Brother Amir Junaid Muhadith, born 20 June, 1975 in Harlem, New York as Chauncey Lamont Hawkins, was formerly a hip-hop and rap performer who worked under the stage name of ‘Loon.’ He earned his fame as a part of Puff Daddy’s Bad Boy Records, where he not only released a self-titled debut album, Loon, but also performed with many of the industry’s notable R&B and hip-hop celebrities.

In 2004, Loon left Bad Boy to start his own label, Boss Up Entertainment. Having started his music career as a member of Mase’s rap collective Harlem World, Loon branched out into acting and was featured in two movies directed by Damon Dash, State Property 2 and Death of a Dynasty.

Following a life-changing visit to the city of Abu Dhabi along with prolonged exposure to the Muslim lifestyle, Amir explained his attraction to Islam in an interview:

I visited Abu Dhabi, Emirate’s capital, and there I found the real happiness and tranquility which my wealth and fame failed to give me all over my life as a singer. I was affected with the Muslim’s culture; and I admired their refined morals, their kind treatment with people, and especially their regular going to pray in the mosque five times every day.

Consequently, I began to ask about the reality of this religion, and whether it was only exclusive for Arabs, and I realized that Islam includes all human beings without any consideration to their nationalities. Then, I announced my conversion to Islam after a profound thinking, and I prayed for the first time after my return to my home in Harlem, New York.

Shortly after having become Muslim, Allah blessed brother Amir by guiding his family to Islam: ‘My relief increased a lot when my wife and my son accepted Islam.’

Allah continued to shower His bounty upon Amir by facilitating the ability for him to perform Umrah, an incredibly moving experience for him.

…When I was performing Umrah, a few days ago, I lived a very poignant moment when I saw the holy Ka’bah for the first time in my life. I could not bear this affecting situation, so I could not stand on my feet, and I began to cry thanking Allah who allowed me to perform this magnificent ritual, and to visit the Prophet’s honorable mosque.

Islam turned my life upside down since I renounced the profession which I practiced from seventeen years old; however, now I feel the serenity and peace of mind which I longed for all my life. I became very enthusiastic to know more about Islam when I joined a Canadian Organization calling for Islam.

Allah says in the Noble Quran: {Truly, the Religion with Allah is Islam.} (Quran 3:19)