Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Royce Gracie recently made headlines for two interconnected reasons: his conversion to Islam and the controversy that followed his social media posts about the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The martial arts icon, who helped establish the UFC alongside his brother Rorion and proved the effectiveness of Brazilian jiu-jitsu to the world, faced significant online hostility after posting about events in October 2023.
Speaking on The Deen Show with host Eddie and Sheikh Oman Ibn Faruk, Gracie addressed the misunderstanding that led many to believe he harbored anti-Muslim sentiments.
“I got a lot of hate, a lot of d**th threats,” Gracie explained when asked about the reaction to his post. “People were saying, ‘If you come over here, we’re going to k**l you’ They were calling me names.”
The backlash became so severe that a scheduled seminar in Bosnia was thrown into question, with many Muslim fans feeling betrayed by someone they had long admired.
However, Gracie clarified that his post expressed sympathy for civilians who lost their lives on October 7th, not support for any specific political agenda. “If you read the post carefully, I sympathize with the people that passed in October 7th,” he stated. “I sympathize with every civilian that’s passing on both sides, on the Palestinian side and on the Israeli side.”
The BJj icon emphasized that people misinterpreted his stance as being against Muslims or supporting vi**ence against Palestinians. “I never said that. I’m against all loss of civilian life,” Gracie insisted.
He compared the misunderstanding to someone assuming he hates Florida and beaches simply because he doesn’t like oranges, illustrating how quickly people jump to conclusions.
The BJJ legend was present in the interview with a prominent Muslim preacher Shaykh Uthman Ibn Farooq.
Royce Gracie formally embraced Islam in the episode by reciting the Shahada, the Islamic testimony of faith. With Shaykh Uthman guiding him, Gracie stated: “I bear witness there is none worthy of worship except one Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is a messenger of Allah.”
Gracie shared in the interview that he doesn’t consume pork or alcohol and maintains disciplined habits that align closely with Islamic practices. When Shaykh Uthman explained the core beliefs of Islam, Gracie confirmed he believes in one God and accepts that Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad were all messengers of God.
The significance of this moment extends beyond personal faith. The Gracie family, particularly Royce and his father Helio Gracie, changed martial arts forever by demonstrating the effectiveness of technique over size and strength.
As Gracie himself noted during the interview, his success wasn’t about him personally but about the techniques his father developed. “I was just the face of it. It could have been anybody. It was the technique that impressed everybody,” he humbly stated.
Looking forward, Gracie expressed interest in visiting Mecca, the holiest site in Islam, which is now possible following his conversion. He also committed to attempting Ramadan fasting, though he jokingly suggested finding a location with very short daytime hours.
