Mosque Maryam in Chicago was filled to capacity to see and hear from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan on Feb. 27. Photo: Erick H. Muhammad

CHICAGO—Hundreds flocked to The National Center throughout the week from around the country for Saviours’ Day 2022. Others from around the globe sent messages of celebration and congratulations to the Nation of Islam and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan as millions more prepared to watch the program globally via internet live streams.

No one knew what to expect Sunday, Feb. 27 in the “The Swan Song” message of the Minister. However, for many, the joy to fellowship as a community once again after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 spread proved immeasurable.

“Yes. I was excited to come,” Monica 3X, from Washington, D.C., told The Final Call. “It felt safe” to be here, she said. “I love my Nation of Islam family.”

She was not alone.

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A 2,000 seat, temperature-controlled tent adorned with jumbotron monitors was erected on the national property. Seating was created in the Muhammad University of Islam with adjacent holdover spaces throughout the school. Seating was added to the Musalla space, the lower level of Mosque Maryam, to accommodate additional attendees. In total, more than 5,000 people were seated on the national property to hear the Feb. 27 message of Minister Farrakhan.

Muslim women applaud during program.

On Friday afternoon, attendees observed strict covid protocols during the congregational jumu’ah prayer service. Later that afternoon and all-day Saturday, believers and guests flocked to The National Center to pick up the credentials required to attend the Sunday message.

February weather in Chicago normally is unforgiving. The week prior to the main event, temperatures ranged from 15-34 degrees with some snow and ice. However, Saviours’ Day Sunday greeted the people with warmer temperatures, sunshine and mild winds, answering the prayers of many.

As people gathered and the venues filled, participants fist-bumped, dapped and offered occasional well masked or shield wearing hugs of joy. During his message, Minister Farrakhan prayed to Allah (God) to protect those that traveled to celebrate the birth of a Saviour and to keep everyone healthy, not allowing any sickness to befall them.

Admittedly, no one knew what Minister Farrakhan’s message would be. As time drew near, speaker after speaker bore witness to the birth of a Saviour, Allah in the Person of Master Fard Muhammad, the work of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and expressed gratitude for the relentless labor and suffering of their servant, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

“We celebrate and give honor to Allah, Who came in the Person of Master Fard Muhammad. Today we honor a man who made the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, who made Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, who made Imam Warithudin Mohammed, and [Elijah’s] National Representative the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan,” said Student National Assistant Minister Ishmael Muhammad.

“You know the students and they lift the students, but they never tell you who made Muhammad Ali … you have Malcolm X, but they never tell you about the teacher that made Malcolm,” he continued.

Audience listens attentively to Saviours’ Day program in Chicago at Mosque Maryam. Photos: Erick H. Muhammad

“But one man. One man’s love. One man’s faith in his teacher would not suffer that the name of Elijah Muhammad and the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad would not be written out of history. And we bear witness that Elijah Muhammad’s teaching was right and correct yesterday, today and tomorrow,” he exclaimed.

Celebrating her 40th year in the Nation of Islam, Student National Spokesperson Dr. Ava Muhammad spoke to the display of beauty found in the members of the Nation of Islam. “Don’t you look magnificent. Nowhere on this planet do any people look like this,” she said, declaring Blacks as the descendants of the Creator and declared Black people as winners.

“We won because Minister Farrakhan is a winner. He never loses a fight with Satan,” she said. “He is the mouthpiece of God. He is backed by God. He will win the war against inequality here and around the world. All we have to do is walk behind him. He alone,” she said “stepped up July 4th, 2020, and told Satan to his face in front of the globe, we will not take your vaccine! Give it to your people. Then through him, Allah gave us treatments and therapies to fight the virus,” she said referencing the Minister’s message, “The Criterion.” 

Complaints flowed into The National Center that during Minister Farrakhan’s Saviours’ Day 2022 message, the global livestream was interrupted on all social media platforms when he began speaking on vaccines. Since this writing, the presentation has been restored in playback.

Giving opening remarks prior to the Minister’s appearance were Student Ministers Jair Muhammad, Tairah Muhammad, Nuri Muhammad, Abel Muhammad, Student Southern Regional Minister Abdul Sharrieff Muhammad, Dr. Wesley Muhammad, and 7th Regional Student Minister Patrick Muhammad.

Minister Farrakhan spoke nearly five hours explaining the greatness and significance of the two that back him, Master Fard Muhammad and the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. He spoke of the significance of the present time and what to look for as it relates to war activity in Ukraine and his (Min. Farrakhan) eventual showdown with the U.S. Government over his position on the pending American involvement in a war in Europe.