5. Muhammad Ali

Most of our readers probably know Muhammad Ali is Muslim, but given that he is one of the first famous Americans to convert to Islam, this list would certainly not be complete without him.

Muhammad Ali joined the “Black Muslims” led by Malcolm X shortly after he defeated Sonny Liston in mid-1960s to become the world heavyweight champion.

Ali was serious about being a practicing Muslim and refused to serve in the military during the Vietnam War, citing his religious beliefs, and was subsequently found guilty on draft evasion charges, which led to the loss of his title.

The U.S. Supreme Court eventually overturned the decision, with Ali becoming one of the most vocal famous Muslims of his time.