The Miraculous Journey of Dr. Robert Dickson Crane to Islam
From White House Advisor to Islamic Scholar: How a Harvard Law Professor Found the Truth of Islam
Master of Six Languages and Advisor to the U.S. President Embraces Islam
Dr. Robert Dickson Crane was born on March 26, 1929, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was raised in a Protestant Christian family. He graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in 1956, then earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) from Harvard Law School in 1959, where he founded and presided over the Harvard International Law Society and edited its journal.
He also studied comparative sociology of religions at the University of Munich in Germany and mastered six living languages.
Dr. Crane was one of America’s most prominent strategic experts. In 1962, he co-founded the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the first Washington-based research center specializing in foreign policy.
He served as the principal advisor to President Richard Nixon on foreign affairs from 1962 to 1967, then was appointed Deputy Director of Planning at the National Security Council in the White House.
The Path to Islam
One day, President Nixon wanted to learn more about Islam, so he asked the U.S. intelligence agencies to prepare a comprehensive study of the religion. The report was long and detailed, so Nixon tasked his advisor Robert Crane with summarizing it.
Crane read the report with great care, then began attending Islamic seminars and lectures to deepen his understanding. Within just a few days, news spread like wildfire across the United States: Nixon’s advisor had embraced Islam!
He accepted Islam in 1980 (at the age of 51) and officially announced his conversion in 1981. He chose for himself the name Farouq Abdul-Haq, in honor of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), known as Al-Faruq, the leader of justice.
“As a student of law, I found in Islam all the laws I had studied throughout my years. In the time I spent three years at Harvard without finding the word ‘justice’ mentioned in their laws even once, I found it in Islam repeated frequently and manifested in everything.”
Dr. Farouq Abdul-Haq also mentioned that Allah had guided him to Islam since childhood (at the age of 21), but he fully realized this when he met a Bahraini man who explained to him that he had been worshipping Allah without knowing it.
Life After Embracing Islam
After embracing Islam, he left high government positions and dedicated himself to Islamic da’wah (invitation to Islam) and work. He served as Director of Da’wah at the Islamic Center in Washington (1983-1986), then joined the International Institute of Islamic Thought as Director of Publishing.
He contributed to the founding of the American Islamic Council and chaired its legal section. He authored and co-authored more than 12 books and hundreds of articles, most notably his monumental work “Islam and Muslims” (in two volumes exceeding 800 pages), and other books on the objectives of Shari’ah, merciful justice, and civilizational renewal.
His Major Works
- Islam and Muslims (Two-volume work exceeding 800 pages)
- Planning the Future of American Muslims
- The Natural Law of Compassionate Justice
- Shari’ah: The Way of Justice and Compassion
- Civilizational Renewal: The Role of Muslim Americans
- Hundreds of articles on Islamic law, justice, and civilizational issues
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed him as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, but he was dismissed after a short period due to his adoption of a policy of “parallel diplomacy with Islamic movements.”
The Amazing Story That Happened to Him
Once, Dr. Farouq Abdul-Haq was in a legal discussion with a Jewish professor who was severely criticizing Islam and Muslims. Dr. Farouq tried to guide him with a calm question:
“Do you know the size of inheritance law in the U.S. Constitution and laws?”
— Dr. Farouq Abdul-Haq to the Jewish professor
The professor replied: “Yes, it exceeds eight large volumes.” Dr. Farouq said to him: “If I bring you a complete and comprehensive inheritance law in just ten lines, will you admit that Islam is the true religion?”
The professor replied: “That’s impossible!” Dr. Farouq brought him the inheritance verses from Surah An-Nisa in the Holy Quran. After a few days, the Jewish professor returned and said in amazement:
“No human mind can enumerate relationships with such comprehensiveness, precision, and justice that wrongs no one… This is not the work of humans!”
— The Jewish professor after reading the Quranic inheritance verses
Then the Jewish man embraced Islam at the hands of the former U.S. presidential advisor!
يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۚ فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَاءً فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ ۖ وَإِن كَانَتْ وَاحِدَةً فَلَهَا النِّصْفُ ۚ وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ الثُّلُثُ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ السُّدُسُ ۚ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا ۚ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
(Surah An-Nisa 4:11)
Dr. Robert Dickson Crane (Farouq Abdul-Haq) passed away on December 12, 2021, at the age of 92, after a life filled with knowledge, da’wah, and struggle for justice.
Glory to He who guides whom He wills, turns hearts, and makes a White House advisor a preacher of Islam.
We ask Allah Almighty to have mercy on Dr. Farouq Abdul-Haq, make his grave a garden from the gardens of Paradise, benefit from his knowledge and da’wah, and guide through this inspiring story many to the light of Islam.
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