Reflections on the 92nd birth anniversary of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan
What a blessing it is to behold the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan on his 92nd birth anniversary! On behalf of a grateful Nation of Islam, we thank Allah (God) for his beloved mother, Sumayyah Farrakhan, formerly Sarah Mae Manning; and we thank Allah for his father, Percival Clark.
They are Minister Farrakhan’s biological parents, but as time and circumstances unfold, we see more and more every day that Minister Farrakhan is “God’s Child.”
As we contemplate the life history of our beloved Minister, it becomes clear that his life is a life that Allah (God) has ordained and anointed. Minister Farrakhan is a special man who has been raised among a special people.
And both Minister Farrakhan and the Black people of America have been anointed by Allah (God) to fulfill a divine destiny within the unfolding and realization of Allah’s (God’s) plan for the world.
Throughout the years of the close teacher-student relationship between the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, there are several statements and declarations made by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad about his special and anointed National Representative.
These important statements help to show forth the view of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad that His Minister—Louis Farrakhan, was and is the best Minister that Allah (God) had ever given to Him.
Below are just a few examples of what the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad said about the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
In the Table Talks Project, which are audio recordings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad compiled by His great-grandson, Nation of Islam Student National Imam Sultan Rahman Muhammad, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad says, Minister Farrakhan is His best helper. In the transcripts of volume one, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad says of his Minister:
“Allah couldn’t have given me a better helper… They can’t help but to follow a man like that! Got the whole big city New York all stirred up! …
“If I was all the other Ministers, I’d take pattern [after him].
Like the Disciples did Paul. Paul was one of the greatest preachers the Disciples had. Well, he wasn’t one of the Disciples, but he came up and beat all the other disciples … .”
In the Table Talks Project, the following dialogue between the teacher and His student was also captured in which the Honorable Elijah Muhammad states that Minister Farrakhan “puts everything in its proper place.”
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad (THEM): “Well, my Brother Minister [Farrakhan], you’ve got-a lot-of-things lined up in the right and the most best way.”
Minister Louis Farrakhan (MLF): “Thank you, Dear Apostle.”
THEM: “I love to see you wise because that gives me pleasure because I’m your teacher … and I made such wise ministers.”
Group of Ministers: “Yes, Sir!”
THEM: “So when I see you acting and speaking wise I have rejoice in my heart. I say this is the ONE (i.e. the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan) the world can’t bother. I want to prove to Satan that my minister is a greater light to the world of man than you and your world’s man—the whole of them.”
MLF: “Yes sir. Bless you Dear Apostle.”
THEM: “It’s wonderful”
Below is a recording from the transcript of volume two:
THEM: “Well, that’s what I’m saying I can sit here and listen to you (Minister Farrakhan) and then I can step back and smile. I just need you to be Paul, you know. Go ahead on and put it out just like you are doing.
You’ll put it out, sometimes I sit here—we all sit here and get a chance to listen at you, I listen at you brother, preaching Brother, and you’ll be surprised just to take a peek at the room through your spiritual eye and look at us. We enjoy it!”
MLF: “All praises due to Allah.”
THEM: “You [Minister Farrakhan] put everything in such proper place wherein it belongs. It’s beautiful! So we all is very happy over you, from Allah—that Allah made a helper.”
And during His “Theology of Time” lecture series in 1972, at Mosque No. 2 in Chicago, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad said the following about Minister Farrakhan:
“I want you to remember today I have one of my greatest teachers here. [Why you hiding behind the sycamore tree for, Brother? Come on ‘round here, up here where they can see you].
We have with us today, our great National Preacher. The preacher who don’t mind going into Harlem, New York, one of the most worst towns in our nation or city.
It is our brother in Detroit and Chicago, out of New York, but I want you to remember every week he’s on the air helping me to reach those people that I can’t get out of my house and go reach them, like he.”
During the “Theology of Time” the Honorable Elijah Muhammad also stated that Minister Farrakhan is full of Allah’s (God’s) Spirit.
“You know, Brother Farrakhan is a very good minister. He has been with us for a long time and he’s a man full of fire. The fire of the Holy Spirit of Allah. Wonderful minister, wonderful.”
Minister Farrakhan’s value to the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad must be acknowledged as the highest of honors conferred upon him. We should also give due reflection and appreciate the honorable position Minister Farrakhan holds in the Black community at large.
Over the last 70 years of his dedicated service and commitment to Allah (God) in the Person of Master Fard Muhammad, The Great Mahdi and the Mission of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad to resurrect the Black man and woman in America.
He has proven himself as a Divine and obedient servant. He is honored, admired, revered and respected even by people outside of the Nation of Islam.
Below are just a few examples of those who recognize the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan as one of the greatest teachers and guides of the Black man and woman.
“To a great extent, in other words, Farrakhan now is the black leadership—the cutting edge, the storm center, the presence against which others are measured.”—National Review Magazine
“The appearance of Louis Farrakhan at Madison Square Garden on October 7 demonstrated, without doubt that he is now America’s preeminent black leader.”—Julius Lester, journalist and critic
“Smart and super articulate, Minister Farrakhan is perhaps the best living example of a black man ready, willing and able to ‘tell it like it is’ regarding who is responsible for racism in this country …. every black person important enough to be interviewed is asked to condemn Minister Farrakhan… .”—Prof. Derrick Bell
“For the first time in African American history; a non-Christian leader is a significant, if not the significant leader within Black America.”—Professor Michael Eric Dyson
“I believe Minister Farrakhan is the most important Muslim leader in the world, who can best represent the concerns of the Islamic world to our government. I have spent countless hours with him.”—Jude Wanniski, advisor to President Ronald Reagan
Infamous FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover wrote that he was working to “prevent the rise of a messiah” among Black people. For a leading law enforcement official to invoke religious terminology within his descriptions of his counterintelligence program is strange. However, to those who have observed and witnessed Minister Farrakhan over the years, it is not so far-fetched.
“During his tenure and prior to the murder of Malcolm X, Director Hoover often spoke of the need for preventing the rise in this country of what he called ‘a Black Messiah.’ Today, Minister Farrakhan, in my opinion, would be so considered, placing him in great jeopardy,” stated famed attorney William Kunstler.
The personification of love
Far too often, examinations and analyses of Minister Farrakhan’s unique and phenomenal life fail to account for his sacred qualities. I would argue that these hidden aspects of Minister Farrakhan’s character need to be the leading considerations when his life, work and significance to Black people are weighed and measured.
So, I close this article with more candid, yet profound, testimonies from respected figures within Black America. Their testimonies help sum up the spiritual or sacred side of Minister Farrakhan’s messianic role and leadership of his people. The love he has demonstrated for Black people and humanity is immeasurable.
Here are just a few examples of the exemplary character of this divine servant and special human being.
“There is simply no Black person in the world that has—over so many years—been as consistent, as unrestricted, and as forthright in defending the humanity of Black people throughout the world against its attackers,” said Prof. Andre C. Willis.
“(Minister) Louis (Farrakhan) insisted on getting down on his hands and knees on the floor to take my shoes off. You know, I’m overweight, and it’s a difficult task to get shoes and socks off. And so, (Minister) Louis (Farrakhan) said, ‘I will do that.’
And I said, “No, no.’ And (Minister) Louis (Farrakhan) said, ‘No, I want to do it.’ He took my shoes off and rubbed my feet to get the blood circulating,” shared author and professor C. Eric Lincoln.
I argue that Minister Farrakhan is Black America’s Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd who has proven to be willing to lay down his life for his people!
The man who we are obligated to obey
I conclude with the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s words and actions that are instructive to us regarding his Chief Helper, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, from the Theology of Time Lecture Series.
“I want you to pay great attention to his preaching. His preaching is a bearing of witness to me and what God have given to me. This is one of the strongest national preachers that I have in the bounds of North America. Everywhere you hear him––listen to him.
Everywhere you see him––look at him. Everywhere he advise you to go––go. Everywhere he advise you to stay from––stay from. So, we’re thankful to Allah for this great helper of mine: Minister Farrakhan.
“He’s not a proud man. He’s a very humble man. If he can carry you across the lake without dumping you in, he don’t say when he get on the other side, ‘You see what I have done?’ He tell you to see what Allah has done. He don’t take it upon himself. He’s a mighty fine preacher. We hear him every week, and I say continue to hear our Minister Farrakhan.”
So, on May 11, 2025, we thank Allah for the gift of the life and work of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan; Muhammad’s greatest helper, who became the Black Man’s greatest teacher and who is still the personification of love.