Why did A.R. Rahman convert to Islam?

Answer 1

in his voice: "The whole process started with a sequence of dream. It was in 1988. I was in Malaysia and had a dream of an old man who was asking me to embrace Islam. For the first time, I did not take it seriously, but then I saw the same dream several times and I discussed it with my mother. She encouraged me to go ahead and to respond to the call o f the Almighty. Also, in 1988, one of my sisters fell seriously ill and in spite of the family's effort to cure her, her health deteriorated by the day. Then under the guidance of one Muslim religious leader we prayed to Allah, which did wonder for my sister and she made a miraculous comeback to life. Thus, began my journey from Dileep Kumar to A.R. Rahman."

He said the decision to embrace Islam was a mutual one with his mother. Not one to normally discuss this aspect of his private life, after taking a pause, Rahman narrates succinctly, "My mother and I resolved to follow one faith ... we wanted to cleanse ourselves of our sorrows."

After initial doubts, his three sisters also embraced Islam. source: Famous Indian Music Dirctor A.R. Rehman is a Hindu convert to Islam.

Answer 2

A.R. Rahman was introduced to Sufism when his younger sister fell severely sick and as per the advice of a family friend, the family would pray at a mosque and vow conversion to Islam if she got well. The prayers were answered and accordingly, he along with other members of his family the converted to Islam in the year 1989 at the age of 23 and changed his name to Rahman.