American writer and activist Jeffery Shaun King and his wife Rai King have converted to Islam on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.

On Monday, the two pronounced a testament of faith, known as Shahadah, over Instagram live under the guidance of King’s friend for over 10 years — US Muslim scholar Omar Suleiman.

The 44-year-old wore a Palestinian garment keffiyeh as he addressed the crowd, crediting his decision to the “past six months of suffering, pain and trauma that we’ve seen in Gaza”.

“It has touched me in the most profound ways to see people right now in the most dangerous, traumatic place on the planet still be able to sometimes look at nothing but rubble and the remains of their family, and still see meaning and purpose in life.”