One of the most famous fighters in the world also went through very difficult times. He also stood up for what he believed in and fought for his religious beliefs. This man is Muhammad Ali, who holds a very important title in the world of wrestling and the religion of Islam. His impact and dedication to Islam may have cost him dearly, but he has always stood by it. Ali has always remained true to his religion and has never shown doubts about it, he has spoken about Islam to make people aware that the assumptions they are making are wrong and he has risked his life to preach Islam and equality rights . Muhammad Ali's life went from famous fighter to failed criminal. The reason is that he switched to Islam and refused to obey the government's demands because of his religion. Muhammad Ali's life began on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky and was originally named Cassius Marcellus Clay. He started wrestling when he was 12 and became addicted to it. He would wake up early to run, stay after school until the gym closed at 8, and then go to a boxing gym. (www.history1900s.about.com) Ali became a famous and very successful boxer. He won the Olympic gold medal in 1960 and then won the heavyweight championship in 1964. After the championship, however, he announced something that the world did not expect; Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, claimed to have converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. His fans were not happy about it, but he remained faithful to his religion. He was still fighting and continued to be successful, until the day he received the draft call. The government was calling Muhammad Ali to fight in the Vietnam War, but he had to refuse because it was... middle of paper... promoting equality between different races. He always remained respectful towards Allah and his religion was his main focus, while fighting was the second. Muhammad Ali had great significance for faith in Islam because he not only showed others that it was not bad to be Muslim, but also spoke about different issues and assumptions so that the world could know the truth. He contributed with the concepts of peace that Islam had and was a great model for future Muslims. The works cite "controversy". www.ali.com. MGX Lab and Web. November 16, 2013. http://www.ali.com/legend_boxer_controversy.php"Muhammad Ali." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2013. November 16, 2013. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/muhammad_ali.htmlRosenburg, Jennifer. "Muhammad Ali." history1900s.about.com. Np, nd Web. 16 November 2013. http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/a/muhammadali.htm