Muhammad Ali buried as world pays tributes... May Allah grant him Jannah

June 11, 2016

Louisville, Jun 11: Muhammad Ali made his final journey through his hometown Friday past the little pink house where he grew up and the museum that bears his name as thousands of mourners along the route pumped their fists and chanted, "Ali! Ali!" for the former heavyweight champion of the world known simply as The Greatest.

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A hearse bearing Ali's cherry-red casket, draped in an Islamic tapestry, arrived at Louisville's Cave Hill Cemetery in a long line of black limousines after a 19-mile drive via Muhammad Ali Boulevard that was both somber and exuberant.

"He stood up for himself and for us, even when it wasn't popular," said Ashia Powell, waiting at a railing for the hearse to pass by on an interstate highway below.

A private graveside service was held in the afternoon, and was to be followed later in the day by a grand memorial service attended by more than 15,000 people, including former President Bill Clinton and comedian Billy Crystal.

Ali, the most magnetic and controversial athlete of the 20th century, died last Friday at 74 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

The casket was loaded into a hearse outside a funeral home as a group of pallbearers that included former boxers Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis and actor Will Smith filed out, along with Ali's nine children, his wife, two of his ex-wives and other family members.

As the limousines rolled past on the way to the cemetery, fans chanted like spectators at one of his fights, stood on cars, held up cellphones and signs, ran alongside the hearse and reached out to touch it. They tossed so manyFLOWERS onto the windshield that the driver had to pull some of them off to see the road.

Others fell silent and looked on reverently as the champ went by."To me, he was a legend to this city and an example to people. I'm just glad to be part of this history, of saying goodbye," said Takeisha Benedict, wearing an orange "I Am Ali" T-shirt.

"Opening it up and allowing us to be part of it, we're so appreciative."

Among the hundreds gathered outside the funeral home was Mike Stallings, of Louisville, who brought his two young sons to bid farewell to the sports legend who grew up in Louisville as Cassius Clay.

"I've been crying all week," he said. "As big as he was he never looked down on people. He always mingled among the crowds."

Ali chose the cemetery as his final resting place a decade ago. Its 130,000 graves represent a who's who of Kentucky, including Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Harland Sanders. Family spokesman Bob Gunnell said he will have a simple headstone, inscribed only "Ali," in keeping with Islamic tradition.

A traditional Muslim funeral service was held yesterday, with an estimated 6,000 admirers arriving from all over the world.

Among the scheduled speakers at Friday's memorial at the KFC Yum! Center were Clinton, Crystal and TV journalist Bryant Gumbel. The king of Jordan was also expected to attend.

Ali himself decided years ago that his funeral would be open to ordinary fans, not just VIPs. As a result, thousands of free tickets were made available and were snatched up within an hour.

Louisville is accustomed to being in the limelight each May during the Kentucky Derby. But the send-off for the three-time heavyweight champion and global ambassador for international understanding represented one of the city's most historic events.

"We've all been dreading the passing of the champ, but at the same time we knew ultimately it would come," Mayor Greg Fischer said. "It was selfish for us to think that we could hold on to him forever. Our job now, as a city, is to send him off with the class and dignity and respect that he deserves."

President Barack Obama was unable to make the trip because of his daughter Malia's high school graduation. Valerie Jarrett, a senior White House adviser, planned to read a letter from Obama at the service.

Rumors that Donald Trump would attend were quashed today morning when Gunnell said the Republican presidential candidate called Ali's wife, Lonnie, to inform her that he was unable to make it.

Tyson was added at the last moment to the list of pallbearers. Gunnell said that Tyson was upset about Ali's death and wasn't sure if he could handle the memorial, but ended up catching a late flight.

People gathered early in the day outside Ali's boyhood home, which was decorated with balloons, flags,FLOWERS and posters. Fans took photos of themselves in front of the house.

Some people staked out their places nearby with lawn chairs. The Ali Center stopped charging admission. A sightseeing company began tours of Ali's path through the city. Businesses printed his quotes across their billboards. City buses flashed "Ali, The Greatest" in orange lights. A downtown bridge will be illuminated the rest of the week in red and gold: red for his boxing gloves, gold for his Olympic medal.

"Everybody feels a sense of loss with Ali's passing," said Mustafa Abdush-Shakur, who traveled from Connecticut. "But there's no need to be sad for him. We're all going to make that trip."

Also Read:

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Comments

Mohammed Ali
 - 
Saturday, 11 Jun 2016

I have had many nice moments in my life. But the feelings I had while standing on Mount Arafat on the day of Hajj (5th pillar of Islam) was the MOST UNIQUE.
I felt Exalted by the indescribable spiritual atmosphere there as over a million & a half pilgrims invoked GOD to forgive them of their sins and bestow on them His choicest blessings.
It was an exhilarating experience to see people belonging to different Colors, Races and Nationalities, Kings, heads of states and Ordinary men from VERY POOR countries all Clad in 2 simple white sheets praying to GOD without any sense of either PRIDE or INFERIORITY. It was a practical manifestation of the concept of equality in ISLAM.

Furqan
 - 
Saturday, 11 Jun 2016

Why have not buried Muhammed Ali as Muslims do or is he not a Muslim before he died??

Sharief
 - 
Saturday, 11 Jun 2016

it saddens me that Muhammed Ali WASNT buried according 2 his wishes & faith traditions.Why has it become a public spectacle?God knows best!
may Allah grant him jannah

Roy D costa
 - 
Saturday, 11 Jun 2016

Muhammed Ali being muslim i expected him to be buried asap. Unless famous or important muslims are exempted from that?

Jacintha
 - 
Saturday, 11 Jun 2016

Shouldn't Muhammed Ali have been buried within 24hrs according to Islamic law?

Sayed Khan
 - 
Saturday, 11 Jun 2016

As a Muslim they should have buried Muhammed Ali's body 7 days ago, they shouldn't have waited this long but Allahu Ahlam

Zhaharunnisa
 - 
Saturday, 11 Jun 2016

Rest in peace, rest in Jannah Muhammed Ali. Buried during the most blessed time of the year.

GamzGagger
 - 
Saturday, 11 Jun 2016

Muhammed Ali's body ought to have been buried according to islamic rights but religion is man made and it can be maneuvered.

Mohammed Zyad
 - 
Saturday, 11 Jun 2016

Hopefully they buried Muhammed Ali the Islamic way.

Imbran
 - 
Saturday, 11 Jun 2016

The Fearless Humanitarian and Greatest of all Champs Muhammed Ali buried in Louisville. May Almighty make his hereafter blessed.

Hafsa, Zulaikh…
 - 
Saturday, 11 Jun 2016

Muhammad Ali!
You are always great for us.
BECAUSE OF YOU....
We came to know the existence of USA
We came to know about boxing
We came to know about a disease called Parkinson
And most importantly,
We came to know about Islam
We are grateful to you always. May Allah grant you Jannah forever!

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News Network
February 13,2020

Mangaluru, Feb 13: The Customs Officers of Airport Team-II at Mangalore International Airport (MIA) on Thursday intercepted a passenger who attempted to smuggle gold worth Rs 9.39 lakhs.

The team led by Rajesh Poojary nabbed the passenger who attempted to smuggle 233.18 grams of gold strips concealed inside a rechargeable emergency light and solar sensor wall light.

The officials said a passenger named Mohammed Mahir Patla (24) from Kasaragod, who arrived from Dubai yesterday evening by Air India flight number IX384 attempted to smuggle the gold.

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News Network
July 16,2020

Belgaum: Canon, Epson and Nikon reside in a house named "Click" in Karnataka's Belgaum district.

The newly built house of photographer couple Ravi and Krupa Hongal, which resembles a giant DSLR camera, has not only enamoured locals but has become quite a sensation on social media.

The three-storied camera-shaped house located in Shastri Nagar is an expression of passion and love for the art of photography of the couple whose children- three boys- have all been named after the iconic camera brands.

Their names ''Canon'', ''Epson'' and ''Nikon'' feature prominently on the house whose exterior resembles a camera. Just like a camera, the building has a glass window shaped as a viewfinder and another as a lens. It sports a wide film strip, a flash and even a memory card.

The walls of the house walls and its interior have graphics related to photography.

"I have been photographing since 1986. Building this house is like a dream come true. We also named our 3 children-Canon, Nikon and Epson. These all are three camera names. I love the camera and hence named them on camera companies name. My family were opposed to it, but we remain adamant," photographer Ravi told media persons.

Karnataka: A photographer couple, Krupa Hongal&Ravi Hongal, has built a camera-shaped house in Belgaum. Krupa (pic3) says,"It's a dream come true. We also named our 3 children-Canon,Nikon&Epson." Ravi (pic4) says,"We borrowed money for it&also sold our previous house."(14.07.20) pic.twitter.com/8Mkh1JOUk1

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020
The photographer says the couple had to borrow money from relatives and friend for constructing the house. "We also sold our previous house to build this house," he added.

Krupa said that it was their cherished dream to build a house like a camera.

"My husband is a photographer. It was our dream to build a house like a camera. We planned and built this house. We feel like we are living inside a different world, inside a camera. I am very proud of my husband," she said.

Canon, their elder child said, "My friends used to ask me whether it was my real name. Now, I tell them yes, photography is my father's passion and hence he named me Canon."

On social media, the picture of the unique shaped house has been shared widely.

"This is called love for the passion," said one user on Twitter.

Another user commented: "A camera-obsessed photographer from India builds a camera-shaped house! 49-year-old Ravi Hongal has spent over $95,000 building the 3-story house, which looks like a camera in the town of Belgaum in India."

The family seems to be indeed living a picture-perfect dream.

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News Network
May 6,2020

Bengaluru, May 6: More than a month after international flights have been barred, Karnataka government is preparing to quarantine all 10,823 of the state''s people poised to return home from overseas amid the Covid pandemic, an official said on Tuesday.

"The state has planned to quarantine all 10,823 passengers coming back to Karnataka. The quarantine guidelines framed as below would be applicable," said Health Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey in a statement.

According to the Government of India, 10,823 Karnataka residents have been stranded abroad by April 30, comprising 4,408 tourists, 3,074 students, 2,784 migrants and professionals and 557 ship crew.

Out of the 10,823 people, the state government is expecting 6,100 to return early as the government has decided to allow Indians stuck abroad to return.

"All the passengers arriving at points of entry (airports and seaports) will be compulsorily screened for symptoms of Covid-19," said Pandey.

Point of entry screening will include self-reporting form verification, thermal screening, pulse oximeter reading, briefing with instructions, categorisation, stamping for some and downloading of Aarogya Setu, Quarantine Watch and Apthamitra apps.

Arriving passengers are also required to declare existing comorbidities such hypertension, diabetes, asthma or any lung disease, organ transplantations, cancer, tuberculosis and other ailments.

Passengers will be categorised into three groups: Category A (symptomatic on arrival), Category B (asymptomatic with co-morbidity or aged above 60 years) and Category C (rest of asymptomatic passengers).

Depending on the category into which the people fall, their quarantine place and time will be determined.

Category A arrivals will be subjected to institutional quarantine for a fortnight, Category B one week quarantine at a hotel or hostel, followed by another week at home, and Category C home quarantine for a fortnight.

Karnataka government is making elaborate arrangements and logistical means, deploying healthcare, police and several other departments into action to handle the huge influx of Kannadigas and state residents.

Pandey has issued a 21-page elaborate standard operating procedure (SOP) guidelines on how to face the international returnees.

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