“And why was there not a town which believed, so that their belief should have benefited them, but the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in this world’s life, and We gave them provision for a while.” —Holy Qur’an, Chapter 10, Verse 98, Maulana Muhammad Ali translation
The Nation of Islam Saviours’ Day usually concludes with a keynote address from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. This year there was a different speaker and a very poignant message.
His National Assistant Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, son of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, delivered words given to him from Minister Farrakhan.
Over the past year, Minister Farrakhan has not spoken at the instruction of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, observed Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad.
We have seen Minister Farrakhan as a lovely song but haven’t acted on the words he taught, Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad continued. “Death is at the door now,” he said. The world is in a critical hour, he noted, delving into the subject Minister Farrakhan gave him:
“Repent, For The Kingdom Of God Is At Hand.” God is trying to save us from ourselves and what we have brought on ourselves, the punishment and wrath of God, Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad continued, in his Feb. 23 remarks.
Allah (God) says in the Holy Qur’an, the book of scripture of the Muslims, that if He were to punish humanity for their sins, not a single soul would be left alive on the earth.
Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad spoke from the packed sanctuary of Mosque Maryam. Thousands more listened in a huge temporary structure on the Nation of Islam property and overflow facilities on the grounds of The National Center, headquarters of the Nation of Islam.
When the people are off course, Allah (God) seizes them with distress and affliction that they might change and, out of His mercy, offers a grace period to allow them to change, he explained.
The world is being wracked by upheaval, unprecedented and deadly weather and crises, which is part of God urging change, Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad said. God does not want to kill us, he added.
God offers us a grace period but when we have not taken advantage of that “grace period,” penalties accrue, he explained. “The grace period is up for us to correct our behavior confess our faults turn from our wicked ways and seek God’s forgiveness.” Next comes the consequences of our own actions, he warned.
Our focus must be on changing ourselves, not focusing on wrongs we perceive in others, he added.
The message was not just for common people. It was for leaders of governments and the nations of the earth. President Trump, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and global leaders are going to have to bow to the divine Supreme Being, Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad said.
He spoke directly to Mr. Trump: “You can’t succeed the way you’re going, you’re full of yourself.” Mr. Trump, you must turn to God for protection from your faults because all are subject to the law of cause and effect, and none can hide from God, Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad warned.
Jonah was a miracle among the prophets because Ninevah, the rich and strategic city he was told to warn, was saved. The king came out in sackcloth and ashes and the entire city repented.
Before Jonah’s success, he ran away from his mission and was asleep on board a ship as a severe storm raged. Jonah confessed he was responsible for the storm and was running from God, said Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad.
The crew and captain reluctantly threw him overboard. Jonah was swallowed by a whale but after three days was released and went on to complete his mission to Ninevah.
“This nation is like a big ship and a storm is happening but we’re asleep, in the mancave, getting tipsy as the whole world is being rocked and God is rocking nations and countries, the Hon. Elijah Muhammad said the worst is yet to come,” said Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad.
The worst is yet to come? Yes. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has been warning our people and the world to turn from evil and turn to Allah (God) for some 70 years.
His message given to Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad is a touchstone message in the history of Minister Farrakhan’s ministry, our people and the world. We must change and change now.
When we grow more and more recalcitrant in our sinful rebellion, we hasten God’s wrath against us. Our failure to submit brings us face to face with death.
