"If memory serves me correctly, I was wearing a little white tank top and a short black skirt. I had been raised Orthodox
Muslim, so I had never before worn such revealing clothing while in my
father's presence. When we finally arrived, the chauffer escorted my younger
sister,
Laila, and me up to my
father's suite.
As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to
scare us. We exchanged many hug
s and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My
father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and
said something that I will never forget.
He looked me
straight in the eyes and
said, "
Hana, everything that
Allah (SWT) made valuable in the world is covered and
hard to get to. Where do you
find diamonds?
Deep down in the ground covered and protected. Where do you
find pearls?
Deep down at the bottom of the ocean covered up and protected in a
beautiful shell. Where do you
find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work
hard to get to them."
He looked at me with serious eyes. "Your body is sacred. You're far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too."
Source: "More Than A Hero:
Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Through His
Daughter's Eyes."