ROSEMONT, Ill. (FinalCall.com) – This year’s Saviours’ Day convention workshop and panel discussion theme, “A Scientific Analysis of the Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad” shows remarkable consistency.

(From left) Anthony Muhammad, Demetric Muhammad, Jason 2X, Ishmael Muhammad, Ava Muhammad, Robert Muhammad, Dr. Wesley Muhammad. Photo: Mikal Veale

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has excelled as the chief exponent of the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Since joining the Nation of Islam in 1955 and making a commitment to take the teachings to “every nook and cranny” of the planet, whether in the streets, in the church, in political or scholarly circles, Minister Farrakhan stands firm on the foundation laid by his teacher.

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For decades, Dr. C. Eric Lincoln’s “The Black Muslims in America” has been treated as the definitive study of the Nation of Islam. “Black Nationalism: The Search for an Identity” by E. U. Essien-Udom, and reporting by Louis Lomax and even Mike Wallace’s “The Hate That Hate Produced” were written and produced by individuals who were not willing to deeply study the Nation of Islam’s belief system, structure and effectiveness and subsequently missed the mark.

“The science of the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad haven’t changed in the 81 years they have been amongst us. What’s happened is the scientists who are discussing them have now come to realize what the early authors did not–that in fact there is validity and truth in this message,” said Askia Muhammad, who served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Muhammad Speaks newspaper from 1973 to 1975 and currently is Senior Correspondent for The Final Call.

The early scholars went about their research regarding the Nation of Islam with “skepticism and doubt” however, they were unable to undermine the movement or the progress of the Nation of Islam. As more members of the Nation of Islam become scholars themselves, their research bears witness to what the Hon. Elijah Muhammad taught and what the Hon. Minister Louis Farrakhan is teaching.

Sister Betty Muhammad of Phoenix’s Muhammad Mosque No. 32 has worked as a secretary for the Hon. Elijah Muhammad as well as the Hon. Minister Louis Farrakhan. “I was very emotional throughout the Saviours’ Day weekend witnessing the verification of the truth given to us through the Hon. Elijah Muhammad and now, through Minister Farrakhan,” she said.

“This reveals the absolute truth of the time we are living in, and how special we are as Black people in America, and why Our Saviour, Master Fard Muhammad, came to us and wants us to reflect His attributes. The only way we can do that is to evolve from where we are,” said Sister Betty, now in her 50th year of Nation of Islam membership. “Those who are naysayers are losing. They are missing a great opportunity to evolve from all the lies and misunderstanding in the media told about the Nation of Islam,” she said.

Other books by Jewish writers such as “Looking for Farrakhan” by Florence Hamlish Levinsohn and Arthur Magida’s “Prophet of Rage” were written with an obvious predetermined agenda, which can be easily seen after viewing the manner in which Minister Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam were portrayed in their books. They are not alone.

Many critics and analysts have chosen to rely on the regurgitated lies of detractors, and rather than conduct analytical research and avail themselves to information which is publicly available. Some judgmental and journalists have done the same thing, clearly appearing to be more interested in fault-finding than fact-finding.

Disparaging comments have appeared in the media regarding the organization’s views on race– considered polarizing by some–and much of what is written appears aimed at isolating the movement instead of providing an accurate description of the works of its members.

For example, instead of describing the Nation of Islam’s Prison Reform ministry as an effective example of outreach, fault finders have chosen to attach ill motives to the Ministry, repeating the claim that the Nation of Islam is “composed primarily of former prisoners” despite evidence to the contrary. Another example, instead of describing the Nation of Islam’s work with the youth and members of street organizations as the efforts of well meaning peacemakers who are connected to the community, the Nation of Islam is simplistically described as recruiting troubled gang members in a nefarious scheme to plan for race war.

Despite being referred to as a “secretive” organization in the media and by many so-called “experts” the beliefs and teachings of the Nation of Islam are very public and widely available to all who care to read the numerous books of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, or avail themselves to the thousands of public lectures by Minister Farrakhan over the last three decades covering almost any subject imaginable.

Some religious scholars and scientists have criticized and even mocked Mr. Muhammad’s teachings on the origin of the races, the reality of God, the principle of separation and the existence of what are commonly referred to as Unidentified Flying Objects. However, ignoring the cynics, and that which they write, Mr. Muhammad and his top student Minister Farrakhan, have consistently remained steadfast to the teachings delivered by the Nation of Islam’s founder Master W. Fard Muhammad over 81 years ago. For critical thinkers and those who are observant, as time goes on, those same religious scholars and scientists have been forced to grapple with the accuracy of the actual facts contained in the Nation of Islam’s teachings.

This year’s Saviours’ Day convention was an exceptional example of the quality of knowledge and expertise which exists among members of the Nation of Islam, its position on the cutting edge of new concepts and its commitment to uncover the truth.

Scholars came from across the globe to discuss aspects of the reality of “unexplained aerial phenomena,” more commonly known as Unidentified Flying Objects. Long before the grainy camcorder videos and cell phone images shown on television today, the Hon. Elijah Muhammad was very clear on what those “flying objects” were. Minister Farrakhan has continued in that same manner.

At times, the Nation of Islam has been unfairly criticized as engaging in heated idealistic rhetoric without any real proof, however, that cannot be said by anyone who has witnessed the events that have unfolded over the past year.

On June 26, 2010, Minister Louis Farrakhan announced the release of Volume Two of “The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews” and “Jews Selling Blacks.” The two books combined total over 650 pages of documentation verifying the Jewish role in the trans-Atlantic Slave trade, and its aftermath. The first volume blasted the foundation of the previously accepted version of the slave trade and was a source of controversy on college campuses and in the media for years.

Attorney Ava Muhammad, a highly advanced spiritual teacher, has authored several books, hosts a weekly radio show, and despite the discredited yet oft-repeated condemnation of the Nation of Islam’s view of women. Min. Farrakhan made history by appointing Sister Ava as leader over one of the Nation of Islam’s regional mosques as the top spiritual and administrative authority and his direct representative. Sister Ava, who also was a part of the panel discussion involving The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews, told The Final Call the session was an important marker in the history of Black people in America.

“It is through the revelation of this knowledge that our people will finally be able to free themselves,” said Sister Ava. “We were already free from the physical shackles but we have remained slaves financially, emotionally, and mentally and now we will be clear of that,” she added.

In his monumental three-part lecture series titled “Who Are The Real Children of Israel,” Minister Farrakhan boldly challenged religious scholars, anthropologists, social scientists, and historians to challenge his assertion that Black people in America are the true Chosen People of God. Minister Farrakhan said the Nation of Islam’s scholars were prepared to deal with the truth of this matter scientifically, linguistically, genetically and theologically. So far, the challenge has remained unanswered.

While the Hon. Elijah Muhammad and Minister Farrakhan have both been critical of the arrogance that often accompanies those within the educated class after receiving a degree of knowledge, they have never discouraged its attainment. In fact, the Hon. Elijah Muhammad’s book “Message to the Blackman” advised the Black nation to “Get Knowledge to Benefit Self and Kind.”

Many members of the Nation of Islam heard Minister Farrakhan’s voice on the college campuses of America in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s as he always encouraged students to obtain the knowledge offered at the institution of higher learning and then use it to aid the Black nation in building and development.

Many youngsters born in the Nation found this Saviours’ Day to be an excellent reminder of things they learned all their lives and sometimes take for granted.

“I’ve been in the Nation of Islam my whole life and personally, this has been the best Saviours’ Day that I have experienced,” said 17-year-old Rob Muhammad, of Muhammad Mosque No. 25 in Newark, New Jersey. “When you grow up in this, you’re rooted in this so you already believe, but to believe and to know are two different things, so it feels good to see verification or to see proof of that which you believe.”

Raheem Muhammad, an 18-year-old from North Carolina–also born in the Nation of Islam–said he “had a wonderful time putting everything together” and that the high level of research and discussion in many of the plenary sessions and workshops will “make a better Believer.”

In November of 2010, Minister Farrakhan announced his desire for the establishment of a “Reader Nation” and spoke of his commitment to eradication of illiteracy amongst Black people. Clearly, this demonstrates those who chide the Nation of Islam for its anti-intellectual slant hold an opinion that is at variance with the facts.

Sister Connie Muhammad, the student protocol director for the Southern Region of the Nation of Islam at Atlanta’s Muhammad Mosque No. 15, used the words “awesome” and “phenomenal” to describe her experience at Saviours’ Day this year. She said the renewed focus on study within the Nation, and this year’s focus on analyzing the teachings of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad was right on time and has motivated her.

“It’s making me have a greater appreciation for study. For the past 30 years I’ve been in the Nation, I’ve never been so excited and feeling such an intensity of really wanting to learn more and more and really be an example of the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad,” Sister Connie told The Final Call. “This is the first time I’ve ever felt that way, this Saviours’ Day has made me feel this way and I just want to continue to spread the word that the Hon. Elijah Muhammad lives today!”