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The Final Prayer of Muhammad Ali

He floated like a butterfly, stung like a bee—but in the end, he bowed his head to the One who made him. By Muhammad Riaz

By Muhammad RiazPublished 6 months ago 3 min read


He was fast, powerful, and fearless.
He was the heavyweight champion of the world.
He was Muhammad Ali.
But in his final moments, he wasn’t throwing punches.
He was whispering prayers.


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More Than a Boxer

Muhammad Ali was known for his speed in the ring and his boldness outside of it. He wasn’t just a fighter—he was a voice. A symbol of Black pride, a man of conviction, and a warrior for justice. But many forget one of the most important sides of him:

Ali was a deeply spiritual man.

After converting to Islam in the 1960s, Ali began a personal journey—one that transformed him from a global icon to a humble servant of faith. As he once said, “The service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room in Heaven.”

And for the last decades of his life, that’s exactly what he focused on—serving.


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A Life of Faith Behind Fame

While reporters followed Ali for his victories and controversies, what they rarely captured were his quiet moments—when he read the Quran between training sessions, when he fasted during Ramadan, when he made dua (prayer) before every fight.

Ali never shied away from talking about God.
He believed that every punch, every win, every lesson—was a test from Allah.

In interviews, he often said, “I don’t want to be remembered as just a boxer. I want to be remembered as someone who stood up for his beliefs, even when it was hard.”

That belief carried him through prison, exile, public criticism—and later, through the slow, painful disease that would eventually take his life: Parkinson’s.


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The Final Battle

For more than 30 years, Muhammad Ali fought Parkinson’s disease—a condition that slowed his body, but never his spirit.

His hands trembled, his speech slowed, but he still smiled. He still shook hands. He still gave. He still prayed.

One of the most emotional moments in his final years came during the 2003 Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah. Millions of Muslims walk together in unity, and there among them was Ali—silent, trembling, but at peace.

People wept just seeing him. He didn’t need to speak. His presence was a sermon. He was no longer “The Greatest” in the ring. He was a brother in Islam, equal to every other pilgrim.


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The Last Prayer

On June 3, 2016, the world lost Muhammad Ali.

But those close to him said his final days were not filled with fear—they were filled with remembrance. With zikr. With verses from the Quran. With soft whispered prayers between breaths.

Imam Zaid Shakir, who led his funeral, said that Ali prepared himself for death with humility and grace. “He was ready. He had done his work. And he left this world with his head turned toward his Lord.”

His last prayer was likely not in front of a crowd or on a camera. It was probably quiet. Simple. Sincere. Maybe just the word “Allah” on his tongue.

And that was enough.


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A Legacy of Light

Ali didn’t just fight for titles. He fought for people. For faith. For justice.

He refused to go to Vietnam because he believed it was wrong. He gave up everything—his title, his money, his career—just to stand by his values. He visited children in hospitals. He gave millions to charities. And he inspired generations of Muslims around the world to be proud of who they are.

He wasn’t perfect. He was human. But that made him even greater.


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What We Can Learn

In a world obsessed with fame and followers, Ali teaches us this:
The real victory is not in the ring—
It’s in how you live…
How you serve…
And how you return to your Creator.

You don’t need a championship belt to be a champion.
You need courage, sincerity, and belief.


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If This Story Touched You…

Please like, comment, and share it.
Let the world remember that Muhammad Ali wasn’t just “The Greatest” in boxing—
He was also a humble soul who bowed before the Greatest of all.


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About the Creator

Muhammad Riaz

  1. Writer. Thinker. Storyteller. I’m Muhammad Riaz, sharing honest stories that inspire, reflect, and connect. Writing about life, society, and ideas that matter. Let’s grow through words.

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