THE LEGEND, MUHAMMAD ALI
Muhammad Ali whose birth name is Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., was born January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. He was born to a poor black family. At a time when racial issues are so bursting.
While he was playing at a gym in Kentucky, someone stole his bike. He was really annoyed with the thief and threatened to beat him to pieces. "I'll knock it down and beat it until it's badly hurt, if it's found," said the tall boy in front of the police. The police did not take the child's anger seriously. They even say, if you want to beat people to battered, ya learn boxing first. It was this event that changed his life. Ali started his boxing training in 1954, when he was only 12 years old.
Become a Professional Boxer
Muhammad Ali made his professional debut in the boxing world in 1960. After winning a gold medal at the Rome Olympics. At that time he was at the age of 18 years. In 1964, the world was startled with Ali's victory over Sonny Litson. Ali, a twenty-two-year-old unknown and totally unseeded man, was even predicted to die in the ring because his big mouth mocking Litson, managed to defeat a frightening boxer.
Ali's victory over Sonny Litson made him a star. And his career continues to shoot. He became an idol and a hero to the American black youth.
At the peak of his career in 1966, Ali refused to join the American forces in the Vietnam War. Consequently the competing license is revoked in all countries for America and his passport is revoked. For 4 years (1967-1970), from the age of 25 years to 29 years, Muhammad Ali did not do any professional boxing matches.
In 1970, Ali regained consent. His first match after 'exile' was against Oscar Bonavena. Ali managed to knock out an Oscar in the game. This victory took him on the glorious door back by challenging world champion Joe Frazier. The match of two world champions who at that time was cultivated as Fight of the Century. In this match Ali was forced to accept his first professional defeat. At the next meeting Ali defeated Frazier.
In 1974, Muhammad Ali again won the world title after beating George Foreman.
His professional boxing career recorded a record 57 wins, 37 of whom won by knockouts.
Convert to Islam
Muhammad Ali announced his Islam in 1975. Then he changed the name of his baptism Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. became Muhammad Ali Clay. When asked what made him change his confidence of being a Muslim. Ali replied with an overwhelming response, "I've never seen so much love. Hug each other and kiss between them. Pray 5 times a day. Women wear long clothes. The way they eat. You can go to any country by greeting 'assalamu'alaikum - wa'alikumussalam. You have a house. you have a brother. I choose Islam because it can connect me (brotherhood to anyone). As a Christian in America, I can not go to a white man's church ... "
He continued, "(In Islam) I feel good. I feel the freedom. Islam made me connect with Saudi Arabia. The Islamic Brotherhood connects me to Pakistan, Morocco, Syria. I can live in the palaces (Muslim world leaders) because I am a Muslim. Being a Christian I never sit (equivalent) with leaders. As a Muslim, I sat together (Anwar) Sadad, (Gamal Abdul) Naser, Marcos President of the Philippines. The kings (Arabs), the Sultan of Abu Dhabi, and the society welcomed me like a brother ... Therefore, I chose Islam. "
Lesson for us Muslims, do not forget greetings fellow Muslims. Because greetings show love and affection.
The Role Of A Muslim
In 2005 he founded Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville. This place serves as the center of da'wah. Perhaps to draw the appeal of visiting people and study Islam, Muhammad Ali put some of his collection objects here. This place also operates as a non-profit organization to spread ideas of peace, social welfare, helping people in need, and noble values that Muhammad Ali believed.
The opening ceremony was attended by a large number of Muhammad Ali fans who came from different parts of the world, including former US President Bill Clinton.
Muhammad Ali said, "I want this place to encourage someone to give the best in their chosen field."
Since active in the social world, Muhammad Ali has visited many countries to help the health program of children and the poor. Among the countries he has visited are Morocco, Ivory Coast, Indonesia, Mexico, etc.
He also noticed the lower society in America Seirka, especially among African Americans who often experience discrimination.
Ali's Sayings
"Why should they ask me to wear a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home to drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while the so-called Negroes in Louisville are treated like dogs and deny simple human rights?" Ali, February, 17 , 1966.
"People say I'm talking so slow now. No wonder. I counted already 29,000 strokes. But I get $ 57 million and saved half of it. So I did some hard knocks. Do you know how many black men are killed every year by guns and knives without a penny for their names? I may speak slowly, but my mind is fine. "- Ali, January 20, 1984.
When there was an attack in Paris that the ISIS group claimed, Muhammad Ali spoke up,
"I am a muslim. There is no Islamic teaching about killing innocent people in Paris, San Bernardino, or anywhere else in the world. True Muslims know that the violence and cruelty of the so-called Islamic Jihadists are very much at odds with our religious teachings. "- Ali, 2015.
I do not smoke, but I always bring matches in my pants pocket. Every time my heart was moved to sin, I burned one matchstick. I felt the heat in my hands. I said to myself, "Ali, holding back the heat of this match you can not afford. How about the heat of hell? "
Died
Muhammad Ali died on Saturday, June 4, 2016, at the age of 74 years. The former heavyweight world champion died in a hospital in Phoenix City of Arizona state, after being hospitalized since Thursday.
Ali suffers from respiratory problems, due to complications caused by Parkinson's disease.
The family said the funeral would be conducted in Ali's hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.