okay...so first off, I didn't know if I had to put this in "news" or in the music secion..since well..its news...but about a singer...so I put it here LOL

So...whatta ya think...publicity stunt, follow-up hyped conversion (such as Kaballa a few years ago),...or does MJ mean business with this conversion?...

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Michael Jackson becomes Mickaeel. The 50 year old pop singer pledged his allegiance to Koran at a friend’s mansion in Los Angeles.

The Sun reveals that Michael, who was raised as a Jehowah’s Witness, decided to move to a new religion when he was recording a new song at his friend’s home. David Wharnsby, the Canadian songwriter now known as Dawud Wharnsby Ali and Producer Philip Bubal, now known as Irdis Philip, counseled Jackson when they spotted him “a bit down”. They reportedly gave him insights of Islam and let him know how they had become better people after they embraced Islam and it is assumed that Jackson warmed up to the idea.

An Imam was called from a Mosque to officiate the Shahada (Muslim declaration of belief) during which it is told that the pop start wore traditional Islamic dress. Jackson chose the name Mickaeel, the name of one of Allah’s angel against Mustafa which meant “the chosen one”.

Brit singer Yousef Islam, who was called Cat Stevens until he famously converted turned up to help Jackson’s conversion

Whether this sudden conversion of Michael to Mikaeel is a change due to strong attraction towards the religion or if it some stunt the pop star is up to just before giving evidence on the £4.7million lawsuit brought by Prince Abdulla Al-Khalif of Bahrain against him is yet to be seen. The Sheik claims that he helped Jackson with the cash after his high profile child molestation case and that he promised to pay it back. Jackson though claims that he thought it was a gift. Jackson is to give evidence via video link from LA to a London court.

News Courtesy: The Sun
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and yes, I know that the sun is a trashy tabloid..but the news has been confirmed by many other media outlets since then...I just took the first article that came up...