Former South African Pastor Goes on Hajj
Ibrahim Richmond, a former Christian priest hailing from South Africa, recently converted to Islam after experiencing a series of dreams. He has now successfully completed his first Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, leading thousands of his followers to embrace the religion.
In a video posted on Twitter by Saudi Arabia’s Government Communication Center, Ibrahim expressed his intention to follow in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad, believing that millions of people in South Africa would also find enlightenment through Islam.
Ibrahim described the pilgrimage as a momentous occasion, stating, “This is the mountain of light. I am the first one in my family to touch this blessed soil.” Prior to his conversion, Ibrahim served as a priest for 15 years and led a congregation of approximately 100,000 followers.
His life took a significant turn when he started having recurring dreams where a voice instructed him to “Tell your men to wear white coats.” Eventually, Ibrahim realized that the voice was referring to Taqiya, a white cap worn by many Muslims during prayer. Initially dismissing it as “just a dream,” he couldn’t ignore its persistence. The voice became more insistent, urging him, “Now tell your men.”
Three months ago, Ibrahim embraced Islam and adopted the name Ibrahim. Following his conversion, thousands of Christians from his church also embraced Islam, as evidenced in a viral video from March where Ibrahim and his followers recited the Shahadah (testimony of faith).
Expressing his overwhelming joy, Ibrahim tearfully said, “What I was saying, they were also saying it. Those thousand voices saying one… what Shahadah would mean. We were happy, then I saw Muslim brothers coming. I said I have been waiting for you, I have been waiting for you, I had a dream, that you will come here.”
Grateful for the opportunity, Ibrahim described his Hajj journey as easy and blessed by Allah. A video shared by Haramain’s Twitter account showcased his arrival in Mecca and his participation in the initial rituals of Hajj.