Neil Armstrong and Islamic Propaganda

Did Neil Armstrong change his religion after returning to Earth?

Did Neil Armstrong hear any melodious sound on the Moon or change his religion after returning to Earth?

Neil Armstrong, the first human to set foot on the Moon. Even in 2020, some individuals in Bangladesh continue to spread falsehoods about him in front of crowds of thousands – claiming he heard religious melodies on the Moon and later changed his religion. Thousands believe this and return home satisfied. What is the need for such fabrications?

Popular Islamic speakers in Bangladesh – such as Sayeedi, Azhari, and Tarek Monowar – have repeatedly claimed in Islamic gatherings before thousands that Neil Armstrong heard the call to prayer (Azan) on the Moon, saw a crack stretching across its surface, and converted to Islam upon returning to Earth. Millions of Muslims repeat this false and misleading claim. They use it to assert the superiority of their religion. Many books, especially translations of Hadith, include this myth as an embellished example in Bangladesh. For instance, see:
Stories of the Prophets – 3: Seeratur Rasul (Sa.), Dr. Muhammad Asadullah Al-Ghalib, Hadith Foundation Bangladesh, pages 118–119,
Bukhari Sharif, Bengali translation and detailed commentary, Hamidia Library Ltd., Volume 5, pages 342–343.
In these, the authors claim that NASA scientists found evidence of the Moon splitting 1400 years ago by the gesture of Prophet Muhammad, and that Neil Armstrong heard the Azan on the Moon and converted to Islam upon returning to Earth. These individuals pose as scholars with such claims, write books, and those books become quite popular.

There is no air on the Moon. Therefore, hearing any sound on the Moon is impossible. See the scientific explanation:
Can People Hear Sound on the Moon?: Audio & Sound –

No, Neil Armstrong did not change his religion after returning to Earth. Many rumors have circulated about his religious beliefs – especially the false claim that he converted to Islam, which he himself denied. At an event in Malaysia, he clearly stated that he never heard the Azan on the Moon or anywhere else, nor did he convert to Islam. Armstrong himself responded to these falsehoods multiple times. In his biography and interviews, he consistently rejected these claims. He participated in the Global Leadership Forum held in Malaysia in September 2005. On September 6, Malaysia’s most widely circulated English daily “The Star Malaysia” interviewed him. The interview was published on September 7, 2005. You can find the archived news at this link:https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2005/09/07/armstrong-recalls-moon-landing

Read the second paragraph from the bottom. He clearly rejected the claims about hearing sounds and changing religion. It’s as if Bangladeshi speakers know more about him than he does himself!

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The most important fact is that in the book *First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong*, published in 2005 and considered his official biography, he again clearly stated that the news of his conversion to Islam is false.

The U.S. State Department also addressed this propaganda as false. In March 1983, the U.S. State Department sent the following letter to all embassies in the Islamic world. Interested readers can easily find this letter with a bit of research.

P 04085 0Z MAR 83 ZEX
FM SECSTATE WASHD C

TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS PRIORITY
BI

UNCLAS STATE 056309
FOLLOWING REPEAT SENT ACTION ALL EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC DIPLOMATIC POSTS DID MAR 02.

QUOTE: UNCLAS STATE 056309

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, US, ID

SUBJECT: ALLEGED CONVERSION OF ENIL ARMSTRONG TO ISLAM

REF: JAKARTA 3081 AND 2374 (NOT ..)
1. FORMER ASTRONAUT NEIL ARMSTRONG, NOW IN PRIVATE BUSINESS, HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF PRESS REPORTS IN EGYPT, MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA (AND PERHAPS ELSEWHERE) ALLEGING HIS CONVERSION TO ISLAM DURING HIS LANDING ON THE MOON IN 1969. AS A RESULT OF SUCH REPORTS, ARMSTRONG HAS RECEIVED COMMUNICATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, AND A FEELER FROM AT LEAST ONE GOVERNMENT, ABOUT HIS POSSIBLE PARTICIPATION IN ISLAMIC ACTIVITIES.

2. WHILE STRESSING HIS STRONG DESIRE NOT TO OFFEND ANYONE OR SHOW DISRESPECT FOR ANY RELIGION, ARMSTRONG HAS ADVISED DEPARTMENT THAT REPORTS OF HIS CONVERSION TO ISLAM ARE INACCURATE.

3. IF POST RECEIVE QUERIES ON THIS MATTER, ARMSTRONG REQUESTS THAT THEY POLITELY BUT FIRMLY INFORM QUERYING PARTY THAT HE HAS NOT CONVERTED TO ISLAM AND HAS NO CURRENT PLANS OR DESIRE TO TRAVEL OVERSEAS TO PARTICIPATE IN ISLAMIC RELIGOUS ACTIVITIES.

Armstrong listed himself as having “no religious preference” when applying to NASA. That means he was not affiliated with any specific religious group. After returning to Earth from the Moon, Neil Armstrong’s religious beliefs remained largely private. He was known as a “deist” – someone who believes in a higher power but does not follow organized religion. While some astronauts, like Buzz Aldrin, performed religious rituals during their lunar missions (such as communion), Armstrong did not participate in any such practices. There is no confirmed evidence of him hearing the call to prayer (Azan) on the Moon, and he denied converting to Islam or making any significant religious changes. Overall, Armstrong’s faith was marked by a deep sense of wonder and introspection, rather than public religious adherence.

NASA, the U.S. space agency, also responded to questions stating that they have no scientific evidence of the Moon splitting or cracking. They added that rather than relying on hearsay, scientific knowledge should come from peer-reviewed journals.

None of the other 11 astronauts who walked on the Moon during Armstrong’s mission or subsequent missions claimed to have heard any Islamic prayers, Azan, calls, or music there, nor did they see any signs of the Moon being split. There is no evidence that Armstrong or any of them converted to Islam after returning to Earth.

Now tell me – how long will Bangladesh’s star speakers continue spinning this false tale? Just like this story, they fabricate hundreds of myths about science and scientists. What’s the point of spreading these lies and misleading people who blindly believe them?