Ali to be mourned with traditional Muslim prayer service

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Muslims have traveled from all over the world to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in a Kentucky arena for a final tribute to Muhammad Ali.

A fellow Muslim who shares the boxing great's name traveled from Bangladesh. Mohammad Ali arrived with no hotel reservation, just a belief that this pilgrimage was important to honor the global icon in a traditional Islamic service.

The Ali from Bangladesh said he met the boxer in the early 1970s and they struck up a friendship based on their shared name. The Champ visited his home in 1978 and always joked he was his twin brother, he said.

He will join more than 14,000 people who have tickets to the service today in Louisville, which will be broadcast worldwide and streamed online, offering a window into a religion many outsiders know little about.

Ali insisted the service be open to all.

Mourners began trickling in shortly after the doors opened at 9 a.m. The attendees were young and old; black, white and Arabic. Some wore traditional Islamic garb, others blue jeans or business suits.