A public celebration, or memorial as many call it, was held today for Cassius Clay, aka Muhammad Ali. Early in his career, Ali dubbed himself “The Greatest.” And Ali lived up to those very words in the ring and outside of it.
Despite all of his victories–the world championships, the poems, the flashiness, the over-the-top fights, the medals–Ali was a humanitarian and a philanthropist. He’d kick behinds at night, and yet, have the heart to reach out to those around him. Ali was honest, caring and tough.
Ali was brave enough to dispel misconceptions of his faith, Islam. He stood in his truth and on the Q’aran when he renounced war and jidahism. Those things caused many to criticize and threaten him, but he was tough enough to lean on Allah (God/Jehovah) to see him through the trials.
There is something amazing to see an athlete excel in his personal life as well as on the field. Ali was not perfect, but he did live his religious beliefs both publicly and privately. He showed that by privately donating to a Jewish housing center, and publicly when he gave the world his honest thoughts about what we were doing wrong (war).
If one is an athlete who is trying to live one’s faith–whether that faith is Islam, Judaism, Christianity or something else, one should remember to fully live that faith. Everything one does is to the glory of God (Allah/Jehovah). That means having the courage to rebuke society when it’s wrong (protesting intelligently), show the world His love (charity work), encouraging others (speeches, coaching, being there for someone outside of our circle), and openly sharing Jehovah’s (Allah’s/God’s) ways to name a few. It also means taking care of our temple (body) and using it for His glory . . . aspiring to being a better person.
Although he has gone to be with his Maker, Ali remains the greatest example for today’s athlete to aspire to become. Every athlete must live his truth and aspire to be the best version of himself he can be. If that athlete ever wonders how far off he has gotten off his true path, all that athlete needs to do is use Ali as a mirror to guide himself back.