The Saviours’ Tour shakes up Chicago

CHICAGO—The Saviours’ Tour, an inspiring callout recognized for traveling across the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Nation of Islam, has now added soldiering in the magnificent city of Chicago to its list of accomplishments. While the tour has been operating for almost five years, Chicago had long been an aspiration for organizers to include on its list of cities.

Recently, the Fruit of Islam (F.O.I., the men of the N.O.I.) from various cities such as Newark, Charlotte, Baltimore, D.C., and even Milwaukee, participated.

The Saviours’ Tour was created by Brother Leonard Muhammad of Mosque No. 36 in Charlotte and took place the weekend of April 20 in the heart of Chicago, Illinois. The Saviours’ Tour included familiar members of the tour who were joined by brothers who had not participated before, plus young and excited new F.O.I. ready to soldier in the streets of Chicago, a city challenged with homicides, theft, and other crimes.

Upon entering Muhammad Mosque No. 2 (Mosque Maryam), the men were greeted by the F.O.I. of Chicago and engaged in an uplifting discussion. They also heard inspiring words from Student Assistant Supreme Captain Abdul Azziz Muhammad, who is also a martial arts grandmaster and trainer for the N.O.I.

After participating in the motivating dialogue, brothers hit the streets and began to do what they do best—soldier. Groups of men in the community who may have been puffing on blunts and cigarettes while taking up the sidewalk for passersby immediately stepped out of the way upon being greeted by the presence of the F.O.I. Mothers and children on their daily commutes by car or on foot found themselves bursting with bright smiles that lit up the cloudy and rather cold atmosphere that day.

The brothers also knocked on doors in the surrounding neighborhoods—bringing the same energy they delivered to the street corners. Shawn Miller, a young mother living in the city who was originally reluctant to answer her door, felt encouraged after having the brothers stop by her neighborhood. “It’s very uplifting seeing my young and old Black men out here trying to make a difference.” The sister also felt motivated to learn more about the Nation of Islam and expressed her desire to attend the mosque meeting the following Sunday.

After engaging with the community, the brothers made their way to the scheduled stops for the tour. Many people who were not registered members of the N.O.I. still greeted brothers with a hearty “As-Salaam-Alaikum” (Peace be unto you), and even inquired about the world-famous Supreme Bean Pie.

Some were so eager to see the men that they were almost sad to see them leave. Mary, a resident of one neighborhood, shared how she has been familiar with the Nation for many years and how she appreciates “having our Black men come together to protect the community and do what’s right for the community.”

In addition to going door to door, the brothers met the people in local shops and and street corners to offer The Final Call newspaper and engage in conversation with their Black and Brown family. Some F.O.I. who knew some minimal Spanish made an effort to spread the love to their Latino brothers and sisters.

When Brother Alton of Muhammad Mosque No. 7 in New York called the men to attention in preparation for their drill exhibition, the once busy streets and sidewalks seemed to come to an immediate stop to watch the men display the impactful “Exercise of the Gods.” Cars began beeping, heads turned, and almost everyone watched as the brothers followed the commands of the instructors in a crisp, sharp, and united movement.

Men and women gathered at a local park where most of the F.O.I. stood and they thought that the men would simply pass them by. However, the F.O.I. stopped and demonstrated another drill exhibition specifically for the people in the park to enjoy.

“We thought ya’ll was just going to cross the street because y’all couldn’t see us,” said Kemente Winfield, an older gentleman enjoying a day in the park with his friends. “Just yesterday, we had a shooting over there where two people died,” he said while beckoning across the street where the brothers were previously gathered.

“I prayed ya’ll,” said Mr. Winfield almost becoming emotional. “Keep doing what y’all are doing.”

While out soldiering, the F.O.I. also came across young men who were interested in what the Muslim men were doing. A young man named Javion, 18, was visiting Chicago from his home in Ohio. When asked how it felt seeing the men in the community, Brother Javion shared how it showed the true intentions of the F.O.I. and who they are besides their image in the mosque. He also shared how having positive examples of Black men in communities puts youth on the right path and inspires them to achieve great things with their lives and to give back to their communities.

The people of Chicago were elated to have the F.O.I. come through and spend time with them in their communities during the Saviours’ Tour.

A woman named Melanie, 49, was ecstatic seeing the brothers and broadcast her encounter on her Instagram page via a live recording. “It’s like a breath of fresh air. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you guys out here, and if you look around, everybody out here is happy to see you guys,” she said.

“We always pay attention to Farrakhan no matter where we are. Even if we’re in an alley, we’ll listen to Farrakhan!”

F.O.I. participating in the tour were also eager to share their experience and looked forward to the next one. Jr. F.O.I. Brother Ali Muhammad is a student and attends Mosque No. 36 in Charlotte. “The experience was beautiful. The brotherhood just coming together and helping the community is what’s most important. Helping to fish them into the mosque and deliver the 17 million to the Lamb of God,” he stated.

Brother Jabril Muhammad, 25, of Mosque Maryam in Chicago, stated, “The importance of having great examples of Black men is literally the difference between having a dead community and a thriving community.”

This recent Saviours’ Tour was very successful, and was a “wonderful and amazing feeling to be able to do this work in our Mecca, the headquarters of the Nation of Islam,” said Brother Leonard Muhammad, the tour’s founder.

Additional tours are scheduled for various cities. You can reach out to your local Nation of Islam mosque or study group for more information or to inquire about scheduling a Saviours’ Tour in your city.

Brother West Muhammad is a Jr. F.O.I. from Baltimore and is a co-host on the weekly podcast WHID-FM, “What Has Islam Done For Me?”