He pronounced himself “the greatest thing that ever lived,” and moved through an extraordinary life with a style and swagger that was part genuine and part showmanship. Beneath the persona of world champion boxer, the man who became known as Muhammad Ali was foremost a man whose life is a remarkable story of faith and principle. Those of a younger age may know of him mostly by way of old film and history books — as an icon of a past culture — though undoubtedly, the man born as Cassius Clay leaves a legacy of particular relevance in today’s world.
He was a devout Muslim who embraced the faith’s tenets of peace and brotherhood and who placed those beliefs above all else, including his professional career. He refused to enlist in the armed services during the Vietnam War as a conscientious objector, and the story of his conviction as a draft evader — later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court — stands as an emblem of courage and commitment to the principle of religious freedom.
He did not shy from controversy, and often courted it, putting himself in a place where his presence and celebrity could frame a cause in a way that would elevate it to international attention. By converting to the Muslim faith, as an African-American man during a period of racial unease, he drew attention to himself in a way that marketing experts who advise today’s sporting stars would view as catastrophically unwise. Muhammad Ali did not seek to conform to prevailing social norms. Instead, he changed them.
He became a public face for a faith that is often misunderstood in America, prompting him to observe: “The word ‘Islam’ means ‘peace.’ The word ‘Muslim’ means ‘one who surrenders to God.’ But the press makes us seem like haters.” Ali did not shy away from an opponent in a boxing ring, nor from any cause he embraced. He spent enormous amounts of time and money on charitable causes and in service of the disadvantaged. These and other aspects of his life will be recounted in detail as he is laid to rest in his hometown of Louisville.
Beyond his myriad accomplishments, he will be remembered as a man of contrast. He was dignified and defiant; he had grace and no lack of braggadocio. He was a prizefighter who championed peace among men. But the undiluted example he leaves of a life of commitment to principle and faith is indeed an achievement of greatness.