Adieu Ali……You are still the greatest
Two final days of mourning was set aside for the world to honour and celebrate the life of former world heavy weight champion Muhammad Ali with a Muslim funeral and an interfaith service.
Muhammad Ali was an American Olympic and professional boxer and activist, widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century.
Ali, one of the transcendent figures of the 20th Century for his boxing prowess, showmanship and opposition to the Vietnam War in the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, died last Friday of septic shock in an Arizona hospital aged 74.
Along with members of his family, over 15,000 people attended the jenazah, the Islamic funeral prayer, at Freedom Hall in Ali’s home town of Louisville, Kentucky, the venue where Ali defeated Willi Besmanoff on Nov. 29, 1961.
Imam Zaid Shakir, co-founder of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California, lead the service.
Ali and his family planned his funeral for 10 years, making sure it would honour his Muslim faith.
Ali’s Success and showmanship startled white America even when he went by his birth name, Cassius Clay. He further shocked U.S. society after he joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name in 1964 the report said.
In the 1970s, Ali converted to Sunni Islam, the largest denomination among Muslims worldwide. Late in life he embraced Sufism, a mystical school of the faith.
He was admired worldwide, and gave U.S. Muslims a hero they could share with the America mainstream.
On Friday, the final service at the KFC Yum! Center took place with luminaries such as former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and comedian Billy Crystal.
Actor Will Smith, who portrayed Ali in a 2001 biographical film, and former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis were among the pallbearers.
US President Barak Obama missed the funral because he atended his daughter Malia’s high school graduation ceremony, the White House said.
Mr Obama and his wife Michelle sent a letter that was read at the service, where White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett – who knew Ali personally – represented the president.
His casket was paraded through the streets of Louisville, so fans from around the world could say goodbye to the three-time world heavyweight champion before a private burial at Cave Hill Cemetery.
On Wednesday June 8, the city of Louisville held a celebration called the “I Am Ali” Festival. The day-long event highlighted Ali’s life through stories, music, dance and arts and crafts that had children colouring butterfly and bee masks in homage to the boxer’s famous quote about his fighting style, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”
Ali was born on January 17, 1942, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
He was survived by nine children, Laila Ali, Rasheda Ali, Hana Ali, Asaad Amin, Jamillah Ali, Khaliah Ali, Muhammed Ali Jnr, Miya Ali and his wife Lonnie Ali who was married to him from 198 -2016.
