More than 14,000 people joined for traditional Muslim prayers at a service at Freedom Hall in Louisville, where Ali fought his very first bout.
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“Anyone selling or buying tickets online at Craigslist, eBay or any of the other sites that have those sales up will be reported to law enforcement”, saud Ali family spokesman Bob Gunnell”. Imam Zaid Shakir, a founder of Muslim liberal arts school Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California, will lead the half-hour service, in which worshippers will say prayers over Ali’s body, lying in a casket.
World leaders and celebrities will be among 18,000 people expected to attend the service in Ali’s home city of Louisville, Kentucky.
Ali, who died at age 74, had insisted while he was living that the hometown memorial service be free and open to the public.
“One message he left for everybody of the world is ‘find the Muhammad Ali within you, live the goal God made you for before you go back to God, ‘” said Muhammad Evan Ali Jr.
Addressing a large crowd, many of whom wore kufis or hijabs, speakers spoke of Ali’s dignity, courage, wit and selflessness.
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Although the Nation of Islam drew controversy at that time for its radical views on matters, Ali’s own version of the religion was a more compassionate version.
“Ali and his innermost circle started a document years ago that grew so thick they began calling it ‘The Book.’ In the pages, the boxing great planned in exacting detail how he wished to say goodbye to the world”.
After a recent announcement that all of Ali’s children will have the opportunity to speak at Friday’s memorial service, Ali Jr. prepared a few words.
All 15,500 tickets for Friday’s memorial at the KFC Yum!
For Thursday’s funeral service, in accordance with Islamic tradition, Ali’s body was washed, anointed and wrapped with simple pieces of fabric.
“I really am, I’m really excited to be here”, Jabreel Martinez Jaka, a Boy Scout, said.
Jackson confirmed that Farrakhan attended the service and said he had a chance to chat with Farrakhan.
Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, former boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and Don King, who promoted some of Ali’s biggest fights, were among the high-profile guests in attendance.
Family members have said Ali had personally planned the traditional Islamic service, in the years before his death.
Ali, I love you man. I’ve loved you for a long time. Others admired him for making Islam more acceptable and giving U.S. Muslims a hero they could share with the American mainstream.
“Every punch Muhammad Ali threw, every word he said, every victory he won gave hope and strength to billions of oppressed people from Asia to Africa”, he said at Ankara airport late Wednesday before leaving for the United States.
“I was absolutely amazed by him as a person”.
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“It’s a real testament to the power of Muhammad Ali, his message and all he stood for that so many thousands showed up to be able to recognize him”, fan Brian Eller told CNN affiliate WAVE-TV, leaving empty-handed after waiting in line for hours for tickets to Friday’s service.
