- Sonny Bill Williams has travelled to a historic Islamic mosque in Saudi Arabia
- Footy star was led by a Sheikh through the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina
- It is one of holiest sites in Islam and place of burial for Prophet Muhammad
- Williams is understood to be preparing for pilgrimage to holy city of Mecca
- The 32-year-old New Zealand rugby union star converted to Islam in 2009
Muslim convert Sonny Bill Williams has travelled to a historic Islamic mosque in Saudi Arabia as he prepares for his pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.
The 32-year-old rugby union star, who converted to Islam in 2009, was led by a Sheikh through Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, also known as the Mosque of the Prophet.
The place of worship, in the city Medina, is one of the holiest sites in Islam and the place of burial for Prophet Muhammad.
Footage posted to social media shows Williams being led into an Islamic prayer by Sheikh Kamal Abu Mariam as they stand beside the grave.
Sonny Bill Williams has travelled to Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, also known as the Mosque of the Prophet, in Saudi Arabia s he prepares for his pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca
Footage shows Williams being led into an Islamic prayer by Sheikh Kamal Abu Mariam as they stand beside the grave of Prophet Muhammad
‘What an amazing feeling visiting the prophets(as) holy masjid in Madinah,’ he later wrote on Instagram.
‘Thanks to the Shiek’s for their insightful knowledge today,’ he said in another post.
According to the video’s caption, Williams will soon perform umrah – a pilgrimage to Mecca which can be undertaken at any time of the year.
‘Williams recently reverted to Islam… by the will of Allah,’ the Facebook post reads.
‘Thanks to the Shiek’s for their insightful knowledge today,’ Williams captioned this picture
Williams is understood to be preparing for a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Pilgrims are seen gathering around the holiest shrine in Muslim religion, call Kaaba, in Mecca
The cross-code superstar recently spoke to MailOnline about his faith.
‘I’m a proud Muslim. It’s given me a feeling of happiness and contentment I’ve always looked for. I see it as a responsibility,’ he said.
‘Before I became a Muslim, I lived up in a flash house in Toulon and would worry about where the pair of boots I’d ordered were or some rubbish like that.
‘Then I met a Tunisian family living in a one-bedroom apartment in the projects. They didn’t have much but they always had me round for breakfast and never asked for anything back.
‘They always asked Allah for guidance and it really struck a chord.’
The 32-year-old rugby union star (pictured playing for the All Blacks last year) converted to Islam in 2009
A stock image shows pilgrims visit the Masjid al-Nabawi, the mosque which hosts Prophet Muhammad’s tomb