Nicolas Anelka

Nicolas Anelka is a French retired footballer and manager, born in Le Chesnay in 1979. ¹ A forward who began at Paris Saint-Germain, he rose with Arsenal — winning the 1997–98 league and FA Cup double and the PFA Young Player of the Year award — and played for Real Madrid, Manchester City, Fenerbahçe, Chelsea and several other clubs, winning the Premier League Golden Boot in 2009 and 69 caps for France. ¹ In 2004 he converted to Islam in the United Arab Emirates, taking the name Abdul-Salam Bilal; no source names a school for him, so his data record leaves his faith as unknown with the conversion documented. ¹²

Anelka came through Paris Saint-Germain and joined Arsenal in 1997, where he became a first-team regular and won the double in his first full season. ¹ He moved to Real Madrid in 1999 and won the Champions League in 2000, returned to Paris Saint-Germain, and later played for Liverpool on loan, Manchester City, Fenerbahçe, Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea, where he was the Premier League's top scorer in 2008–09. ¹ Spells at Shanghai Shenhua, Juventus and West Bromwich Albion — where his 2013 quenelle goal celebration drew widespread condemnation — preceded a final playing chapter at Mumbai City. ¹³

Anelka won 69 caps for France and scored at crucial moments across a long international career, though he was sent home from the 2010 World Cup after a dispute with the coaching staff. ¹

After discussing religion with some childhood friends, Anelka converted to Islam in 2004 in the United Arab Emirates, taking the Muslim name "Abdul-Salam Bilal". ¹ He has described initially fasting during Ramadan and later relaxing his observance after finding he was often injured after the fasting period. ¹ The Arabic article likewise recounts his embrace of Islam, deepening during his time at Fenerbahçe, and the French article describes him as converted to Islam in 2004; Wikidata gives his religion as Islam, generically. ⁴³² Lane practice does not record a convert's former faith, and no source read names a school or madhhab for him personally, so his record states his faith as unknown, with the conversion documented. ¹

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