The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan recently appointed the second student imam, Abdul Salaam Muhammad, in the Nation of Islam. Student Imam Abdul Salaam is headquartered in Baltimore at Muhammad Mosque No. 6. He joins Student National Imam Sultan Rahman Muhammad, resident imam at Mosque Maryam in Chicago where the Nation of Islam is headquartered, who was appointed in 2012.
Having more imams has always been the goal of Minister Farrakhan, according to Student National Imam Sultan Muhammad. He began to create an “Imamate” to cultivate other brothers to be imams.
“As I would report developments from the department, Minister Farrakhan would inquire, ‘How is the Imamate coming along, brother?’ This became more and more clear as the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan grew my assignment to that of a national scope, as Student National Imam of the Nation of Islam,” he told The Final Call.
“The appointment of Brother Abdul Salaam, formerly Student Minister Carlos Muhammad from Baltimore, Mosque No. 6, by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is without doubt evidenced by the beautiful spirit and dedication to the growth and development of our Nation that Student Imam Abdul Salaam has demonstrated throughout his years as a student minister under the Minister’s guidance.”
Student Imam Sultan Muhammad explained they developed camaraderie over many years in the development of the department of Student National Imam. Imam Abdul Salaam Muhammad assisted with the facilitation of countless courses of study and seminars for the Nation of Islam’s Student Ministry and believers, which will be expanded in his additional new role.
Student Imam Abdul Salaam Muhammad is excited to start this new chapter in his life. He is welcomed in Muslim communities around the country doing khutbahs at masjids, college campuses and speaking at other events. He made Umrah with Hajj Pros in 2020 and credits his journey to becoming an imam to his participation with the Ramadan Prayerline and Deen Intensive Academy.
“Abdul Salaam has been preparing for this for the last 20 years with his studies, and how he handles the mosque. He’s consistent in his work with the believers. He established Jumu’ah prayer for those who can make it off their job, and the five prayers,” Brother Abdul Akbar Muhammad, International Representative for Minister Farrakhan and an organizer for the Ramadan Prayerline and Deen Intensive Academy, told The Final Call. “He’s a blessing for our community. This assignment will have him traveling to share the abundance of knowledge that he has gained. He’s going to be a great asset to the Minister and the Nation.”
Khalillah Ali heard Imam Abdul Salaam at the Deen Intensive Academy when it came to Dallas in 2015. His topic was “Did the Honorable Elijah Muhammad Follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).” She told The Final Call, “I was very impressed with his presentation and also to learn that he established Jumu’ah at his mosque. His appointment is a graduation for him and an acknowledgment of his studies. His work is outstanding and worthy of recognition.”
Imam Abdul Salaam Muhammad was on the road to becoming an imam unbeknownst to him. In his mind, he was doing the work to serve his people under the leadership of Minister Farrakhan. Imam Abdul Salaam Muhammad recalls in the early 2000s receiving books from Minister Farrakhan that included the Muslim Prayer Book, the Religion of Islam, and others that related to the work in America as Muslims.
“In 2011 during Ramadan, I established Friday prayers that the Minister had desired way back in the ’80s,” Imam Abdul Salaam Muhammad told The Final Call. “The Minister showed great wisdom when he introduced me to then-Sultan Rahman. The Minister said not to let air get between us. That wisdom bonded me to Imam Sultan before he received his appointment. The Minister could see our brotherhood and what we brought to the table for each other personally as well as what transformed during our travels together teaching Islamic Sciences,” he continued.
“When we established Jumu’ah at No. 6 (Baltimore Mosque), I asked the believers, if they wanted to continue beyond Ramadan. It was a resounding yes and we began to grow. Prior to COVID, we offered all types of programming including women’s programs. It was all inspired by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, who desired back in the ’80s that we institute Jumu’ah. That inspiration allows me to be a student minister
and a student imam. Minister Farrakhan said I have the heart for both.”
Imam Abdul Salaam Muhammad credits his Islamic research with helping him see the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Minister much clearer in terms of the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.
