Muhammad Ali takes swipe at Donald Trump and condemns Islamic State in statement

Muhammad Ali has taken a swipe at Donald Trump and condemned so-called Islamic State, calling the terror group "misguided murderers".

"I am a Muslim and there is nothing Islamic about killing innocent people in Paris, San Bernardino, or anywhere else in the world," the 73-year-old former boxing champion said in a statement to NBC News.

Ali does not mention Trump by name but his statement is titled "Presidential Candidates Proposing to Ban Muslim Immigration to the United States".

In a thinly-veiled dig at the Republican presidential hopeful, Ali said: "I believe that our political leaders should use their position to bring understanding about the religion of Islam and clarify that these misguided murderers have perverted people's views on what Islam really is."

Trump has been criticised for his calls to ban Muslims from entering the US. Credit: Reuters

Muhammad Ali's statement in full

I am a Muslim and there is nothing Islamic about killing innocent people in Paris, San Bernardino, or anywhere else in the world.

True Muslims know that the ruthless violence of so called Islamic Jihadists goes against the very tenets of our religion.

We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda.

They have alienated many from learning about Islam. True Muslims know or should know that it goes against our religion to try and force Islam on anybody.

Speaking as someone who has never been accused of political correctness, I believe that our political leaders should use their position to bring understanding about the religion of Islam and clarify that these misguided murderers have perverted people's views on what Islam really is.

– MUHAMMAD ALI