Washington, September 12: Former Olympic silver medallist, who now holds both the WBA and IBF world titles, Boxer Amir Khan says that Islam means a lot to him.
In an exclusive interview with The Independent in Washington where he was invited for a dinner with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Amir, who recently returned from Makkah after performing Umrah, said that the Holy City was an amazing experience.
“When you go there and you do your Umrah or Haj you are like a new-born baby and you finish by cutting off your hair. That’s why I am a bit of a baldy now. You are forgiven by God and you start again. There is a tremendous spiritual uplift. It gives you great confidence because you know when you come back, you are closer to God, you are stronger,” he said.
“The last 10 days I was in Makkah, there must have been about five million people, all different races and colors, praying in the streets, outside the Grand Mosque, in the Mosque, millions of them. All asking for forgiveness. Makkah is right at the center of the world. The world goes clockwise, and that is why in Makkah we all have to walk around clockwise too,” he told The Independent’s Alan Hubbard.
“I went to the place the Prophet was born and where the Qur’an (was revealed). On the previous occasions I never quite understood it as much as I did this time. I have always followed my religion strictly but with the lifestyle I have, and with boxing being what it is with so many distractions, it is sometimes difficult. But my religion keeps me on the right path.”
Amir says that he has never been shy of speaking about his religion.
“I speak the truth because I am what I am, I’ve got nothing to hide. It’s the way I’ve been brought up. I have never been afraid of saying I am a Muslim. People respect you more when you are honest. Half the time I don’t have to get involved but I do because there are so many people looking for answers. I go to schools and colleges and speak to kids of all religions and it’s the same in my gym [the Gloves Community Centre in Bolton] which was opened by David Cameron. We have youngsters of all different colours coming in, around 500 a week. Bringing everyone together is something I feel I have to do.”
“When you go to my fights there are fans of all different races. They buy tickets to watch me so I am always happy to do something in return. I’ve never said no to an autograph or a photo because these are the people who helped make me. Putting something back in the community is important,” the famous boxer says.
Amir was surprised when he received an invitation to have a dinner with Clinton after he returned from his visit to Makkah. “At first I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “Then when we checked it was genuine I went ‘Wow!’
The world light-welterweight boxing champion was to be the only British guest among a group of prominent Muslim sports personalities, the others all American, at an occasion ostensibly to mark the end of the religious fasting month of Ramadan.
But significantly it was to happen on the eve of today’s 10th anniversary of the 9/11 atrocities in America.
-Agencies