By Daleel Jabir Muhammad
“And everyone has a goal to which he turns (himself), so vie with one another in good works.” —Holy Qur’an 2:148
NEW YORK—Vying with one another in righteous competition has been a challenge and a battle cry to save a people in a world steeped in the sin of iniquity, as referenced in the Bible and in the Holy Qur’an.
Two mighty men of God from what is known in New York as “The People’s Republic of Brooklyn,” at Muhammad Mosque No. 7C have been on a mission to bring as many people as possible out of the sea of iniquity to hear a word that would change their lives and to give the people life like that which they have never experienced. In the Nation of Islam, this effort is called “fishing,” following the guidance of Jesus in the Bible in Mathew 4:19 which states: “Come and follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men.”
›Brother James Muhammad and Brother Paul Muhammad have been actively engaged in the works of sharing the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad under the leadership of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the faith of Islam through word of mouth and through selling The Final Call newspaper on a consistent basis.
In 2023 these two F.O.I. (Fruit of Islam) received one of the Nation of Islam’s highest honors of being recognized as the number one F.O.I. fishermen in Brooklyn for the previous year. Brother Paul led the way with over 52 first-time guests, and Brother James Muhammad, a Muslim pioneer, brought 30 guests.
These men and women came out to hear powerful words of inspiration at the mosque in the Brownsville/ ENY sections of Brooklyn. Together these brothers brought out nearly 100 guests in 2022 to hear the words of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan as taught by Student Minister Henry Muhammad of Mosque No.7C or from guest student ministers who spoke at the Brooklyn location.
“I’ve been in the Nation since 1959 under Minister Malcolm X, at the time I was James 64X. Now continuing fishing under Minister Farrakhan, I have always been motivated to get my people to hear these Teachings. I will go out in the streets or knock on door to door to get our people to hear the word,” said Brother James.
“Allah (God) has poured that into me since receiving my X in 1960. I am now 82 years old. Before I go out to seek guests to bring to the mosque, I pray to Master Fard Muhammad to bless me to bring someone and He always does,” he added.
Brother Paul explained that what motivates him is to keep his word and make his word his bond. “I said nearly 30 years ago when I first became a registered member, that I would come and help Minister Farrakhan in his mission to deliver the dead. When I go out to the people and let them hear and see what I have and what Allah has done for me in my life, I want to share that and give it to the people,” he said.
“I try to bear witness by example. I invite them to come with me to feed off of what I am feeding off of. I intend to continue this year, 2023, to do like the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad said to do, ‘work, work and do more work.’ What inspires me is that I am inspiring others like the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has been inspiring me” said Brother Paul, who also serves as Student Protocol Director of Mosque No. 7C.
“I am definitely elated and thankful to Allah for these two men, brother Paul Muhammad and brother James Muhammad, for receiving their awards as a token of appreciation from the Nation of Islam for their work,” Student Minister Henry Muhammad of Mosque No. 7C, said.
“You know, the Teachings tell us from the scripture that the harvest is ripe but the laborers are few. So, we have to pray to Allah for more laborers. We need more laborers like Brother Paul and Brother James to put this work in that they’re doing. It is a testimony of their faith in Allah, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, and their testimony of their faith in the hereafter,” he added.
“We’ve been given so much from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan in this Teaching that it has increased our faith. But now we have to go and use that faith like money and put it to an exchange among our people and bring them to the house of God, into the word of God, to get what we’ve got and that would make us more favorable in the eyes, the heart and the mind of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and Allah in the person of Master Fard Muhammad. We have to be good helpers.”
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