CHICAGO—The 2023 Saviours’ Day Drill Competition took its theme from the weekend’s keynote address of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan: “The War of Armageddon Has Begun.” Teams from all over the country showcased the creativity of the military drill of the Nation of Islam.
The competition has five categories: Jr. M.G.T. (Muslim Girls’ Training) Vanguard, Jr. F.O.I. (Fruit of Islam), M.G.T., M.G.T. Vanguard and F.O.I.
Student Minister Jeffrey Muhammad out of Chicago co-hosted with Brother Terence Muhammad from North Carolina. “It’s been three years since we’ve been here, but now the drill of the Gods is back,” said Student Minister Jeffrey Muhammad.
Judges for this year’s event included Western Regional Student F.O.I. Captain Halim Muhammad, three-time championship drill instructor (D.I.) for Chicago M.G.T. Vanguard class Tadara Muhammad, Student Captain Leslie Muhammad, D.I. of the Baltimore/D.C. M.G.T. and Vanguard class, Leonard Muhammad, championship driller from New York City, Eastern Regional Student Captain Majied Muhammad, Mid-Atlantic Regional Student Minister Abdul Khadir Muhammad and the Nation of Islam’s Student Assistant Supreme Captain, Abdul Azziz Muhammad.
Southern Regional Student M.G.T. Captain Nusaybah Muhammad served as a key point person for the successful execution of the competition.
“This year I could see the impact of the Muslims going into their chambers and seeking refuge with Allah and coming out of the chamber an improved soldier,” she said to The Final Call.
Two cities competed in the Jr. M.G.T. category: Muhammad Mosque No. 15 in Atlanta and Muhammad Mosque No. 2, Mosque Maryam in Chicago. Atlanta placed first with Chicago in a strong second.
Three competitors battled it out in the category of Jr. F.O.I.: Muhammad Mosque No. 29 in Miami, Atlanta and Chicago. Miami placed third, Chicago placed second and Atlanta was first. The youngest on Atlanta’s team, Yazeed Muhammad, was only three years old. “Who are we? We are gods!” they expressed on the stage.
Five teams competed in the M.G.T. category: Muhammad Mosque No. 26B in Oakland, California, Muhammad Mosque No. 45 in Houston, Muhammad Mosque No. 27 in Los Angeles, Chicago and three-time reigning champions Atlanta. Los Angeles placed third, Houston placed second and Chicago placed first.
The most contested category of the drill competition is the M.G.T. Vanguard, the warrior class of the Nation of Islam comprised of women and girls ages 16 to 35. Vanguard teams competed from Miami, Houston, Muhammad Mosque No. 25 in Newark, New Jersey, Atlanta and Chicago, who were the reigning champions.
Atlanta took home the third place medal, Chicago placed second and first place went to Houston. Many of the Vanguard who competed on the Houston team were five-time champions on the Jr. M.G.T. team, before they aged into the Vanguard class at 16.
Many of the teams filled with women and girls paid homage to Sister Student Minister Dr. Ava Muhammad, the National Spokesperson of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and a star of God, who passed away in August 2022.
The F.O.I. category had six competitors: Muhammad Mosque No. 1 in Detroit, Michigan, Newark, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York and Chicago. The Eastern Region of the Nation placed twice, with New York in third and Newark in second. Los Angeles placed first.
“This year’s drill competition was very special to me because I saw elevation in our spirit that manifested in our physical drill,” Sister Nusaybah Muhammad said. “May Allah bless the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan for all that he has done to inspire an entire Nation. We love him. We love our Nation. Allah-U-Akbar.” —Anisah Muhammad, Contributing Writer
Convention Center in Chicago.
and Maria Farrakhan applaud during the drill competition at
McCormick Convention Center in Chicago.
Sayyid Muhammad, and Rev. Alfreddie Johnson applaud
during Drill Competition in Chicago, Saviours’ Day 2023.
