Muhammad Ali, who died on Friday, had a Jewish grandson - and the boxing great even attended his barmitzvah.

The ceremony took place at Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in April 2012.

Ali’s daughter, Khaliah Ali-Wertheimer, was raised as a Muslim, but described herself as “not into organized religion” and “more spiritual than religious.”

Her husband, attorney Spencer Wertheimer, is Jewish and their son, according to Mrs Khaliah, chose to have a barmitzvah because he “felt a kinship with Judaism and Jewish culture”.

Despite this family connection to Judaism, Ali publicly took up Arab causes and frequently targeted Jews and Zionism following his conversion to Islam.

When Ali made his victorious comeback to the ring in Atlanta in 1970, he commented on the possibility of taking on Joe Frazier by saying: "To those who might want it, the fight will come. All those Jewish promoters – they’ll see that it comes off.”

After retiring from the ring in 1974, Ali went on a tour of the Middle East. While in Lebanon, he said that “the United States is the stronghold of Zionism and imperialism.”

On a visit to two Palestinian refugee camps in southern Lebanon, he was quoted by a news agency as saying: “In my name and the name of all Muslims in America, I declare support for the Palestinian struggle to liberate their homeland and oust the Zionist invaders.”

Despite these remarks, Ali spoke up for Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was Jewish, when he was kidnapped by Islamic extremists in January 2002.

“I appeal to you to show Daniel Pearl compassion and kindness,” Ali implored Pearl’s abductors, who would behead the journalist in Pakistan after nine days of captivity.

“Treat him as you would wish all Muslims to be treated by others,” entreated Ali. “Daniel should not become another victim of the ongoing conflict. It is my most sincere prayer that Daniel Pearl be permitted to return safely to his family. May Allah have mercy on us all.”