Praise be to Allah.

The story about Neil Armstrong, who they say was the first man to step onto the surface of the moon, becoming a Muslim is one of the stories that are passed around among people. We have researched this story and we did not find any reliable source for it. 

We have got used to hearing stories like that which then turn out to false, and it seems that this is a deliberate attempt to shake the faith of the ordinary Muslims, especially since they fabricated this story with some exciting details, that seem to affirm the superiority of this religion over all other religions. So they spread the news that famous people, such as artists, sportsmen and others have become Muslim, and they quote something with the story that affirms the truth of the Messenger and his message, then after a while they hasten to disprove these stories. Perhaps the story about Armstrong becoming a Muslim is of this type, because he is one of the most famous people in the world. Moreover the reason why he supposedly became Muslim – as they say – is that he heard the adhaan (call to prayer) on the Moon then he heard it again in Egypt. 

If the story of such a famous person becoming Muslim was really true, you would see him calling people to Islam and you would see the scholars and daa’iyahs and the Islamic media meeting him and talking to him, none of which happened in this case. If you compare the story of Armstrong supposedly becoming Muslim with the story of Yusuf Islam (the former Cat Stevens, the famous British singer), you will see the difference between lies and truth, imagination and reality. 

Yusuf Islam is one of the most famous of those who have really converted to Islam, so you see his picture in the Islamic media and he has his schools in Britain, and he travels in the Muslim world and performs Hajj and ‘Umrah. What has Neil Armstrong done of such things, even though he is far more famous?  

Whatever the case, we do not need to hear the adhaan on the Moon in order to prove that our religion is true. If this man or anyone else becomes Muslim, he is the one who will benefit from that, and if he goes astray and disbelieves, then he is the one who will be harmed by that. 

We remind you of the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Say: O you mankind! Now truth (i.e. the Qur’aan and Prophet Muhammad), has come to you from your Lord. So whosoever receives guidance, he does so for the good of his own self; and whosoever goes astray, he does so to his own loss; and I am not (set) over you as a Wakeel (disposer of affairs to oblige you for guidance)”

[Yoonus 10:108] 

“Verily, We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this Qur’aan) for mankind in truth. So whosoever accepts the guidance, it is only for his ownself; and whosoever goes astray, he goes astray only for his (own) loss. And you (O Muhammad) are not a Wakeel (trustee or disposer of affairs, or guardian) over them”

[al-Zumar 39:41]

And Allaah knows best what the truth of the matter is. May Allaah send blessings on our Prophet Muhammad.