One of the world's most famous fighters also went through some 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 great title in the world of wrestling as well as in the Islamic religion. His impact and dedication to Islam may have cost him dearly, but he always stood his ground. Ali always remained faithful to his religion and never showed doubt about it. He spoke about Islam to make people aware that the assumptions they make are wrong and that he was risking his own life to preach about Islam and equality rights. Muhammad Ali's life went from famous wrestler to broken criminal. The reason was that he had converted 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 at the age of 12 and became addicted to it. He would get up early to run, stay after school until the gym closed at 8 a.m., then go to a boxing gym after that. (www.history1900s.about.com) Ali became a famous and very successful boxer. He won the Olympic gold medal in 1960, then won the heavyweight championship in 1964. After the championship, however, he announced something the world did not expect:; Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, said he converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. His fans weren't happy about it, but he remained faithful to his religion. He still fought and continued to succeed, until the day he received a conscription notice. The government called on 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 loyal to Allah and his religion was his primary focus while fighting was his second focus. Muhammad Ali had great significance for the Islamic faith because not only did he show others that it was not bad to be a Muslim, but he also spoke out on different issues and assumptions so that the world could know the truth. He contributed to Islam's concepts of peace and was an excellent role model for future Muslims. 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.html Rosenburg, Jennifer. “Mohammad Ali.” history of the 1900s.about.com. Np, and Web. November 16, 2013. http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/a/muhammadali.htm