Habiba Abdul-Jabbar: Woman who changed her religion for love of basketball icon While the majority of famous people's spouses appear to...
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar: Woman who changed her religion for love of basketball icon
While the majority of famous people's spouses appear to enjoy the spotlight that comes with having a famous spouse, other spouses decide not to partake in the glitz and glamour that comes with celebrity. Habiba Abdul-Jabbar is one of those people who, although having a romantic relationship with a well-known celebrity, has hardly made headlines.
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar has managed to stay out of the spotlight for many years, despite the fact that she was formerly married to a guy who was at one point the most famous name in the sport of basketball.
Who is Habiba Abdul-Jabbar?
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar was born in the US state of New York in October 1950. Her real name at birth was Janice Brown, and she was brought up in a Catholic-affiliated American Christian family.
After getting married to Kareem, Brown changed her name to Habiba Abdul-Jabbar and completely committed to Islam.
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar career
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar has maintained a near-anonymous status over the years since she is seldom ever seen or heard from. She chose to fully avoid the limelight, therefore little is known about her lifestyle, aspirations, or present activities.
However, we were able to find out some information about the basketball legend's ex-wife. Abdul-Jabbar is a devoted runner who is extremely passionate about athletics, according to her Facebook profile. "RunHabibaRun" is the name of her Facebook page. She also runs the fashion brand Tutu Glam, known for its extravagant tutus.
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar’s net worth
According to media reports, Habiba Abdul-Jabbar's anticipated net worth is in the $2 million to $4 million range.
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar family
When Habiba Abdul-Jabbar was a high school student and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), they first crossed paths. Cliff Anderson, a basketball player, who was dating Habiba at the time, introduced the two.
When Abdul-Jabbar asked Habiba to a basketball game in Los Angeles, their romance really took off. The couple made the decision to exchange wedding vows after some time spent courting.
The couple wed on May 28, 1971, in accordance with Islamic religious customs. In a ceremony at a mosque in Washington, DC, they exchanged vows. Hamas Abdul-Khaalis, the figurehead of the Hanafi movement, officiated the ceremony. The bride changed her name from Janice Brown to Habiba just before the wedding and became a Muslim. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born in Harlem, New York, at the same time. Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor was his given name at birth, but after converting to Islam, he changed it to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Unfortunately, due to their Christian faith, Habiba's parents, who had traveled from New York, were not allowed to attend the wedding ceremony at the mosque.
Even Abdul-Jabbar, according to a source, was not aware that they were not allowed entry to the wedding venue until the ceremony started. Early on in their marriage, this led to a serious rift between Habiba and Abdul-Jabbar.
After some time, Abdul-Jabbar was able to mend the two families' differences. When he appeared on national television, he would frequently send many shout-outs to his in-laws, greeting them with "Hi to Moms and Pops in New York."
Three children—Habiba, Sultana, and Kareem Jr.—were born to Habiba and Abdul-Jabbar.
Their daughter Habiba, who is their firstborn, is a journalist who goes by the pen name Habiba Alcindor. She contributes to various media, including the Huffington Post. Their son pursued a career in basketball, just like his father. Kareem Jr. also briefly pursued acting, making an appearance in the movie "Weapons".
In 2008, Sultana spent about five months working as a Lakers' assistant. In December 2009, she was later hired by Children's Institute Inc. as an administrative assistant, where she worked for more than four years.
Divorce
Both Abdul-Jabbar's migraines and his romance with Cheryl Pistono contributed to their separation from Habiba Adul-Jabbar. The tragic tragedy that saw Abdul-Jabbar lose six relatives and one friend, all of whom were Hanafi group members, left the basketball legend with chronic migraines. According to reports, rival black Muslims in Washington, DC, killed all six victims. Some sources claimed that the basketball legend was the intended target of the hit, and they claimed that they were all killed inside the home he had bought for them.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Abdul-Jabbar stated that the recommendation of their spiritual leader at the time led to his marriage to Habiba Adul-Jabbar. He claimed to have a strong love for another woman, but he chose to wed Habiba out of respect for his spiritual mentor.
While still married to Habiba, Abdul-Jabbar allegedly had an extramarital relationship with his then-girlfriend Cheryl Pistono. Due to this, their marriage experienced a serious breakdown, requiring them to split their time between two homes. Abdul-Jabbar's life was reported to have been impacted by Pistono more than any of his professors, coaches, or friends at the time. Eventually, she suggested Abdul-Jabbar get a divorce, and he did what she suggested.
As of December 1973, they were no longer cohabitating, but Abdul-Jabbar still paid frequent visits to his ex-wife and their daughter Habiba. Habiba was only three months pregnant with their second daughter at the time of their divorce. While they were living apart, they also had their one and only son.
Following the conclusion of his divorce from Habiba in 1978, Abdul-Jabbar began dating Pistono. Together, they have a son named Amir Adam Abdul-Jabbar. Cheryl did, however, choose to wed Steven Jenkins in 1985.
From this union with Julye Olds, Abdul-Jabbar later welcomed his son and last child, Amir Abul-Jabbar.
Height of Habiba Abdul-Jabbar
At this time, Habiba Abdul-Jabbar stands 5 feet, 5 inches tall.
Age of Habiba Abdul-Jabbar
If Habiba was truly born in October 1950 as claimed in several media accounts, she would be 72 years old right now and 73 in October 2023.