By Mother Tynetta Muhammad
“The revelation of the Book is from Allah,
the Mighty, the Wise. Surely We have revealed to thee the Book with truth, so
serve Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience.”
Holy Qur’an, Surah 39, Verses
1-2.
In remembering our Sister Michelle in her
continual passage to life in the midst of the month of red October, she has left
us with much to study about dedication, sacrifice, and service in the way of
Allah (God). As the seasons of the year alter and change, slipping gently into
winter, spring, summer, and fall, we live our lives without a comprehensive
knowledge of every step we take in our journey.
Surah 18 entitled “The Cave” gives us a
most poignant view of the circumstances of life that carry us in our voyage from
places, persons, things and events which repeat themselves over and over again
in cycles until we come to know the reality of God manifesting in our lives as
the Ultimate Truth.
The month of October has been full with
its store of events engulfing global humanity standing on the brink of total
destruction. Our voice as a Nation within a Nation of America is impressive and
noteworthy to take into account. Why is October referred to as a “Red” month?
October 7 is recognized and observed as the birth date of the Honorable Elijah
Muhammad who was born in Sandersville, Georgia, in 1897, A Night of Majesty and
consequence that has extended itself into the present hour with a sense of magic
and majesty that we yet behold.
This is also the month often referred to
as Indian Summer because of continuous warm days of summer blending into Fall or
Autumn hoping never to enter the cold and severe days of a winter frost and
chilling wind. This same month saw the flaws of a government, the greatest on
earth, heating up the debate for a pre-empted attack on Iraq and its President
Saddam Hussein and the innocent victims of its war cry issues raised to the
heights of the United Nations and the Security Council were gripped in feverish
pitch.
This was the month where Chechen Fighters
invaded a theater of performing arts in Moscow resulting in the use of highly
toxic gases by the Russian Government which led to the deaths of over 150
persons from among the invaders and Russian citizens. On October 16, the
Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan satellited his message across America and the
world against the war and its dire consequences to be avoided at all costs. This
event also marked the 7th anniversary of the Million Man March.
This month also witnessed a series of
unprecedented sniper killings traced to two individuals who have been indicted
on charges to these crimes, which may also include other accomplices. This
outrage was followed by the shooting death of a legendary rap/hip-hop pioneer,
artist in Queens, New York, and an earthquake with children victims in Italy and
the eruption of Mt. Etna; and yet, another earthquake in Sicily on the eve of
Halloween, our Sister Michelle, an employee of The Final Call newspaper,
a reporter/journalist with outreach to the greater community with Jet Magazine
recognition for her photo story recently acknowledged, she became part of the
legacy of Red October.
What is the state of our Nation? Why do
the innocent perish? Soon this old world order is passing quickly to make way
for a New and more world order of peace and righteousness. In this setting of
deepening world crisis comes the remembrance of our Sister Michelle with
strength to her mother, father, family and friends as we, too, are fellow
travelers in our continual passage to life.
“He has created the heavens
and the earth with truth; He makes the night cover the day and makes the day
overtake the night, and He has made the sun and the moon subservient; each one
moves on to an assigned term. Now surely He is the Mighty, the
Forgiver.”
Holy Qur’an, Surah 39, Verse 5.
To be continued.