By Ebrahim Moosa

On the eve of Ramadan 1437, midway through a turbulent 2016, the iconic Muhammad Ali set off on the ultimate journey to his Lord.

Ali’s prowess in the boxing ring is renowned, but it was his magnetic personality, golden heart and steadfastness on his convictions that rendered him a legend.

Unlike most sports people today, for whom accomplishments are channelled towards little more than personal projects of vanity and self-aggrandizement, Ali leveraged his athletic profile to amplify the voice of justice.

Ali also did not hesitate to embrace pride in his religion and origins, and was unapologetically Muslim. Furthermore, the prospect of material loss did not deter him from speaking truth to power, even be it to the most ‘lofty’ of establishments, when they began to threaten his beliefs and convictions.

At heart, Ali was a true Da’ee, and his services for the Deen have catapulted him to earning the love and respect of millions globally. His public affirmation of Islam, in the most eloquent manner, cultivated a new sense of assertiveness among, particularly, African American Muslims. He created an awareness of Islam among Americans that was nearly non existent, and in doing so became one of the faith’s most recognisable icons globally.

Ali’s principled stance may have made him unpopular among some in the short term, but the adulation that has greeted his demise is testimony to how deeply his sincerity has struck a chord, and evidence of the long term merits of not capitulating for the sake of some paltry short term gain.

It is significant to note, that, on his passing, even as outspoken an opponent of an increased Muslim presence in America like Donald Trump, was compelled to acknowledge his virtues.

We celebrate the legacy of Ali here through a collection of cogent quotes and reflections, particularly dealing with faith, justice and service to humanity.

Who is The Greatest?

“My health is in the hands of Allah, who has ways of testing us. Whatever happens, happens. I a’int the greatest, it’s Allah. I gave myself a job. I work for God.”

Allah

“Allah’s the Arabic term for God. Stand up for God, fight for God, work for God and do the right thing, and go the right way, things will end up in your corner.”

On finding Islam

“The day I met Islam, I found a power within myself that no man could destroy or take away. When I first walked into the mosque, I didn’t find Islam…it found me.”

Seeking the pleasure of Allah

“Everything I do now, I do to please Allah. I conquered the world and it didn’t bring me true happiness. The only true satisfaction comes from honouring and worshipping God. Being a true Muslim is the most important thing in the world to me. It means more to me than being black or being American. I can’t save other people’s souls: only God can do that. But I can try to save my own.”

“Whatever I’ve done, I’ve done for Allah.”

Importance of Salaah

“Most people don’t pray until they’re in trouble. When people need help they pray a lot. But after they get what they want, they slow down. If a man takes five showers a day, his body will be clean. Praying five times a day helps me clean my mind.”

“Praying makes me strong”

What do I believe in

“I believe in the religion of Islam. I believe in Allah and peace.”

On the ecstasy of being on Hajj

“I have had many nice moments in my life. But the feelings I had while standing on Mount Arafat (just outside Makka, Saudi Arabia) on the day of the Hajj (the Muslim pilgrimage), was the most unique. I felt exalted by the indescribable spiritual atmosphere there as over one and a half million pilgrims invoked God to forgive them for their sins and bestow on them His choicest blessings.

“It was an exhilarating experience to see people belonging to different colours, races and nationalities, kings, heads of state and ordinary men from very poor countries all clad in two simple white sheets praying to God without any sense of either pride or inferiority.

“It was a practical manifestation of the concept of equality in Islam.”

Muhammad Ali’s lectures

“My lectures, based on Islamic teachings, were on various subjects. Some of the titles were, ‘The Intoxication of Life,’ ‘The Purpose of Life,’ ‘The Real Cause of Man’s Distress,’ ‘The Journey to the Goal in Life,’ and, one of my favorites, ‘The Heart of Man.’ They contained important insights that spoke to something deep inside me.”

Not seeking the pleasure and acceptance of creation

“The wealth of America and the friendship of all the people who support the [Vietnam] war would be nothing if I’m not content internally and if I’m not in accord with the will of Almighty Allah.”

What will help you

Stay strong. Read the Quran. Pray. Praise Allah. These things will help you.

The beautiful name Muhammad

“Cassius Clay is a slave name. I didn’t choose it, and I didn’t want it. I am Muhammad Ali, a free name – it means beloved of God – and I insist people use it when speaking to me and of me.”

“The name Muhammad is the most common name in the world. In all the countries around the world – Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon – there are more Muhammads than anything else. When I joined the Nation of Islam and became a Muslim, they gave me the most famous name because I was the champ.”

How to celebrate a victory

“I’ve done my celebrating already. I said a prayer to Allah.”

On Khidmah

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

On how small things matter

“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”

On Intellectual Maturity

“A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”

Why I will not support injustice

“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?

“No, I am not going ten thousand miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would put my prestige in jeopardy and could cause me to lose millions of dollars which should accrue to me as the champion.

“But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is right here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality…

“If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. But I either have to obey the laws of the land or the laws of Allah. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail. We’ve been in jail for four hundred years.”

“My conscience won’t let me go shoot my brother or some darker people or some poor, hungry people in the mud for big, powerful America. And shoot them for what? They never called me nigger, they never lynched me, they didn’t put no dogs on me, they didn’t rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother and father. Shoot them for what? How can I shoot them poor people? Poor little black people and babies and children and women. How can I shoot them poor people? Just take me to jail.”

How the Press Portrays Muslims

The word ‘Islam’ means ‘peace.’ The word ‘Muslim’ means ‘one who surrenders to God.’ But the press makes us seem like haters.

Support for Palestine

“In my name and the name of all Muslims in America, I declare support for the Palestinian struggle to liberate their homeland and oust the Zionist invaders.”

On America

“The United States is the stronghold of Zionism and Imperialism”

Unfounded hatred for Islam

“religion ain’t bad; it’s people who are bad. You know the entire power structure is Zionist. They control America; they control the world. They are really against the Islam religion. So whenever a Muslim does something wrong, they blames the religion.”

The peaceful message of Islam

“I’m a Muslim. I’ve been a Muslim for 20 years. . . . You know me. I’m a boxer. I’ve been called the greatest. People recognize me for being a boxer and a man of truth. I wouldn’t be here representing Islam if it were terrorist. . . . I think all people should know the truth, come to recognize the truth. Islam is peace.”

“I am a Muslim and there is nothing Islamic about killing innocent people in Paris, San Bernardino, or anywhere else in the world. True Muslims know that the ruthless violence of so-called Islamic Jihadists goes against the very tenets of our religion.

“We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda. They have alienated many from learning about Islam. True Muslims know or should know that it goes against our religion to try and force Islam on anybody.

“Speaking as someone who has never been accused of political correctness, I believe that our political leaders should use their position to bring understanding about the religion of Islam and clarify that these misguided murderers have perverted people’s views on what Islam really is.”

Fear of Judgement Day

I didn’t want to submit to the army and then, on the day of judgment, have God say to me, ‘Why did you do that?’ This life is a trial, and you realize that what you do is going to be written down for Judgment Day.

Ali’s principles

My principles are more important than the money or my title.

On being ready for death

“Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you’re going to be right.”

On trials and reminders

“This life is not real. I conquered the world and it did not bring me satisfaction. God gave me this illness to remind me that I’m not number One. He is”

What was Ali’s favourite book?

“That’s a dumb question! It has to be The Quran”

Goals in Life

“Propagating Islam. And that’s all.”

Ali on his greatest achievement

“Joining Islam”

If Ali had to change anything about his life

“I would become a Muslim at the age of ten”

On retirement(profound)

“No, when I retire from boxing I really don’t know, I want to say something right there, this might make you all think.

“Life is not really long, let’s say the average person is 30 years old. If you’re 30 years old you’re not but about seven years old. Add up all the seven, eight, nine hours you slept for 30 years, out of 30 years add up all the nights when you went to bed and this morning don’t remember a thing.

“You’ve been unconscious for about eight years if you’re 30 years old. You’ve slept for about eight years.

“How much travelling have you done in 30 years? From the television station to home to another country to another city to school to church. You’ve probably spent two years of your life just going back and forth to where you’re going.

“So there’s eight years of sleeping and two years of travelling, that’s 30 years out of your life before you accomplish anything.

“How long do you sit in school in America? We stay in school from the first grade to the 12th grade, six hours a day. Six hours a day for 12 years, break it down you sit in the classroom for three years without leaving.

“Okay, two years of travelling, eight years of sleeping, three years of school, how many movies have you went to, how many wrestling matches, how much entertainment, how many movie theatres, live plays, baseball games, probably two years of entertainment.

“So by the time you have children, by the time you’ve made way for your children, by the time you pay for your home, you’re pushing 60 years old.

“So life is real short. So you add up all your travelling, add up all your sleeping, add up all your school, add up all your entertainment, you’ve probably spent half your life doing nothing.

“So I’m 35 years old. 30 more years I’ll be 65. We don’t have no more influence, we can’t do nothing much at 65, your wife will tell you that.

“So what I’m saying is when you’re 65 ain’t too much more to do. Did you know I’ll be 65 in 30 more years? In those 30 years, I have to sleep nine years, I don’t have 30 years of daylight, I have to travel back to America, all my travelling, probably four years of travelling, about nine years of sleeping, about three years of entertainment.

“Out of 30 years, I might have 16 years to be productive. So that’s how we can break our individual lives down.”

Ali says the best thing he can do in the next 16 years is “get ready to meet God”, before going on to speak about his belief in divine judgement, heaven and hell.

“He [God] wants to know how do we treat each other, how do we help each other, so I’m going to dedicate my life to using my name and popularity to helping charities, helping people, uniting people.”

What matters most

“We have one life; it soon will be past; what we do for God is all that will last.”