Sonny Bill Williams’ mum and teammate Ofa Tu’ungafasi convert to Islam

Rugby union star Sonny Bill Williams’ mother and best friend have converted to Islam less than a fortnight after the Christchurch massacre.

The 33-year-old New Zealand athlete’s mother Lee Williams and his teammate Ofa Tu’ungafasi have taken the Shahada, the Islamic creed declared when accepting Muhammad as God’s prophet. 

Muslim sheikhs have been celebrating the news, including Zimbabwean-based imam Sajid Umar who showed his support on Twitter on Tuesday.  

‘Just came across great news that the mother of our brother @SonnyBWilliams accepted Islam, along with his best friend and team mate. All praises belongs to Allah alone. He is most kind. Even though I’m far away; I am genuinely pleased for my brother. Allah has honoured him’, he tweeted. 

Photos of the ceremony, posted by fellow converted Muslim John Fontain, show Tu’ungafasi dressed in white tunic alongside William

Rugby union star’s mother Lee (far right with her son) converted to Islam less than a fortnight after the Christchurch massacre and ten years after he converted 

Photos of the ceremony, posted by fellow converted Muslim John Fontain, show Tu’ungafasi dressed in white tunic alongside Williams. 

‘Allahu akbar today Sonny Bill William’s mother and his team mate Offa Tu’ungafasi accepted Islam. May Allah make it easy for them and grant them firdous ameen,’ Fontain said. 

Lee’s and Tu’ungafasi’s religious commitment comes a decade after Williams himself became a Muslim and quit drinking and less than a fortnight after Australian gunman Brenton Tarrant allegedly killed 50 Muslims at two mosques in Christchurch.    

Williams met with survivors of the shooting in hospital on New Zealand’s South Island on Saturday and was joined by Tu’ungafasi, and Richmond Tigers player, Bachar Houli.

The All Blacks centre also joined hundreds of fellow Muslims and thousands of other New Zealanders for prayers at Hagley Park in Christchurch last Friday as the country fell silent to remember the victims.

Muslim sheikhs have been celebrating the news, including Zimbabwean-based imam Sajid Umar who showed his support on Twitter on Tuesday

Williams met with survivors of the shooting in hospital on New Zealand’s South Island on Saturday and was joined by Tu’ungafasi (pictured) and Richmond Tigers player, Bachar Houli

Williams speaks to Ziyaad Shah, a survivor of the shootings at Al Noor mosque, during a visit to Christchurch Hospital on March 23

The two-times World Cup winner, the first Muslim to play for the All Blacks, was visibly shaken by the shooting and posted a tearful message of support on his social media accounts, shortly after news of the incident broke.

Williams, whilst fighting back the tears, said: ‘I just heard the news and I couldn’t put into words how I’m feeling right now.

‘Just sending my duas (supplication) to the families. Just sending my duas to your loved ones. Inshallah you guys are all in paradise.

All Blacks centre also joined hundreds of fellow Muslims and thousands of other New Zealanders for prayers at Hagley Park in Christchurch last Friday as the country fell silent to remember the victims

‘I’m just deeply saddened, saddened that this would happen in New Zealand.’  

Last year, Williams travelled to Mosque of the Prophet in Medina in Saudi Arabia before making a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.

Footage posted to social media showed Williams being led into an Islamic prayer by Sheikh Kamal Abu Mariam as they stand beside the grave. 

Williams’ manager confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that Lee Williams converted to the religion on Tuesday.

Williams’ mum had continued to work as a carer at a retirement home in Auckland’s Mount Albert district as her son became a rugby league star in Australia and later played for the New Zealand All Blacks. 

In 2016, he revealed he managed to buy his mum a house and regularly helps out his family members including New Zealand Olympic rugby star sister Nial.