicized version of Ibrahim — his ancestor’s original name — connecting him to the prophetic lineage even before he accepted Islam
- Jesus, Moses, and Abraham were not Jews or Christians — they were all ones who submitted their will to One God, and this is what Islam means
- Even someone like Salman Rushdie has hope if he turns sincerely to the Creator of the heavens and earth — the door of repentance is always open
- Islam is not blind faith but a comprehensive, evidence-based way of life that answers the fundamental questions of human existence
