by Toure Muhammad, Eric Ture Muhammad and J.A. Salaam
The Final Call @TheFinalCall
CHICAGO—Family members, friends, colleagues and members of the Nation of Islam gathered at Mosque Maryam on June 21 for the Janazah (Islamic funeral service) of Brother Naba’a Muhammad.
The beloved Final Call Editor-in-Chief, award-winning journalist, author, podcaster, and consummate communications professional, passed away on June 6 at the age of 63.
Hundreds gathered from across the country, with many more viewing the Janazah service online.
After the opening prayer and remarks from Student Minister Jeffrey Muhammad, Brother Naba’a’s six children: Bro. Richard, Bro. Emmanuel, Sis. Kopano, Bro. Kabelo, Bro. Karabo and Sis. Kamohelo stood together to read the obituary, highlighting their father’s vast accomplishments and his service to his family, profession, and the Black community.
Next, words of comfort were provided by National Assistant to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad.
“We extend to the family once again from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, from the Shura Executive Council and from your extended family, the Nation of Islam, our deepest condolences. We are deeply saddened and mourn the loss of our brother.
We feel your loss, we share in your loss of not just a brother, a father, a grandfather, an uncle, a friend, and a great soldier and devoted, dedicated follower of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad under the leadership of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Brother Naba’a Muhammad,” Student Min. Ishmael began.
He explained that peace with (Allah) God is acceptance of His Will as Allah (God) is the giver of life and the ultimate cause of death. According to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, we die according to our living, Student Min. Ishmael continued.
“Now knowing that should cause us to reflect on our life, reflect on our living, so that our living is not in vain. Treating each other as we should, so we have no regrets and grief when that person is no longer with us.”
He praised Bro. Naba’a for his duty and service to the Nation of Islam, The Final Call and Black people.
“He served a cause bigger than himself,” said Student Min. Ishmael. “He was one of the most dedicated believers that I have been blessed to know. And from what I know of him personally, our brother made good on his vows:
‘My prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds,’” he said, reciting words from the Holy Qur’an, the Islamic book of scripture.
“He kept working the Will of God to his final breath. He leaves us such a wonderful example of duty. Brother Naba’a helped the publisher of peace, God’s servant, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, with the greatest newspaper of truth on our planet, The Final Call.
He was a prolific writer. And, he did an exceptional, outstanding job with our paper. So, we are grateful. We are thankful,” said Student Min. Ishmael.
Following words of comfort, the Salaat al-Janazah (prayer) was conducted by Student National Imam Sultan Rahman Muhammad and Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad. The prayers were recited in Arabic and English.
In tribute to Brother Naba’a’s life of service, an final official salute was performed by the Fruit of Islam, who served as pallbearers dressed in blue F.O.I. uniforms and wearing white gloves, led by Student Assistant Supreme Captain Abdul Azziz Muhammad, and also performed by the congregation.
Immediately following the prayer service, his body was laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery on Chicago’s South Side. His family and members of the Nation of Islam each took part in shoveling dirt into his final resting place in a final, solemn tribute.
Afterwards, a repast was held at Muhammad University of Islam, where family members, friends and the Nation of Islam community fellowshipped while a slide presentation played, highlighting special moments from Bro. Nabaa’s life.
His family was seated at the head table and personally served a specially prepared meal by the M.G.T. and G.C.C., the women of the Nation of Islam.
Two memorable moments at the repast came when both of Bro. Naba’a’s daughters showcased their talents: the youngest, Sis. Kamohelo, read a heartfelt poem, and the eldest, Sis. Kopano, sang a song she had recorded three days before her father’s passing. There was also a beautiful portrait on display, drawn by Sis. Kamohelo of her father.
“My dad had unconditional love. He always wanted the truth without judgment and always wanted the best for us, not his best, but what the best meant to us for ourselves,” said Sis. Kamohelo.
“‘Your word is your bond.’” These were the four words my father always stressed to me,” said Sis. Kopano. She added, “My father is the most intelligent person I know. He understood the power of news and how it empowers people.
He knew we must take charge of our own narratives because media can shape not just the story, but people’s minds. He taught me the meaning of hard work. He was a historian, a compassionate and loving man.
Many times I cried in my father’s arms, and the compassion he gave me lifted the burden from my shoulders. His words, his silence, his touch, he was a beautiful man. That’s love,” said Sis. Kopano.
Bro. Karabo Muhammad, the youngest son of Brother Naba’a, is following in his father’s footsteps, traveling the world. “I think my father was a man of honesty, integrity, exploration, and curiosity. I just came back from Japan, and before I left, I had a great conversation with him.
I also went to boarding school in high school, which was a hard moment for him, because it meant time away, and we couldn’t see each other as often. But he always encouraged me to see the world because, in his eyes, the whole world belonged to the Black man,” said Bro. Karabo.
“It was a privilege for me to experience so many parts of the world. My father always encouraged that. Throughout his work, he went to Ferguson, to Africa and so many different places to gain a global perspective.
That’s what stuck with me: always learn. Because at the end of the day, it was his pursuit of knowledge. He wanted to learn more and be better,” said Bro. Karabo.
Others shared some of their fondest memories with The Final Call on the life and legacy of Bro. Naba’a. His niece, Deshawna Brown, from Baltimore, daughter of his brother, Sean Bryant, also from Baltimore, spoke of how her uncle was dedicated to preserving the history and accomplishments of their family. “He preserved our family legacy.
Anytime there was a family event or one of us children achieved something great, he kept a record of it because we are descendants of Auntie Mattie (Bro. Naba’a’s mother). He was the record keeper. He made sure everyone’s accomplishments were recognized and memorialized,” she said.
For those who knew and worked with Bro. Naba’a, his impact is everlasting.
“First and foremost, we thank Almighty Allah, Who came in the Person of Master Fard Muhammad, and His Exalted Christ, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and Their Messiah, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
They gave me the privilege to work with such a wonderful brother, friend, and companion in the struggle,” said Student Min. Abdul Arif Muhammad, N.O.I. General Counsel and member of the Shura Executive Council. He also previously served as the General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of The Final Call.
Student Min. Arif spoke of their shared roots and unique bond: “Brother Naba’a and I had a unique relationship. We were both born in Baltimore, Maryland, and our birth anniversaries are one day apart.
I have known him since his days in D.C., when I saw him come into Mosque No. 4. As we talked, I learned that he was a journalist,” Student Min. Arif continued. “At that time Brother Naba’a had pursued other opportunities.”
He, said “based upon the guidance and direction of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, I met with Brother Naba’a to see if he would return to help again with the Final Call newspaper.”
While serving at The Final Call, Student Min. Arif credited Brother Naba’a for continuing the tradition of great editors-in-chief: “Though I was editor-in-chief and general manager at the time Brother Naba’a returned, I didn’t have the journalistic skills he possessed. He brought a new energy. His passion, directness, and fearlessness were assets. He was hard-driving and wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Final Call Contributing Writer, Bro. Toure Muhammad said that Bro. Naba’a was his first teacher and mentor in journalism. “I came out of Morehouse College with A’s and B’s on my journalism assignments, but not having any real-world experience,” recalled Bro. Toure.
“He whipped me into shape like he’s done so many journalists who have come through and that are still at The Final Call newspaper. “His tenacity and desire and focus on making sure that we wrote with excellence and wrote good stories that would help to uplift and inspire and advocate for our community,” was his passion, he noted.
“His impact is going to be in the continuation of The Final Call newspaper. He’s come in a powerful line of mighty editors of The Final Call newspaper, and the Muhammad Speaks who have been putting this paper out consistently to make sure that our people can get the message and that the Fruit of Islam would continue to have a tool to get out there, to get the people with, and he stayed passionate about that.”
Final Call Contributing Writer and columnist of Africa Watch, Bro. Jehron Muhammad, was also a longtime friend of Bro. Naba’a. “He never stopped talking about work and what he was doing to move things forward.
We talked extensively, in between the health issues, all the other issues that you’re faced with growing up and living in this place called America. He always talked about the work, always talked about The Final Call and its importance,” said Bro. Jehron.
“He was a very close friend. He inspired young people. He would always talk to not only the parents, but the young people of the parents, and always ask them what they planned on doing with their futures and those that were interested in becoming journalists, you know, he would always encourage them. He was just the kind of brother that you couldn’t be around and not be encouraged.”
Eastern Regional Protocol Director Daleel Jabril Muhammad, who also contributes articles to The Final Call, agreed. “Bro. Naba’a encouraged people to be better, and in following the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, he was really uncompromising.
I loved that about my brother. He’s going to be missed, surely missed and I pray that his legacy lives on to all of us that he did touch, because he touched me in such a way that I want to carry on the legacy and the spirit,” said Bro. Daleel.
Bro. J.A. Salaam worked with Bro. Naba’a in 2014 in the aftermath of the uprisings in Ferguson, Missouri, following the police killing of Mike Brown Jr. Bro. Salaam was not a reporter or journalist but was with Bro. Naba’a day and night over several days, helping to cover the uprisings for The Final Call with his brother’s coaching and tutelage.
“Brother, Naba’a was to me in three words: he was a brother, he was a mentor, and he was a friend. He taught me what journalism is. He protected me from being caught up in my emotions.
He was very passionate about this mission, but he helped me to control my emotions when I was out in the field and covering major events, primarily in the police brutality cases from George Floyd, Mike Brown, Philando Castile and Alton Sterling and a host of others across the country.
He said these words to me, ‘Brother, you have to make a decision if you’re going to be a protester or a journalist.’ And those words stuck with me because he said, if you were ever caught on the other side, you could never be a journalist again,” he said.
“Those words stuck with me so no matter how emotional or how angry I became, brother Naba’a taught me how to control that and how to be a good journalist.”
Bro. Naba’a’s longtime executive secretary, Sis. Marcella A. X, was one of a small team of people who helped care for him during his illness. “I thank Allah (God), the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, the Shura Executive Council and Final Call General Manager Abdul Rasul Muhammad for blessing me with the opportunity to assist our dear brother over the years.
He was a friend of God,” she said, referencing words by the Honorable Minister Farrakhan in a statement about his editor’s passing. “May Allah continue to bless and strengthen his children and family in these days ahead,” she said.