Calgary Muslim community remembers Muhammad Ali as great ambassador of the religion

Imam Syed Soharwardy says he organized the Calgary service because Ali was part of the global Muslim family who was a great ambassador for the religion.

US President Barack Obama is weighing whether to attend the public memorial services for Ali later this week in Louisville, the Kentucky city’s mayor Greg Fischer said on Sunday.

Ali’s body was transported from Phoenix to Louisville on an Eastern Airlines 737 which also carried dozens of family members.

Beginning at 9 a.m., the procession is expected to travel northbound on Bardstown Road, westbound on the Watterson Expressway, and then north on I-65 to westbound I-64 and exiting on 9 Street ramp and traveling to the street named after him.

Ali will have a private burial at Cave Hill Cemetery.

He instructed that the procession move slowly so that fans could pay their respects.

The public service for Ali, one of the most celebrated figures of the 20th century whose death brought accolades from around the world, will feature eulogies by former president Bill Clinton, broadcaster Bryant Gumbel and comedian billy crystal.

Abraham Lieberman, who was Ali’s doctor for three decades, shared on Saturday – a day after Ali died at a hospital in Scottsdale – his favorite story about the former heavyweight champion.

In lieu of gifts and flowers, the family is asking those to donate to the Muhammad Ali Center to continue promoting his legacy of humanitarianism. The cause of death was septic shock from unspecified natural causes, according to family spokesman Bob Gunnell.

Ali who is being remembered in tributes worldwide for his legendary boxing battles as well as his iconic fights for social justice, died on June 3 at age 74.

“All of his organs failed but his heart wouldn’t stop beating”. No one had ever seen anything like it. “That is a true testament to the strength of his spirit and will”.