Muhammad Ali funeral planned as interfaith service

Muhammad Ali's memorial service in his hometown of Louisville, Ky., on Friday will be open to all faiths.

Ali family spokesman Bob Gunnell said ministers from multiple faiths will speak at the 2 p.m. ET memorial, which will be preceded by a public procession starting at 9 a.m.

"Everything that we're doing here was blessed by Muhammad Ali and requested," Gunnell said Monday at a news conference. "He wanted the memorial service to reflect his life and how he lived. And he wanted everyone to be able to attend. He was the people's champ, so we wanted the memorial service to reflect that."

Gunnell said California imam and scholar Zaid Shakir will preside over the service at the KFC Yum! Center.

"It's only fitting that the people have the opportunity to send him off with a very robust commemoration so we thank the family for that," Shakir said.

Other scheduled speakers include Protestant minister Kevin Cosby, Rabbi Michael Lerner, Rabbi Joe Rapport and U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, who is a Mormon.

Speaking at the funeral will be representatives of many faiths, including Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Mormonism and Catholicism. The Dalai Lama was invited but sent regrets that he will be unable to attend.

Also speaking will be Ali's wife, Lonnie Ali, daughter Maryum Ali, actor Billy Crystal, sportscaster Bryant Gumbel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King Abdullah II of Jordan. Former President Bill Clinton will deliver a eulogy.

On Thursday, there will be a private ceremony for family. A 30-minute Islamic funeral prayer will be held at Freedom Hall.

Ali died last Friday night of septic shock from unspecified natural causes at a Scottsdale, Ariz., hospital not far from his home. He was 74.

Ali's body returned to Louisville on Sunday.

The sports icon, who retired from boxing in 1981, spent the last hour of his life surrounded by his family after initially being hospitalized on May 30.

Ali, known as "The Greatest" who became a global symbol of peace and hope as a humanitarian, had battled Parkinson's disease since being diagnosed in 1984 at age 42.