From left, Student Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan, Imam Sultan R. Muhammad, NOI Student General Counsel Abdul Arif Muhammad, Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, Student National M.G.T. Captain Naeemah Muhammad, Student National Auditing Coordinator A’ishah Muhammad and Student National Secretary Sa’ad Alim Muhammad deliver a panel presentation of their personal journeys in becoming members of the Nation of Islam. Photos: Haroon Rajaee

CHICAGO—The Executive Council of the Nation of Islam (NOI), held a special program at Mosque Maryam in Chicago commemorating the 125th birth anniversary of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. It was an evening filled with deep reflections and passionate testimonials from students of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad under the leadership of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. October 7, 2022, marked the 125th birth anniversary of the Eternal Leader of the Nation of Islam, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the program held that evening was also streamed live via webcast.

Audience members and viewers were presented with two key points to focus and study which are: the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s escape from a death plot in 1975 and being physically alive today and his promise to Minister Farrakhan, his top student and National Representative that he would see his teacher again, face-to-face.

The evening was filled with inspiring words, vital information and insight during a panel presentation from several members of the Executive Council including: Student Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan, Student National M.G.T. and G.C.C. Captain Naeemah Muhammad, Student National Imam Sultan R. Muhammad, NOI Student General Counsel Abdul Arif Muhammad, Student National Secretary Sa’ad Alim Muhammad and Student National Auditing Coordinator A’ishah Muhammad. Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, National Assistant to Min. Farrakhan moderated the program.

Panelists shared personal journeys that led them to becoming members of the Nation of Islam under the leadership of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, and how through intense study of scriptures from the Bible and Holy Qur’an and witness bearing of the works of Min. Farrakhan has them convinced and convicted in the fact that the Eternal Leader of the NOI is physically alive and that Min. Farrakhan will once again see his Father.

Advertisement

Minister Ishmael Muhammad explained that Minister Farrakhan expressed that these two critical essentials of our faith is what will ensure that we will survive and get through the dark hour.

“We, the followers of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad under the leadership and guidance of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, we believe in what has been revealed to us from Allah through His Messenger. We believe all of it,” Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad stated during his introductory remarks. “Belief is a process. Belief is a journey that takes you to the certainty of the knowledge that you were first introduced to that at some point in the journey of belief and faith, you become convicted.

So at some point you have to step out of belief into the certainty of knowledge. So those who believe who are firmly rooted in knowledge can withstand the winds, the storms, the opposition, the trials that come against our faith,” said Brother Ishmael Muhammad in setting the stage for the evening.

“Tonight on the 125th commemoration of the birth anniversary of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad that we are around our Nation sitting here working to shore up our faith, put on the whole armor of God, so that we can work by the Grace of Allah to remove doubt in our minds that might be there about the fact that the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad is in fact alive and in control of everything in the universe except Master Fard Muhammad,” shared Bro. Sa’ad Alim Muhammad.

He told the audience that he became a registered member of the Nation in 1994. During his testimonial, Bro. Sa’ad Alim as well as other panelists, gave several scriptural references and mentioned a critical book written by Brother Jabril Muhammad, “Is It Possible That The Honorable Elijah Muhammad Is Still Physically Alive?” as points of study.

It was in 1981 at the first Saviours’ Day since the departure of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad that the Minister announced to the world that his teacher was in fact, still alive. In previous messages, Minister Farrakhan shared how that bold pronouncement made many question him and some even leave him.

However, for Brother Abdul Arif Muhammad and Sister A’ishah Muhammad who were witnesses for that earthshaking announcement, their faith and conviction grew.

“When the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan started rebuilding the Nation of Islam, going around the country setting up study groups, the first study guides were in fact the books of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. He said he wanted us to study the Teachings and to get back to the Teachings. We were on that study throughout his journey for those three years until we got to Saviours’ Day 1981,” shared Bro. Abdul Arif Muhammad.

Sister A’ishah Muhammad, National M.G.T. Captain Emeritus shared that she first heard Minister Farrakhan in 1979 and accepted the Teachings and that by Allah’s (God’s) Grace, has never turned back.

Members of the audience applaud the influence of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

“We were told in order to prepare ourselves to come to Saviours’ Day, we had to write our letters, even if we had been coming out for a year, two years. We all rushed and got our letters written,” she explained, referring to the Saviours’ Letter that is required of all brothers and sisters desiring to become a part of the Nation of Islam.

“We all came from the East Coast by train; New York; Newark, N.J. I remember being at the Auditorium Theater and Minister Farrakhan announced that the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad was physically alive. I said ‘OK.’ I didn’t have to wrestle with it, I didn’t have to have an argument with my own self because it made absolute sense to me. I thank Allah because it was only by His permission, I would not be struggling with the idea that the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad is alive and in power,” Sister A’ishah Muhammad added.

Sister Naeemah Muhammad is of Haitian descent. She became a registered member of the Nation of Islam in 1997. Her testimony drew thunderous applause from those in the audience.

Muslim women applaud during panel presentation.

“Many nights I remember praying to God, nine years old now, begging Allah to remove the pain and suffering that not only I was going through as a child but also people who were suffering around the world. I cried myself to sleep many nights. From that point, I was seeking and searching for God. And then, here comes Minister Farrakhan,” she said.

“The first time I heard Minister Farrakhan’s voice, a light of extreme brightness literally came on. I sensed at that time a measure of fulfillment for the first time. I was hooked, as I felt like I was introduced to the God and the Jesus that I have been searching for.”

Brother Sultan Muhammad is the great-grandson of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and was born in his home on Woodlawn. “I thank Allah for Minister Farrakhan in opening my eyes again to this Holy Qur’an. If it were not for this Holy Qur’an, I would have left Islam. I would have left Islam because of the example of dead Muslims that I saw my entire life,” he said.

“I was blessed at a young age to study in what was considered the seat of knowledge in the world of Islam, among the Sunni world. Growing up after coming back from Saudi Arabia, I desired to only serve our community, to serve our nation, to try my best to continue the work that my father was desirous of doing, to unite our communities,” shared Student Imam Sultan Muhammad.

Young men in the audience applaud during panel presentation.

Brother Mustapha Farrakhan, son of Minister Farrakhan, stated, “I thank Allah for raising the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad up as a perfect example for us and I thank Allah over and over again for raising Minister Farrakhan for the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. He was made by God for that man. I have never seen a man so in love with another man in the spiritual aspect like that until I saw how my father is in the presence of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad.”

The audience was excited and learned a lot from what was shared.

“I would just like to say that the celebration of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad was so inspiring. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad lives within our heart, mind, and soul. However, He is also alive. The Executive Council validated that truth with strength, vigor, and guidance,” stated Joanne 4X.

Mary L. Muhammad was also inspired by the program. She told The Final Call that what was presented and shared helped put her back on a point she did not realize she was not on.

“I believe that the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad is alive. Listening to the testimonies of the Executive Council that the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan put in place, made me to understand that I need to study more because mere belief is nothing. I have to be able to back it up in my life and make it real.” To view, “He Lives, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad Celebration of Life Event,” visit media.noi.org.

(Shawntell Muhammad can be contacted at [email protected].)