THE GREAT MAN OF 20th CENTURY: MUHAMMAD ALI

Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.; January 17, 1942) is an American former professional boxer, generally considered among the greatest heavyweights in the sport's history. 

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali is one of the most famous boxers of all time. His conversion to Islam and draft evasion conviction surrounded him with controversy and even exile from boxing for three years. Despite the hiatus, his quick reflexes and strong punches helped Muhammad Ali become the first person in history to win the heavyweight champion title three times. At the lighting ceremony at the 1996 Olympics, Muhammad Ali showed the world his strength and determination in dealing with the debilitating effects of Parkinson's syndrome.

Dates: January 17, 1942 --

Also Known As: (born as) Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., "The Greatest," the Louisville Lip

Married:

• Sonji Roi (1964 - 1966)
• Belinda Boyd (1967 - circa 1977)
• Veronica Porche (1977 - 1996)
• Yolanda "Lonnie" Williams (1996 - Present)

Early Life of Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. at 6:35 p.m. on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky to Cassius Clay Sr. and Odessa Grady Clay. Cassius Clay Sr. was a muralist, but painted signs for a living. Odessa Clay worked as a housecleaner and a cook. Two years after Muhammad Ali was born, the couple had another son, Rudolph ("Rudy").

Inspiration of  Muhammad Ali : Stolen Bicycle

When Muhammad Ali was 12 years old, he and a friend went to the Columbia Auditorium to partake in the free hot dogs and popcorn available for visitors of the Louisville Home Show. When the boys were done eating, they went back to get their bicycles only to discover that Muhammad Ali's had been stolen.

Furious, Muhammad Ali went to the basement of the Columbia Auditorium to report the crime to police officer Joe Martin, who was also a boxing coach at the Columbia Gym. When Muhammad Ali said he wanted to beat up the person who stole his bike, Martin told him that he should probably learn to fight first. A few days later, Muhammad Ali began boxing training at Martin's gym.
                                      From the very beginning, Muhammad Ali took his training seriously. He trained six days a week. On schooldays, he woke early in the morning so that he could go running and then would go workout at the gym in the evening. When Martin's gym closed at 8 pm, Ali would then go train at another boxing gym. Over time, Muhammad Ali also created his own eating regimen that included milk and raw eggs for breakfast. Concerned about what he put in his body, Ali stayed away from junk food, alcohol, and cigarettes so that he could be the best boxer in the world.

Olympics of 1960's

Even in his early training, Muhammad Ali boxed like no one else. He was fast. So fast that he didn't duck punches like most other boxers; instead, he just leaned back away from them. He also didn't put his hands up to protect his face; he kept them down by his hips.

In 1960, the Olympic Games were held in Rome. Muhammad Ali, then 18 years old, had already won national tournaments such as the Golden Gloves and so he felt ready to compete in the Olympics. On September 5, 1960, Muhammad Ali (then still known as Cassius Clay) fought against Zbigniew Pietrzyskowski from Poland in the light-heavyweight championship bout. In a unanimous decision, the judges declared Ali the winner, which meant Ali had won the Olympic gold medal.

Having won the Olympic gold medal, Muhammad Ali had attained the top position in amateur boxing. It was time for him to turn professional.

Became Heavyweight Champion

As Muhammad Ali started fighting in professional boxing bouts, he realized that there things he could do to create attention for himself. For instance, before fights, Ali would say things to worry his opponents. He would also frequently declare, "I am the greatest of all time!" Often before a fight, Ali would write poetry that would either called the round his opponent would fall or boast of his own abilities. Muhammad Ali's most famous line was when he stated he was going to "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."

His theatrics worked. Many people paid to see Muhammad Ali's fights just to see such a braggart lose. In 1964, even the heavyweight champion, Charles "Sonny" Liston got caught up in the hype and agreed to fight Muhammad Ali.

On February 25, 1964, Muhammad Ali fought Liston for the heavyweight title in Miami, Florida. Liston tried for a quick knockout, but Ali was too fast to catch. By the 7th round, Liston was too exhausted, had hurt his shoulder, and was worried about a cut under his eye. Liston refused to continue the fight. Muhammad Ali had become the heavyweight boxing champion of the world.

Respect For ISLAM:

The day after the championship bout with Liston, Muhammad Ali publicly announced his conversion to Islam. The public was not happy. Ali had joined the Nation of Islam , a group led by Elijah Muhammad that advocated for a separate black nation. Since many people found the Nation of Islam's beliefs to be racist, they were angry and disappointed that Ali had joined them.                                                       

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Up to this point, Muhammad Ali was still known as Cassius Clay. When he joined the Nation of Islam in 1964, he shed his "slave name" (he had been named after a white abolitionist that had freed his slaves) and took on the new name of Muhammad Ali.

Banned From Boxing: Draft Evasion

During the three years after the Liston fight, Ali won every bout. He had become one of the most popular athletes of 1960s. He had become a symbol of black pride. Then in 1967, Muhammad Ali received a draft notice.

The United States was calling up young men to fight in the Vietnam War. Since Muhammad Ali was a famous boxer, he could have requested special treatment and just entertained the troops. However, Ali's deep religious beliefs forbade killing, even in war, and so Ali refused to go.

In June 1967, Muhammad Ali was tried and found guilty of draft evasion. Although he was fined $10,000 and sentenced to five years in jail, he remained out on bail while he appealed. However, in response to public outrage, Muhammad Ali was banned from boxing and stripped of his heavyweight title.

For many years, Muhammad Ali was "exiled" from professional boxing. While watching others claim the heavyweight title, Ali lectured around the country to earn some money.

#JUST BELIEVE GENTLEMAN !

Pioneers of Aviation: 17th Century Flight in Istanbul

One of the most enduring (and incorrect) accusations made about the Ottoman Empire is that it was intellectually stagnant. Orientalist historians claim that the Ottomans saw science and religion as mutually exclusive and incompatible, unlike earlier Muslim dynasties. While this accusation may be true for some time periods in Ottoman history, there were many examples of Ottoman scientific and intellectual progress. One notable example is the attempts at human flight made by a pair of brothers in the 1600s in Istanbul.

Hezarafen Ahmed Çelebi and History’s First Intercontinental Flight

Hezarafen taking off from atop the Galata Tower in Istanbul

The idea of humans having the ability to fly is an enchanting one. For thousands of years, people from all corners of the world have attempted to defy gravity and soar like birds. Abbas ibn Firnas, a Spanish Muslim inventor of the 9th century managed to achieve un-powered glider flight in Cordoba in the 800s by building a set of wings covered in bird’s feathers. While his attempt was successful, his inability to slow down led to a disastrous crash landing that probably discouraged further attempts by enterprising inventors like him.

In the 1600s, another brave man attempted to succeed where Abbas ibn Firnas failed. Hezarafen Ahmed Çelebi was a polymath who lived in Istanbul during the height of the Ottoman Empire. In 1630, he built a set of glider wings that he could attach to his body. According to the Ottoman historian and traveler, Evliya Çelebi, Hezarafen jumped from the top of the Galata Tower in Istanbul with his wings and managed to glide across the Bosphorus strait to Doğancılar Square – about 2 miles away. Because of the height of the tower and its position on top of a hill, Hezarafen had the necessary altitude to make a successful crossing of the Bosphorus.

Since the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul separates the continents of Europe and Asia, Hezarafen Ahmed Çelebi’s flight can be considered as the first intercontinental human flight in history. He was rewarded for his achievement by Sultan Murad IV with gold coins, but was later exiled after numerous advisors of the sultan convinced him that Hezarafen was a threat to the sultanate.

The First Rocket Flight

A 17th century engraving of Lagari Hasan Çelebi launching into the sky

Perhaps inspired by the achievement of Hezarafen Ahmed Çelebi, his brother, Laragi Hassan Çelebi sought to also defy gravity and reach the skies. In 1633 he built a rocket made for a human passenger. The rocket was powered by over 300 pounds of gunpowder. According to Evliya Çelebi, to celebrate the birth of Sultan Murad’s daughter, Laragi Çelebi tested his rocket at the shore of the Bosphorus, near the sultan’s residence, Topkapi Palace.

After numerous assistants lit the fuses for his one of a kind rocket, Lagari soared up about 300 meters into the air. When his rocket ran out of fuel, he opened a pair of wings he fashioned for himself, and gently managed to glide down to the Bosporus, and then swim to the shore. Like his brother, he was rewarded for his achievement with a pouch of gold, and was also made a cavalry officer in the Sipahi corps of the Ottoman Empire. He likely died soon afterwards in battle in the Crimea

#JUST BELIEVE GENTLEMAN !

DUTCH POLITICIAN ACCEPTED ISLAM :

In the early days of Islam, Omar ibn al-Khattab, who would later become a caliph, was in a frenzied rage and set out to assassinate Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). As he passed the house of his sister, he heard her recite passages from the glorious Qur'an. After rebuking her, something made him pause and contemplate the meaning of the verses. He had previously dismissed this new religion and listened to the hate-filled propaganda doing the rounds in the streets and valleys of Makkah. Convinced by the truth and beauty of the message, he immediately resolved to embrace Islam. The rest is glorious history.
History repeats itself in the most remarkable of ways. The city remains Makkah, but over 1,400 years later, and in the midst of all the new development, a man arrived who had a similar experience to that of the second caliph of Islam. 

Just a few years ago, Arnoud van Doorn, a prominent Dutch politician from an educated and privileged family, was the vice president of the far right Partij voor de Vrijheid (Party for Freedom) in the Netherlands, an unashamedly anti-immigration and anti-Islamic party led by the infamous Geert Wilders. The party had produced hate-filled rhetoric not seen in Europe since World War II. Van Doorn’s former party was responsible for producing the film Fitna, which defamed Islam, resulting in widespread protests throughout the world.
And then came his change. “My story of how I came to Islam is not remarkable,” he says very humbly. When he saw the outrage caused by the film, he made a concerted effort to study the Qur’an, Hadith collections and the biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him). After some time, he realized that Islam was the total opposite of what he had thought it was, and it then became easy to embrace the faith. Van Doorn acknowledges that his views on Islam were formed 10 to 15 years ago based solely on negative stereotypes and prejudices spread by the media. 
“For me, Islam was a violent religion that oppressed women and was no good for society,” he says. After embracing Islam and assisted by the Toronto-based Canadian Da’wah Association, Van Doorn visited the Kingdom this week to perform Umrah. He also visited the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. 

Van Doorn met Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais, imam of the Grand Mosque and head of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques. Al-Sudais said he was delighted that Allah had selected Van Doorn to become a Muslim. Van Doorn expressed his sorrow and regret for helping to distribute Fitna, although he had no part in its production, to which Al-Sudais quoted the Qur’anic verse stating that good deeds wipe out bad ones. Van Doorn intends to do good by making a film about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), to present a true picture of Islam. Van Doorn’s impression of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also been transformed. “Before I came here, people asked me why on earth I was coming here!” He has been surprised by the wonderful culture and friendly, hospitable people.
He thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for all the developments taking place in Makkah and the holy sites. Van Doorn remains a member of the Dutch Parliament and a member of the Hague City Council. In his view, the rise and success of the far right in Europe is due to the continent's economic problems. This will only get worse, in his view, because Europe has a history of turning on its minorities when things get tough.
His advice to Muslims living in Europe is to be patient, steadfast and adhere to the standards of good conduct and fine character required by Islam. “Like it or not, we all represent Islam,” he says. “Any mistake we make could be attributed to our religion.” Van Doorn came to the Kingdom courtesy of the Canadian Da’wah Association's celebrity relations program, which is inspired by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who sent out invitations to regional leaders inviting them to embrace Islam, according to its president, Shazaad Mohammed, who is an Ambassador for Peace with the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), which operates under the United Nations. He is also an adviser to many celebrities. Former guests of the celebrity program include comedian David Chappelle, former rap stars Napoleon, Philadelphia Freeway, LOON and Jack Frost, and former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. The CDA plans many such high-profile trips in future.

Horoscopes - Reality in Islam

Horoscopes - Reality in Islam

It is no secret that horoscopes and astrology have made their mark in popular culture, to the extent that almost every reputable newspaper today carries a daily section on horoscopes. Same is the case for magazines, online web portals and morning shows on television. If you were to visit an average bookstore, there too you would find dozens of books, readily available on the subject, predicting the lives of people one day at a time. However, despite their immense popularity, how authentic are horoscopes? What in fact, is their origin? And how are they affecting the lives of people in the 21st Century?

DEFINITION

According to Chambers dictionary, the word “horoscope” finds its origins in the Greek words hora, meaning “hour” and skopos, meaning “observer”. In terms of its definition, a horoscope is described as “an astrologer’s prediction of someone’s future, based on the position of the stars and planets at the time of their birth” or alternatively, “a map or diagram showing the positions of the stars and planets at a particular moment in time”. So in essence, a horoscope is the observation of the hour of birth of an individual, using it to make predictions about his future.

ORIGIN

Historians have traced the origins of astrology back to Babylon, approximately around 2000 BC. It is believed that this ancient civilization had great respect for the sun, as it was clearly essential for their needs. Similarly, they also concluded that other heavenly bodies must also be equally important for the human beings in the way with which they impact them on a daily basis. The importance of the heavenly bodies was usually given to them by their size, the sun being the largest and the moon second. Therefore they named the sun, moon, and planets after their main gods and the stars after lesser deities.

Having established the significance of the heavenly bodies, they developed a belief system where the movements of the stars and planets were considered to represent actions or activities of the gods. Thus by carefully studying the movements of these bodies, they hoped to determine the “will of the gods” and thereby predict the future. Whenever the stars moved a particular way, they observed the events that followed. They then assumed that the next time these heavenly bodies moved in similar way, that similar results were to be expected. This is what led to the foundational principles of astrology and its later formulization into the study of horoscopes.

In 525 BC, when Egypt was conquered by the Persians, there was an influence of the Babylonians on what was later known as Egyptian astrology. As an example, the famous historian Tamsyn Barton gives an example of two signs; the Balance and the Scorpion, both of which were surprisingly common between these two distant civilizations.

When Alexander the Great began his conquest of Asia, he exposed the Greeks to the cultures and cosmological ideas of Babylon, Persia and central Asia. Around 280 BC, the Greeks with their newfound attraction for astrology, researched the heavenly bodies mathematically and "scientifically" and defined the signs of the Zodiac. The names of Greek and Roman gods were then assigned to the planets.

So all essence, it is clear from the pages of history that astrology finds its roots in pagan idolatry.

INFLUENCE ON ISLAM

After the conquest of Alexandria by the Muslims in the 7th century, and the founding of the Abbasid empire in the 8th century, the second Abbasid caliph, Al Mansur established the city of Baghdad as a centre of learning, which became a major impetus for Arabic-Persian translations of Hellenistic astrological texts.

Scholars such as Masha'Allah ibn Athari (c. 740–815 CE), Sahl ibn Bishr al-Israili (c. 786–845 CE) and Abu Ma’shar al-Balkhi (c. 787–886 CE) were some of those at the forefront of translating ancient texts, taking up astrology as their preferred field of study and attempting to make it compatible with the principles of Islam.

However, they were heavily refuted on theological grounds by renowned astronomers such as Al-Farabi (c. 872–950 CE), Ibn al-Haitham (c. 965 –1040 CE) and Ibn Sina (c. 980–1037 CE). It was determined that the methods used by the astrologers were conjectural (speculative) rather than empirical (based on experimental evidence). It was also established that the views put forth by the astrologers conflicted with the well known and accepted Islamic principles, in particular the assumption that the Will of God can be precisely known and predicted in advance.

Looking now at our present times, we find the horoscopes and astrology has taken firm roots in the lives of vast number of people. Below are just some of the reasons why people are attracted to such beliefs:

1. Predicting the future: The future often intrigues people, especially when times are tough. Whenever there is an air of economic recession, warfare, societal problems etc. people wish to see a ray of hope, even if it be through an unsubstantiated means.
2. Knowing one’s personality traits: People are generally pleased to know what others have to say about them. Similarly with horoscopes, it makes them feel good to find out what character traits they possess based on their star sign.
3. Taking advice from the stars: Quite often, people will seek solutions to their problems, be they related to business, marriage, financial matters or career issues by relying on the stars and which months, dates or times are most favourable for them.
4. Explaining life’s meaning: Astrology makes a claim to mysteriously determine the forces behind occurrences and events, and why things happen the way they do. People are fascinated by this and wish to discover their own life’s meaning.
5. Making one feel special: Horoscopes make it seem as if a particular individual is the only person with that specific star sign, thereby all of the predictions are made to seem tailored for that person, thereby making them feel special. However, the truth is that the same predictions are simultaneously made applicable to millions of other people around the world (with the same star sign), which when examined logically and rationally, cannot be true by any standards.

SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION

Those who try to offer a scientific explanation to how heavenly bodies affect our behaviour, need to realize that we are living, intelligent beings and our character is formed by living, intelligent beings. This includes, inheritance from our ancestors, influence of family and friends, social setup and upbringing. The sun, moon, and planets are all lifeless and unintelligent, with no evidence to show that they form our characters.

Having said that, it must be acknowledged that heavenly bodies do have some physical influence e.g. the sun gives light and produces energy, all other bodies can be seen giving light, the moon's gravity causes tides in the oceans etc. But all these influences affect everyone in a given area equally, regardless of what time of year they were born.

ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

The Islamic view on horoscopes and astrology is very clear. Allah says in the Qur’an:
“Say, ‘None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (Unseen) except Allah’”
[an-Naml 27:65] 

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Whoever learns anything of astrology has learned a branch of witchcraft…”
[Abu Dawood. Classed as sahih.]

He (SAW) also said: “He is not one of us who practises augury or has it done for him, who tells fortunes or has his fortune told, or who practises witchcraft or has that done for him.”
[al-Bazzaar]

Likewise all matters pertaining to fortune telling, regardless of the method used, all fall under one of the branches of shirk (associating partners with Allah). The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights.”
[Muslim 2230]

In another narration, he (SAW) said: “Whoever...goes to a fortune teller and believes what he says, has disbelieved in that which Allah revealed to Muhammad (SAW).”
[Abu Dawood 3904, at-Tirmidhi 3904, Ibn Majaah 936; classed as sahih.]

Based on the above, we can safely say that Islam not only disassociates itself from practices such as astrology and horoscopes but considers them to be sins that can take a person to the biggest sin, which is associating partners with Allah, the Almighty.