Most of you know that I have been lucky enough to travel extensively around the world. During my travels, I have spent lots of time in muslim countries. I've been to Indonesia several times, Malaysia, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey. During these trips, I spent countless hours in the company of muslims. I have read and discussed the intricacies of the Koran. I spent a lot of time contemplating my own faith and organized religon in general.

After long periods of thought and extenive consultation with my imam, I've decided that the time is right for me to finally make the conversion to Islam. I'm not going to do anything radical, like join a jihadi group. I don't believe in the jihad as it currently practiced by fundamentalists today anyway. But I am going to change a few things in my life, starting with my name. From now on, you can call me Ibn Battuta.

Don't think of this as a big deal. We're all descendants of Abraham, aren't we?. We're all Semetic peoples. We all don't eat trafe. Think of it as a new beginning.

Salaam Alekum and Allahu Akbar.