A moving tribute to Muhammad Ali delivered at Masjid-ul-Quds, Gatesville, by Sheikh Sa’dullah Khan yesterday.
The “greatest” has passed on. The unavoidability of death does not in any way reduce the loss of this great man and the nostalgia evoked by rumination of his memorable life.
Being crowned Sportsperson of the 20th Century and having been the most recognised sports figure in history does not capture the exceptionality of this global icon.
In the apt words of boxing great Manny Pacquiao: “Boxing benefited from Muhammad Ali’s many talents but not nearly as much as mankind benefited from his humanity.”
Morphing into a Butterfly
Ali, it seems, was gifted with tremendous skill, stunning speed, exceptional timing, extraordinary intelligence, razor-sharp wit and astonishing courage. He grew from an impulsive, confident, young Cassius Clay into the thought-provoking, contentious civil rights activist Muhammad Ali.
Being motivated by social concern, enthused by political convictions and inspired by religious conscience led him to live a life where he had to make principled choices for which he had to bear severe consequences.
He evolved into one who was committed to his faith, audacious in the ring, eloquent on the air, inspirational to the young, compassionate to the needy, and patient in bearing the burden of his own life and the challenges of his health.
An extraordinary genius with captivating charm, boundless goodwill, matchless magnificence and a fascinating sense of humour. He was indeed far beyond a boxing legend; he was more importantly a social fighter and most importantly an honourable and an exemplary man. He became the personification of “black pride”, the outspoken voice of integrity and though seemingly outrageous, he was actually the embodiment of humility.
He thus became a champion inside the ring (beating the likes of Liston, Frazier and Foreman) and a hero beyond the ring (when he refused to fight in an unjustified war against Vietnam).
In 1967, at the height of the Vietnam War, Ali was drafted to serve in the US Army. He said that the war did not align with his faith, and that he had “no quarrel” with the Vietcong, and thus refused to serve. His stand culminated with an appearance at an army recruiting station, where he refused to step forward when his name was called.
The reaction was swift and harsh. He was stripped of his boxing title, convicted of draft evasion and sentenced to five years in prison. Ali was thus prevented from boxing at the pinnacle and prime of his athletic resplendence when his “greatest” years were denied to him.
It was nonetheless his incomparable work ethic, extraordinary technique and his audacity towards standing up for his beliefs that propelled him towards the legendary stature that became Muhammad Ali. That rare person who actually practised what he preached, who triumphed over tribulations, transcended the boxing ring and became sport’s first real superstar. In reality, he became greater than his legend.
In honouring Muhammad Ali as The Greatest Athlete of the Century, USA Today’s Jon Saraceno then wrote: “For nearly five decades this man has, in one arena or another, commanded our attention… and we are still mesmerised. He is a come-to-life definition of his Muslim namesake, Muhammad, “worthy of praise” and Ali “most high”.
The Ali Legacy
No athlete had a career so varied, so trying, so complex, so significant yet so little tainted by hypocrisy. Ali had the guts to take on his government when they undertook an unwarranted war in Vietnam, the courage of his convictions to lay down his title and go to jail for his beliefs, bold enough to accept the Islamic faith when it was least fashionable to be Muslim and humble enough to accept his shortcomings. He backed up his “Louiseville Lips” with actions, lost his title because he refused induction into the US army, always spoke his mind with eloquence, and in the process became the most famous person in the world. Oh yes, he was also the heavyweight boxing champion.
Yes, he said “I am the champ” and that was no lie. He said “I shook up the world” and that was no lie. He said “I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee” and that was no lie.
He outfoxed the Hare (Patterson), thumped the Bear (Liston), taught Ernie Terrell his name, gave us the Thriller in Manila (with Frazier) and the Rumble in the Jungle (with Foreman) in Zaire. Ah! How emotions were moved when he spoke, when he fought, when he won.
How hurt we were when he lost. And yes, we remember how our heart danced with joy when he did the “Ali shuffle”. His legacy is integrated into part of our collective history for all time. When we are located in history, it may one day be said that we lived at the time of Muhammad Ali.
Six decades in the spotlight
Ali humanised our perception of athletes, brought pride to the Muslims and dignity to the oppressed black masses. He made people proud to be who they were; the more downtrodden, the more proud.
Malcolm X said: “Ali will mean more to people than any athlete before him.” (How right you were Brother Malcolm and we are eternally indebted to you for your positive influence on him and on us.)
Ali has remained in the spotlight for over 50 years with dignity, panache and flair. In those five decades that he has commanded our attention he gave us athleticism, artistry, accomplishment, alpha-star appeal and an ambassadorship for sports and Islam. Over 30 years after his last fight, he remains the most recognisable and adored person.
Global humanitarian ambassador for humanity to humanity
Ali has been an opening to something great, he spoke of the Divine and on behalf of the distressed, he spoke of the rights of the oppressed, gave charity to the hungry and the poor, and he cared for the sick, the old and gave hope to the downtrodden.
He raised his game from a backroom sport to an engaging global drama. Whether in Harlem, Kinshasa, Manilla or Soweto, millions of fans cheered from their heart Ali! Ali! Ali! He stood for something great. As these admirers (many who were neither boxing enthusiasts nor sports fans) climbed on to their seats for him, they felt that they were witnessing greatness on display and sporting poetry in action.
They were energised by their hero. Sportswriter Brian Murphy never considered himself an Ali fan. But when he, like many people all over the world, watched as a physically humbled Ali lit the flame to begin the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996, he said: “I suddenly felt something I never felt before. I loved him, not out of pity but out of respect. Ali was terribly controversial throughout his whole career, but he was authentic the whole way through. And controversial as he was, he never made you ashamed to be his fan.”
His famous opponent, George Foreman, told the BBC on the passing of Ali: “Part of me is gone. Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest human beings I have ever met. No doubt he was one of the best people to have lived in this day and age.”
Appearing at the Muhammad Ali World Healing Project in 1997, Muhammad Ali said: “I wish people would love everybody else the way that they love me. I hope I can encourage people to show the same love and respect for each other. If so, it would be a better world.”
When asked recently how he would like to be remembered, he replied: “I would like to be remembered as a man who won the heavyweight title three times, who was humorous and who treated everyone right. As a man who never looked down on those who looked up to him… who stood up for his beliefs… who tried to unite all humankind through faith and love. And if all that’s too much, then I guess I’d settle for being remembered only as a great boxer who became a leader and a champion of his people. And I wouldn’t even mind if folks forgot how pretty I was.”
Hosting Ali in Cape Town
I had the privilege of hosting Muhammad Ali at Masjid-ul-Quds in Cape Town and honoured with the task of introducing him to the congregation.
Here was my sporting hero and a hero to so many people all over the world. He was by then (1994) an enlarged shadow of his former self, yet he was considered the person that people worldwide would most like to meet.
I saw in him more than a world boxing champion. He was a fighter for social equality, protagonist for justice, a witty poet, supreme athlete and an altruistic humanitarian. A significant man who burst on to the international scene in the early 60s as a young heavyweight champion who converted to Islam and refused to serve in the Vietnam War.
He became a symbol of strength, of conscience, of eloquence and courage. Even in his poetic protests, his defiance was always dignified. He was an anti-establishment showman who transcended borders and barriers, colour, race and nationality. He gave us hope by reflecting the best of our aspirations in him.
Be rest assured, O Ali, that someday when I sit with my grandchildren, God willing, hearing them talk about their sporting heroes, I’ll tell them of Muhammad Ali, the greatest sportsperson of all time that lived in our days. I’ll say it with pride and without fear of contradiction. Yes, my heart will always dance when I see the “Ali shuffle” and I’ll feel a knot in my throat and a tear in my eye whenever I hear your name… Ali! Ali! Ali!
l Khan is chief executive at Islamia College. He was a student leader active in the anti-apartheid struggle, completed studies in Law at University of Durban, Journalism (UK) and Islamic Studies at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.