Astronaut Neil Armstrong & Islam

There is a long-standing rumor, which you may have heard, that the late Neil Armstrong had converted to Islam after landing on the moon. The story goes that while standing on the moon he heard a sound -- a melodic singing in an unknown language. Upon his return to Earth, he learned that it was the Islamic call to prayer (adhan), and promptly embraced Islam.

I'm not sure why this story persists, but it's not even remotely true. The late Neil Armstrong, who died earlier this week at the age of 82, never had this experience and never embraced Islam. It is unclear how the legend got started, but it has been disclaimed on numerous occasions.

Read more about the life of Neil Armstrong, brought to you by fellow About.com Guides:

• First Muslim on the Moon? (Urban Legends)
• Biography of Neil Armstrong (Space/Astronomy)