by Brother Sami
We thank Allah for blessing us on October 23with the opportunity to come together in the spirit of love and unity to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Million Man March and Holy Day of Atonement.
October 16, 1995, is when the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan called for a Million Black men and nearly two million showed up in Washington, D.C.
We opened our Holy Day of Atonement event with prayer, led by Brother Deshawn, who then introduced Brother Ansar, the N.O.I. Inmate Study Group Coordinator here at Lancaster State Prison in Lancaster, California.
He shared with the men gathered that, “It was Almighty (God) Allah who made the call for a million men through the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.” He also said that “our beloved Minister was and is the blessed vessel that Allah has chosen during this hour.”
“Though it was the largest and most peaceful and organized gathering of Black people in the history of this country, yet, it is not recognized and commemorated in the history books, television documentaries and so forth, as some of the lesser-known Black celebrated and talked about events,” Brother Ansar shared.
He then walked us through The Eight Steps of Atonement given by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. All in attendance then repeated out loud (in unison) The Million Man March Pledge that was shared 30 years ago at the Million Man March. All Praise is due to Allah!
Next, Brother Ansar, handed out two “Mighty F.O.I. Helper’s Awards.” One to his longtime assistant, this writer, Brother Sami, who is currently going through cancer treatment and another to Brother Billy X of the Antelope Valley.
Who has been very active and helpful with the N.O.I. Prison Reform Ministry. Brother Billy X introduced the keynote speaker, Brother Landon X, the Student Assistant Minister of Mosque No. 27 in Los Angeles.
Brother Landon extended the love and greetings from the Western Regional Student Minister Abdul Malik Sayyid Muhammad. He then proceeded to serve up the spiritual feast of the word of Almighty (God) Allah.
He referenced Matthew 25:35-40 in the Bible and explained that those who claim to be followers of the modern-day Jesus had a duty to go into the prisons and minister to the prisoners.
Our brother was just warming up. He spoke about Master Fard Muhammad and how Jesus came to be an example and not to be worshipped—and to serve as an example of how a redeemed Black man should be.
Brother Landon shared a Hadith (saying of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) that describes how, through righteous deeds, our eyes, hands, feet, and mouths become Allah’s and that we become one (Ahad) with Allah.
Our brother went on to share how Allah in the Person of Master Fard Muhammad, upon appearing to Black people in North America July 4, 1930, referred to us as His Uncle and He had traveled 9,000 miles by Himself, but not for Himself.
Our brother used the scriptural parable, “He prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” He related this to the work of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad as being the table that was prepared right in the devil’s midst. The knowledge that Allah put in the head of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad would overflow so that we could all partake, he explained.
Brother Landon went on to explain that no one else could claim the Honorable Elijah Muhammad was taught by them because the Honorable Elijah Muhammad did not attend their institutions of learning.
He only went to the 4th grade, yet he could set down the most learned of this world’s scholars and confound them with His Teachings and the knowledge that He proclaimed to the world that He received directly from Allah (God) Himself, in The Person of Master Fard Muhammad.
May Allah continue to bless us all with the light of understanding. As-Salaam Alaikum!