For Rasheda Ali, the legacy of Muhammad Ali goes far beyond championship belts, famous bouts, and global stardom. Speaking to Khaleej Times in Dubai, the daughter of the boxing legend reflects on a father remembered first at home – and only second as the icon the world came to know.
“My dad transcended boxing,” Rasheda says, a phrase she returns to often when describing his life. “Dad did a lot of things in his life – very, very valuable things. He wasn’t just an athlete. He stood for something.”
That sense of principle defined Muhammad Ali both publicly and privately. Rasheda recalls how her father never separated his beliefs from his actions, whether that meant refusing to be drafted into the US military during the Vietnam War or changing his name from Cassius Clay after converting to Islam. “He was a kind of activist as well,” she says. “Those decisions came from his moral convictions, not from wanting attention or approval.”
At home, Ali was a devoted father who led by example while raising nine children. Despite his fame, Rasheda says family values were always central. “He showed us how to live with integrity,” she explains. “He wanted us to understand who we were, what we believed in, and why standing up for those beliefs mattered.”
Rasheda believes her father saw boxing as a platform, not a destination. “I think he wanted to change the face of boxing,” she says. “He proved you could be great in sport without losing your humanity.” Ali’s charisma, humour, and confidence made him a global figure, but it was his compassion that left the deepest impression on those closest to him.
That compassion, she notes, extended to strangers as much as to family. Long after Parkinson’s disease slowed his movements and speech, Ali continued to inspire through quiet presence and dignity. “People connected with his courage,” Rasheda says. “He showed strength doesn’t always look loud.”
Today, as new generations discover Muhammad Ali through documentaries, books, and viral clips, Rasheda hopes his message remains intact. “I want people to remember his heart,” she says. “Titles fade. Records get broken. But standing for justice, kindness, and faith – that’s what lasts.”
For Rasheda Ali, her father’s greatest victory was never in the ring. It was in the life he lived – unapologetically, compassionately, and true to his beliefs.
