In 1964, Muhammad Ali publicly declared that he’d converted to Islam and embraced the name Ali. Ever since being a Muslim, Ali did not celebrate Christmas nor expressed any particular joy for Christian festivities. However, when Laila Ali was still young, Christmas was as special to her as it was to any other kid. Muslims didn’t celebrate Christmas, but Muhammad Ali did not want to be the Grinch who stole the joy of Christmas from little Laila Ali.

In her book Reach, Chapter 1, the former Super Middleweight champion of boxing, Laila Ali, narrated how she celebrated Christmas in her family. Although Muhammad Ali permitted them to celebrate Christmas and decorate a X-mas tree, Laila Ali, Hana Ali, and their mother had to hide the X-mas tree from anyone else seeing it. “Obviously, Muslims did not celebrate Christmas. But because my father didn’t like to see us sad, he said we could have a tree upstairs – as long as no one saw it,” wrote Laila Ali.

Laila Ali went on to comment on how differently Christmas was perceived by her family. “Mom, Hana, and I celebrated Christmas in semisecret. In our household, Christmas was far from a joyous season of family togetherness,” she added by saying. Muhammad Ali did not want to be a Christian and let go of festivities belonging to Christianity.

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The declaration of independence by Muhammad Ali

In 1964, Ali publicly declared his conversion and delivered a speech of independence in which he sought to cut his ties with Christianity. In addition, he explained he believed in Allah and peace. Neither did he want to live in white neighbourhoods nor did he want to marry a white woman for the sake of Christianity.

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“I don’t try to move into white neighbourhoods. I don’t want to marry a white woman, I’m not a Christian anymore, I know where I’m going and I know the truth and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. I’m free to be what I want,” declared Ali.

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What do you have to say about Laila Ali celebrating Christmas in secrecy? What would you say about Muhammad Ali’s views on Christianity? Was Ali hard as a father for Hana and Laila Ali? In addition, do you think Ali influenced the personal views of Laila Ali? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.