Im an atheist - so no axes to grind either way. Slight over simplification but I dont want to write an essay... Cassius Clay was black, a great athlete (the Greatest) who was managed by rich white men. At that time blacks were still segragated on buses schools etc. The white were predominantly Christian and for many blacks, Christiananity did not meet their needs. (It does for many others). Cassisu Clay was a natural target for Muslims to go and try to convert. The Islamic religion appeailed to many oppressed blacks as it was not the religion of the rich white exploiters. Once converting to Islam, it is natural for a Muslim to take an Islamic name as opposed to the name given by their oppressors (their slave trader masters as is often said in these cases). So his conversion highlighted the oppression of black people... Im not saying I agree with everything written here - I believe its what went through his head at the time. He was the Greatest Sportsman of the 20th Century and althoguh there was a lot of hype of his reliigon agianst the Christian Joe Frazier, I dont think Ali was rascist or a preacher of religious hatred. I think he may have been used a little by the Muslims wanting him to take a stand, but I cant blame them for that given the oppresino at the time.

The Organization that first succeeded to convert Muhammad Ali (personalities like Malcolm X)is a fraternal/spiritual organization that is concerned with the situation of Black people in America and elsewhere. Since the 1920's or so this fraternal organization had been teaching a brand of Islamic spirituality combined with a new approach to social and political issues. One of the things that made it more popular at that time was that the civil rights movement in America (Mostly Blacks) was a non violent movement while the anti Civil rights movement in America (Mostly Whites) was a violent movement. The Christian influence in the Civil rights movement was stressing non violence maybe for view that it was safer but linking it to Christian scriptures about turning the other cheek and loving ones neighbor. On the Contrary the Muslims as a Fraternal organiation were identifying that the slavery of blacks by whites in America and continued racist policies had caused Blacks to have inferiority complexes, self hatred, and several other destructive problems and so they promoted Islam as a black religion meaning not of European origin and not of European domination (White influence like in Christian religion). The other thing is that Islam clearly allows self defense! Islam also encourages moderate diet, richeous living, and self discipline which was needed by many blacks during those times. Therefore a powerful and out spoken Olympic champion such as Muhammad Ali would have been a great example to African Americans of that era and still of diginity and achievement. Islam has always adopted the the great ancient empires of the world's History slowly but surely so in this case with Muhammad Ali this was an example of a great warrior being used (not implying something wrong) to promote Islam as taught by that fraternal/spiritual Organization to which he belonged at the time. His popularity was world wide and even a former President of Egypt proposed his daughter to Marry Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali eventually left that organization but remained muslim in the more universal sense of the religion. Even the earliest Muslims in Arabia sometimes changed their names if the name was offensive to the religion such as promoting polytheism but most Arabic Muslim names are taken from the Quran and the earliest Muslims in Arabia. Today if a Japanese man named Shojiro were to become a muslim he might change his name to Muhammad either legally or just in a spiritual fraternal sense. The Name Muhammad means one who is praised or desserving of praise and the Name Ali means very high or exalted. Muhammad was the Prophet of Islam from Arabia centuries ago and his son in law Ali was known for his excellence in combat as well as his excellence in speech so for such a celebrated Athlete and boxer as Muhammad Ali I think it was a fitting name.

muslims can take liberty of multiple wifes and adultery.(he did both) And it was a strategy for military dodging. Should I add its basis of aggression that fit so well his avenging his father and his own childhood of discrimination and misfortune.

There be reasons but in broader sense he thought Islam is right religion and only way to success in this life as well as hereafter. Just read his interview, you will know the truth. http://www.soundvision.com/Info/ali/interview.asp