by Charlene Muhammad and Nisa Islam Muhammad
The Final Call
@TheFinalCall
DETROIT—The Huntington Place was filled with thousands of people who traveled near and far to see and hear the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan deliver his keynote Saviours’ Day message, “What Does Allah The Great Mahdi And The Great Messiah Have to Say About The War In The Middle East?”
People around the world were anxious to hear from the 90-year-old fearless and uncompromising Muslim leader about the bombardment and destruction of Gaza by the Israeli Defense Forces, which has not slowed down since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas in the Occupied Territories. At presstime, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, the number of Palestinians who have been killed has reached 29,782 with over 70,000 injured.
During his message, Minister Farrakhan exhorted the Muslim world, in particular, to stand up against the genocide happening against the Palestinian people. His message resonated with those who heard and viewed his message.
›Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American in Dearborn, Michigan, told The Final Call he met the Minister in 1985 and is a big fan. Mr. Siblani has listened attentively to what the—in his words—great leader and visionary said. The Minister is telling the truth, said Mr. Siblani.
“Unfortunately, people are not ready to hear it, but the time will come to prove that he’s right,” he stated. That’s what the prophets did, continued Mr. Siblani. “When they crucified Jesus, two billion people now follow him and the same thing they did to Muhammad (peace be upon him). Two and a half billion, they follow him,” he said.
Unfortunately, the Anti-Defamation League is doing to him what they’re doing to Minister Farrakhan, continued Mr. Siblani. “The last two weeks, I’ve been attacked by the ADL and the Jewish Community Council on the same premise, that I’ve criticized Israel and that I supported the Palestinian cause. I will continue to do that. That inspires me more,” he concluded.
The Minister’s message about the war in the Middle East and great information about some things many people didn’t know stood out most to Spence Harris-El, Grand Sheik of the Moorish Science Temple of America’s Temple #43 in Clinton Township, Michigan.
He shared that he appreciated the information the Minister presented about the atrocities taking place in Gaza. “I was really impressed to have that information and to know that those Palestinians are our brothers and that we should always feel their pain. I just really appreciated having that knowledge,” said Mr. Harris-El.
Raymond Spears, a member of Prince Hall St. Mary’s Lodge in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was glad he attended with his wife, Nicole, as guests of Student Minister Troy Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque No. 1 in Detroit.
“I appreciate it and I’m going to keep following and do the work,” he stated. “What stood out most about the Minister’s Message was his guidance on speaking up when people see something’s wrong. If we see what’s going on then we need to fix it, because we’re going to be the problem and we don’t want to be that. We want to be the change,” said Mr. Spears.
“Today’s Saviours’ Day speech shows that Minister Farrakhan is in great health. He’s as lucid, effective and literate as ever and I greatly appreciate the message he delivered today, particularly the economic message about usury and debt and the deleterious effect it has on Black people and all people, which the Minister emphasized today. And it’s great to see him in the condition that he is at age 90 and that has to be due to God’s blessing on him,” stated Michael Hoffman, an expert on the Jewish Babylonian Talmud. He attended Saviours’ Day with his wife Betty.
Mr. Hoffman stated, specifically regarding the Minister’s message about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “I think that he’s pointing out that Netanyahu’s days are numbered because he’s a war criminal and God will deal with him in that way. And at the same time, he’s pointing out to the Judaic people that they need to separate from Netanyahu and follow the path of righteousness.”
Dewaun Robinson of Flint, Michigan has attended the last five Saviours’ Day conventions. He’s a community advocate who does work in Detroit and is a big fan of what Minister Farrakhan brings, especially when he talks about galvanizing Black and oppressed people, he said. But also, “just the message to the Nation and of us just coming together, being strong about our efforts to protect our brothers and sisters in Palestine, and also the young brothers coming up being a part of the mission and moving forward,” stated Mr. Robinson.
“I’m inspired to continue to do the work, not only in my local community but throughout the international spaces that I carry out work into and just try to be a positive impact on Black people across the world,” he added.
The Minister’s passion and urge to not be scared and follow through on what needs to be done resonated heavily, Mr. Robinson continued. “We’re all going to die one day. … We just want to make sure that we leave a mark and not a stain,” added Mr. Robinson.
Robert Olive, president and founder of the International MLK League of Community Leaders is from Detroit and is a great friend of Student Minister Troy Muhammad. He told The Final Call that what Minister Farrakhan teaches has been a light to his life and has helped shape and mold the way he moves in life.
“I most definitely had to come out and support this most joyous moment amongst family for all of us to come together in unity, on one accord, not in God’s house, per se, but God’s house at the moment because the man of God was here in the house,” Mr. Olive said.
“I was amazed by our dear leader, brother, 90 years young, to be able to stand that long, speaking the truth. And that just reflects his love that he’s been showing us over all these years, his consistency that he’s been showing us over all these years, his sacrifice that he’s been showing us over all these years. I’m very honored to know that the man of God, our leader, our teacher, our brother, our friend is still standing strong, representing God is God, and giving us all hope for tomorrow.”
Mayor Daniel Mahoney of Jackson, Michigan received an invitation to Saviours’ Day from the Michigan Black Mayors Association through Mayor Marcus Muhammad of Benton Harbor, Michigan. He explained that he was struck by so many things that the Minister said including his ability to speak truth to power and the love that he has for the Black community and Black people.
“Just everything! I’m almost at a loss [for] words, right now,” said Mayor Mahoney. He found the Minister’s words about Mr. Netanyahu very eye-opening and explained that much of the information he provided in this message gave him a lot to think about.
When Mayor Mahoney was asked what he was taking back to his city? “To not be afraid,” he responded.
“Certainly, I think it was a watershed moment for the Nation, for the world, what the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan revealed to us what was given to him by the Great Mahdi and the Great Messiah,” stated Mayor Marcus Muhammad.
“He made it crystal clear that the policies and the way that the international foreign policy of America as well as Israel has brought it to peril’s door. So, it’s important that we all heed the message and as he said, be in obedience to Allah (God),” he said.
Hip-hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh also thought Minister Farrakhan’s message was very powerful and clarified the motivation and participation of unseen people and things on issues happening around the world.
“It was like going to a master class and getting educated on what you see is the war, but behind the war, there’s so many links,” he told The Final Call.
The road to hearing the Minister at Saviours’ Day started with several social media posts. “Farmer Courtney,” is a digital content creator and promoted the Minister’s speech on her Instagram account @farmercourtney. “Farmer Courtney” who is a White woman posted, “What A Friend We Have in the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan!!!”
“I understood that the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught a universal teaching which explained the root cause of the biggest problems that the world faces today because there is one still among us who represents him. I am speaking of none other than Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, the beloved teacher, leader and guide to millions of people within the human family.”
She was one of the fortunate thousands who were able to get a seat at Detroit’s sold-out Huntington Place. After the message “Farmer Courtney” posted, “Thank you to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the entire Nation of Islam for a phenomenal Saviours’ Day experience.”
“Your dedication, discipline and determination and divine leadership shined brightly through for a truly out of this world weekend for which I’m so grateful to have been permitted to attend.
I never imagined myself traveling far and wide across the globe, but I sure have longed to come here to Detroit, MI and set foot where it all began.” #NationofIslam #happysavioursday #NOI.
While thousands were able to get a seat to hear Minister Farrakhan, countless others experienced his powerful and divinely guided message online via social media. It’s the community where people can post, get a response and engage with others in the audience in real-time as they tuned in. If you weren’t in the audience or couldn’t watch at noi.org, social media was the go-to place to hear significant quotes, read what happened, when it happened and how people felt about it. This is the community that demolishes the stereotype that the Minister’s appeal is relegated to the members of the Nation of Islam, the responses on social media show his universal appeal.
Divine Candy @_ohmyallah shared with her followers’ many excerpts from the Minister’s speech, “As long as we are pleasing to God, do not fear what men can do. Fear what God can do and is doing as we speak.” She also shared the books the Minister is reading and encouraged others to read, “Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations and “The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation.”
People watching live and responding in real-time were encouraged by Brother Abdul Qiyam Muhammad, who is the Minister’s social media manager, to use the hashtags #Farrakhan and #SD2024 so their comments could be tracked. There were so many comments from around the world that were mentioned at a greater rate than other comments about other things that the Minister’s speech became a “trending topic.”
@Brotherqiyam shared the Minister’s warning, “You better listen. You better wake up because what you see happening over there (The Middle East) is being planned over here.”
Many responders were moved by certain things Minister Farrakhan shared during his message. They posted and shared his quotes as a reminder to some and news for others.
Kenetta @iamkenetta wrote, “Your life belongs to the God, who gave it to you! @LouisFarrakhan #Farrakhan #sd2024
Others shared the boldness of the Minister’s message.
King Cam @brotherkingcam wrote, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” -The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan #SD2024 #Farrakhan #BrotherKingCam”
