The Amazing Transformation to Islam of a German Hip-Hop Star
“Indeed, you will not guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.” (Quran, Al-Qasas, 56)
A wise man once said, “The most significant changes in life occur when you least expect them.” The story we are about to tell is a clear example of this saying. Maik Jahnke was born in Brunswick, Germany. He came from a large family that enjoyed spending time together, picnicking, and going to the beach. Later, they moved to a small town. Maik quickly made friends there and, after finishing school, enrolled in a trade school to learn the locksmithing trade. He completed his apprenticeship by the age of 17. Now it was time for Maik to become independent and make his own way in the world. So, he took the leap and moved out of his family’s house. This sudden decision worried his family since he wasn’t yet of legal age. However, he soon found a place and moved in.
For two years, he worked as a locksmith, and things were going well. When he had spare time, he wanted to improve himself, and his chosen path was music. Maik enjoyed singing and his passion for music grew over time. At the age of 19, he started making music, buying instruments with his first paycheck. He tinkered with a few songs and began writing lyrics from the heart. He soon produced, composed, and sang his first single. He then met Matthias, and together, they started making music and promoting it. While music didn’t sell as well as they had hoped, a small record company in Munich discovered them and offered them a record deal. They produced other singles under this company, and their music sold well, even being played at a dance school. Matthias wrote the lyrics, and Maik composed the music. They had found a winning combination. Their opportunities expanded, their songs entered the top 10 charts, and life was intense. However, one morning, on his way to pick up something from his studio apartment, a car accident left Maik paralyzed. This was a terrible situation for Maik, but he would later realize that every adversity has a silver lining. In his case, that silver lining was discovering Islam, the true purpose of his life. He began his quest for answers and found his faith. Now, let’s hear the story from Maik himself.
“After the car accident, nothing was the same. I became more contemplative and started to wonder about life, the life I had missed because of the hustle. I wondered about the essence of life. Why was life here? Why was I here? I would go out onto the balcony at night and look at the sky, at the moon and the stars. I thought that all this had to have a reason, but what was it? While I have never been an atheist, I always believed in a higher power. During the time after the accident, even my writings changed. The purpose of my writings became God. I wrote my words to Him and was searching for Him. I found solace as I wrote. But there were still unanswered questions about the purpose of this life. What was the meaning of life? Then one night, I had a strange yet wonderful dream. I found myself in a different time, far away from the modern life I knew, in a desert. There were camels, a caravan going toward a city. Next to me was a man with black hair and a beard. He had a stick and was writing something in the sand. He looked at me and asked if I understood what he was writing. I didn’t understand… Then I woke up from the dream, and for the next two hours, I cried because of the impact of the dream. Afterward, when I told my friends about this dream, they suggested that it could be related to Islam. When I began to study Islam, I decided to bear witness to the faith. Becoming a Muslim takes time, but I found answers to my questions about my existence and the real purpose of my life. I found peace and satisfaction in worshiping Allah, and I definitely became a better person, more tolerant. Before I became a Muslim, I didn’t really like strangers, but after learning about the diversity of the Muslim community, I dropped all forms of racism.”
Because Islam was more than just a religion; it was a way to organize society, to make sense of the universe. Those who sought, found, and Maik had found what he was looking for.
“I left my glamorous life in the show business. Then Allah granted me the opportunity to go to Hajj and Umrah. These were incredible experiences for me. Seeing the diversity among the people who worship Allah was mesmerizing.”
Maik admired not only the diversity among these people but also the diversity in the universe. Everything was so harmonious, in sync, and well-organized. The verses of the Lord explained it all. “Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?” (Al-Anbiya, 30)
“Those who seek should look to the sky. Look at the magnificent creation of this universe. See how everything is so perfectly created. Listen to your heart. You will find Allah, Islam, the purpose of life, the peace you need, and the happiness you seek.”
Alhamdulillah.
