[Editor’s Note: This article is a reprint that was published online on Nov. 2, 2017.]
Those who give us pain may be good or bad persons. They may have done what they did intentionally or unintentionally. All of this is important. But what is infinitely more important is the intention of God in permitting the test; in permitting the trial; in permitting the trouble, the distress, and the pain. Let us remember that the “problem” could not be if Almighty God had not allowed it to be.
And so, when we are in such predicaments, or conditions, of being tested or tried, the question we must raise is: why? And we must be careful in why we raise this why and in how we raise it. If indeed Allah is the ultimate source of the test, in the sense that He permitted it, we must go to Him in the proper spirit in order to gain the understanding of His why? We must seek to understand His way in the proper spirit and with an intention that approaches His purpose.
If we seek Him, with a humble mind/spirit, He will provide us with insight that we could not gain in any other way.
Insight, along with such terms as discernment; discrimination; perception; penetration and acumen, all mean the mental power to see what is not evident. Everyone has insight to some degree; some more than others. Insight suggests depth of discernment coupled with a sympathetic understanding.
Insight can refer to an instance in which one apprehends the true nature of whoever or whatever is the focus of one’s attention, through a kind of an intuitive understanding.
The 11th chapter of the Book of Isaiah, verses 24, contains a description of some of the mental qualities of the Messiah (or the Christ), whom God would raise in the last days of this world. Among the qualities mentioned is the profoundest insight, initiated by the spirit of God into the self.
In the 5th chapter of Hebrews, we learn that the Messiah is called God’s son—in the sense that God fathered his spirit and character, when He found him and raised him from the dead. This son became just like his Father (God)—perfect. However, he had to learn obedience through the things he suffered. He handled suffering properly, even though that is never easy. He thus became the perfect model of how to go to, approach, or become like God.
Followers of the Messiah can approach, in quality, such in sight, which results in, over time, the ability to see and hear more and more as God does. However, the qualities of divinity, such as divine insight, cannot be grown in us unless we grow in obedience to Him. Obedience to Him puts us in tune with Him and the best in our nature, which is His nature. How can it be any other way if we are directly from Him? Insight from Him is the best and contains no illusions.
We ought to take note of the Psalms, which are said to contain many of David’s prayers, or communications with God which were originally private. In November 1961, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad was asked if it was true that reading Psalms one was reading his heart. In a very interesting way, he confirmed that this was so.
Now, if this “son” is the Honorable Elijah Muhammad—and he is—then the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is indeed providing us an example of this divinely prescribed pattern of development as he strives to follow—and has become like—his spiritual father and teacher.
There is no question that the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s tasks are the same, in many respects as that of his teacher. He is sharing some of the “burden” of his teacher, which his teacher told him he would put on him in the early 1970s. This includes taking the weight of insult, scorn, mockery, slander, misunderstanding, while at the same time working himself—without bitterness—all but to the point of death, to enlighten and help save the very people who give him hell, day and night!
The painful situations and circumstances he has experienced are heart rending. Nevertheless, like his teacher he keeps on keeping on.
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I was there to witness the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan deliver a momentous address in Newark, NJ, on October 15, 2017 at the Newark Symphony Hall.
As I sat and studied over his words, among the things that came to my mind were words that the Honorable Elijah Muhammad once told me. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said to me that some things must happen so that other things can happen.
Please get and study carefully his words that he spoke on October 15th. That event was/is very critical! I intend to write more fully on this event, next article, Allah willing.
What exactly is happening to America even as I type these words? What is happening to the Black man and women of America? What about our indigenous Brothers and Sisters?
As I mentioned two articles ago, America must bow to the wisdom of a Black man; to humble her. But, do not take bowing or submitting to the wisdom of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad through his Minister, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, as disgrace! Take it as a blessing; for that is what he represents and more!
More next issue, Allah willing.
