Thousands Of Fans Bid Farewell To 'The Greatest' - Muhammad Ali - In His Hometown

Thousands of people of all races and creeds gathered for a Muslim funeral service in Muhammad Ali's hometown in Kentucky to pay their respects to a man who fought in the ring and sought peace outside it.

Imam Zaid Shakir, a founder of Muslim liberal arts school Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California, led the half-hour service, in which worshippers said prayers over Ali's body, lying in a casket.

Ali, known for his boxing prowess, showmanship and political activism in the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, died on Friday of septic shock in an Arizona hospital. He was 74.

Reuters

Reuters

Reuters

Ali and his family planned his funeral for 10 years, making sure it would honour his Muslim faith.

Reuters

Reuters

Among those at Thursday's funeral was a Bangladeshi man named Mohammad Ali who said he flew to the United States to attend the service despite failing health. He showed pictures of his famous namesake visiting his home in Bangladesh nearly 40 years ago.

Reuters

Reuters

Reuters

Reuters

Ali rose to the top of the boxing world when black fighters were expected to be quiet and deferential. His braggadocio, even before he changed his name from Cassius Clay, startled white America.

AP

He further shocked Americans after he joined the Nation of Islam and adopted an Islamic name in 1964. In the 1970s, Ali converted to Sunni Islam, the largest denomination among Muslims worldwide. Late in life he embraced Sufism, a mystical school of the faith.

Reuters

A final goodbye for Ali will take place on Friday, when thousands will gather for an interfaith service at the KFC Yum Center. Luminaries including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and comedian Billy Crystal will attend.