Boxing fans have seen many legendary boxers over the course of several decades. However, one fighter’s reputation as the greatest to have ever lived endures, and his legacy is untainted. The fighter’s name is Muhammad Ali, widely known as ‘The Greatest’ by his fans. However, it was not the name given to him at birth.

Even after Muhammad Ali’s untimely passing in 2016, he continues to be a prominent figure in boxing news, and his admirers are still interested in reading and learning more about him. He was given the name Cassius Clay Jr. upon birth. He was raised in a Christian home but he changed his religion in later years.

Clay Jr. decided to finally take a step forward to adopt a religion he chooses and believes in. In 1964, he declared that he will no longer be a Christian and that he is adopting Islam. 

From that day, he was known by the name ‘Muhammad Ali’. The legendary boxer had nine children and he taught them about Islam since their childhood. But his eighth child, Laila, refused to follow what her father taught her about his religion. She had a different perspective to look at things.

What religion does Laila Ali follow? 

Muhammad Ali welcomed his eighth child, a seventh and youngest daughter, on December 30, 1977. He gave his daughter the name Laila when she was born in Miami Beach, Florida. She was conceived by Veronica Porche, Ali’s wife at the time. Laila had struggled with her faith in Islam since she was a child because she found it all to be extremely perplexing.

Laila found herself at crossroads with her father whenever they discussed religion. She wasn’t as ardent about practising Islam as her father was. She asserted that she was the only sibling who did not agree with her father’s views on Islam. Every time Ali told her to perform a religious duty, she had only one thought: “Why?”

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However, she followed what her heart said in the later years, and claimed that she is not a Muslim anymore. She even stated, “My father was Muslim, I’m not.” Her father even disagreed with her goal of becoming a boxer. Laila denied her father’s desire for her to convert to Islam, but she remained steadfast in her convictions, and as a result, she has had an impact on women’s boxing and is now living a pleasant life.

Why didn’t Laila Ali choose to be Muslim like her father Muhammad Ali? 

Laila once recalled her childhood and stated, ”I remember pretty much waking up early in the morning because we had to pray. And as a kid, that alone was, like, ‘Why do I have to do this? Like, why do I have to wake up? Why do I have to wake up out of my bed? Pray to God?’”

She went on to explain that she had to visit the mosque and noticed that women had to sit behind men. She was very young when she first realized all of this.

Over the years, Laila developed her comprehension of all of this and developed her own perspective. Despite her father’s opposition, she ultimately came to the conclusion that she did not want to follow her father’s religion.

Muhammad Ali and his Daughter Laila Ali often clashed heads over their religious belief

Laila’s boxing career provides a vivid portrait of her character. Her boxing aroused her father’s disapproval. But before eventually alerting her father, she started her training in secret. Muhammad Ali asserted that boxing was a risky sport that was only practiced by men. But Laila’s unwavering resolve made her the accomplished athlete she is today.

She wasn’t completely on board with her father’s request that she practice Islam as a religion. She entered into boxing despite his commands to refrain from it. Additionally, when she was 18 years old, she moved in with her lover. To summarize, she always did what felt right to her.

She reflected back on a conversation with her father. “You’re too young to know,” he told me. I said, “I’m old enough to know that it’s not in my heart.” He didn’t take it well and he never stopped trying to talk me into being Muslim. 

All of this reflects Laila’s strong and unmarred character. Just like her father believed in his thoughts, Laila believes in hers. 

Did Muhammad Ali ever accept Laila Ali’s choice not to follow her father’s religion? 

Muhammad Ali’s daughter Laila was always against things that she didn’t believe in. Although she was not on very good terms with her father, later on, the father-daughter duo buried the hatchet and Ali accepted his daughter’s choice to not follow Islam.

‘The People’s Champion’ was asked to fight for the United States in the Vietnam war. But he refused to do so, citing that he would not fight for a country that did not treat its own citizens equally. He was prohibited from boxing, and a court dispute ensued. However, it was dropped after three years, allowing him to participate once more.

Well perhaps, no matter what, the father and daughter never budge from their standpoint. Though they have different opinions on a variety of issues, they are born with the will to speak up for what they believe in.

What religion do Muhammad Ali’s other children follow?

Muhammad Ali has nine kids. Muhammad Ali Jr. and Asaad Amin are the names of his two sons. His daughters have the initials Laila, Maryum, Jamillah, Miya, Khaliah, Hana, and Rasheda. Only Laila, out of the nine siblings, was opposed to joining Islam. The remainder of them all identify as Muslims.