When Muhammad Ali passed away last week, the world lost an all-time great human being and an all-time great athlete. Ali made his mark in the world in many ways, but if summarized in the shortest terms possible, one might say that he was: A fantastic boxer, proudly black, and unapologetically Muslim. What Ali alone did for Islam may be greater than all other Muslims combined in American history. He was an incredible ambassador for his faith.
Today we stand in a time where Islam is under heavy scrutiny. People are choosing to let extreme terrorists who claim they’re Muslim formulate their opinions about Islam rather than folks like Ali. The beauty of sports is that it has no religion. That is one reason Ali was so successful in conveying the proper image of Islam. It’s because any boxing fans, or sports fan in general, would gravitate to him and in the process, get a glimpse at who he was as a person. With Ali gone, somebody else must carry the torch.
There are a two athletes best suited for that honor. They are the Abdullah brothers, Hamza and Husain.
What Ali did, and the hand he was dealt because of the time he lived in, is unparalleled. But these two guys carry the Ali legacy in a way that nobody else is in a position to do so. They are a couple of black Muslim-American professional athletes who are at least two-thirds Muhammad Ali. They are proudly black and unapologetically Muslim and though they are not all-time greats in athletics, they were definitely formidable.
Hamza, the elder of the two, played seven years at safety in the NFL from 2005-2011. He was drafted by the Tampa Buccaneers and went on to play for the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, and Arizona Cardinals throughout his career.
His little brother, Husain, also spent seven years as a safety in the NFL, though his seven years were a little different from his brother’s. They were divided in two parts, as a Minnesota Viking from 2008-2011 and then a Kansas City Chief from 2013-2015.
That one year missing, the 2012 season, in Husain’s career is one of the defining moments of the Abdullah brothers and one that makes them a respected option to carry the torch from Muhammad Ali.
Ali missed the prime of his boxing career as he stood by his religious beliefs and refused to go to war in Vietnam. It was a case of putting his religion over his athletic career, without knowing what the outcome may be. Though it wasn’t as serious, and definitely more of a choice rather than a forced hand, the Abdullah brothers also jeopardized their athletic careers to put their religion first.
Both in their late 20s and in the prime of their careers, they left the game to go fulfill a religious duty, the Islamic pilgrimage in Mecca: Hajj.
When they returned, Hamza’s career was over. Husain on the other hand, struck a one-year deal with the Chiefs and returned to the NFL. The following season, Husain and the Chiefs faced the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. In a surprising blowout, Husain intercepted Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and returned it for a touchdown. After crossing the goal line, on a national stage, Husain knelt down into prostration as to give praise to God.
Unapologetically Muslim.
Hamza and Husain have had maybe as many interviews regarding their faith as thy have their athletic careers. They have made rounds to speak to others and set a prime example of what Islam is truly about. They represent the faith properly and are relatable to the American public.
The two brothers received the call a couple of weeks ago to be pallbearers at Ali’s funeral and deliver the legend to his resting ground. Husain was unable to be present due to being overseas in Mecca for the Islamic pilgrimage, but Hamza was there.
Hamza was there, not just to lay The Champ to rest, but to receive the torch passed on by Muhammad Ali.
