From Hippie to Scholar: The Spiritual and Intellectual Journey of Professor Khalid B. Blankinship

In this fascinating conversation with Professor Khalid Blankinship, we explore a deeply personal and intellectual journey—one that took him from Protestant roots in Seattle to embracing Islam in the early 1970s, and eventually becoming a renowned academic in the field of Islamic history.

Professor Blankinship’s story is as moving as it is unique. A self-proclaimed academic nerd from childhood, he developed a passion for history and religious ideas from an early age. Although raised in a nominally Protestant household, his family eventually distanced themselves from organized religion. Disillusioned with the theological inconsistencies he found in Christianity—particularly the concept of the “God-man”—Blankinship turned away from religion altogether during his youth and became part of the 1960s counterculture.

In an effort to distance himself from the hedonism of that scene, he began traveling extensively across the Mediterranean and Arab world, spending over two years on the road. It was during this period—living and working in places like Lebanon—that he encountered the family-centric and socially cohesive structures of Arab Muslim societies. These experiences planted a seed: maybe the values he admired weren’t just cultural, but religious.

Upon returning to the United States, he resumed his university studies, shifting his focus from Roman and Greek history to Islamic history. The turning point came when he began reading the Qur’an in both English and Arabic. The divine voice he felt emanating from the scripture convinced him of Islam’s authenticity. Remarkably, he decided to become a Muslim without personally knowing any Muslims at the time.

Soon after, he met two visiting students who were Muslim, and they encouraged him to formally accept Islam. Within a day, he found the discipline of daily prayer to be not only manageable but deeply grounding.

What makes Professor Blankinship’s path extraordinary is the sequence of his transformation: unlike many converts who come to Islam and then study Arabic, he learned Arabic first, developed a profound understanding of Islamic texts, and then embraced the faith—on his own terms, through study and reflection.

Today, Professor Blankinship is one of the most respected voices in Islamic history and theology. His academic rigor is matched by a spiritual sincerity that began with a simple desire to understand the world more deeply.

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube here:

#KhalidBlankinship #IslamicHistory #ConversionToIslam #AmericanMuslims #SpiritualJourney  #ReligiousStudies #IslamInAmerica