ATLANTA—For Brother Jay Muhammad of Washington, D.C., Family Day on Oct. 10 carried deep personal meaning. Having recently lost his mother, he was moved by the previous day’s Jumu’ah message about reconciliation and the importance of mothers.
Gathering with fellow Muslims gave him a chance to spend time with his spiritual family.
Brother Jay described the event as “bringing our Muslim family back together,” he told The Final Call.
Atlanta hosted Family Day as part of weekend events to mark the 31st Anniversary of the Million Man March and the Holy Day of Atonement. Rain forced organizers to move the outdoor event scheduled for Centennial Olympic Park to Hillside International Truth Center. The venue change did not dampen the spirit one bit.
Food vendors drew long lines. A mobile gaming truck and a play area provided activities for young people, while cultural performances included youth violinists, spoken word artists, rappers, a saxophonist and more. Bro. Jonathan Muhammad also played and sang Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky.”
Brother Joseph Lyons traveled from Ohio and stated, “The Nation of Islam has a lot of talent, and witnessing the performances was inspirational. I feel this kind of positivity should be taken around the world.”
Bishop Dr. Jack L. Bomar opened the gathering with a welcome. Student Minister Jamil Muhammad emceed the event. For Bishop Bomar, welcoming the believers of the Nation of Islam reflected a relationship that had continued beyond the passing of Hillside’s founder, Dr. Barbara Lewis King.
He expressed gratitude for the friendship and fellowship that had grown through his relationship with Nation of Islam Student Southern Regional Minister Abdul Sharrieff Muhammad of Mosque No. 15 in Atlanta.
“Enjoy your fellowship,” Bishop Bomar said, encouraging participants to connect, celebrate and “take some time to just share intimate moments.” He described Hillside as a place where people of faith and goodwill could find love and mutual respect while working to uplift the community. “Welcome home,” he said.
For Student Min. Jamil, seeing believers gather from different parts of the country after a difficult year, gave Family Day added meaning. “In times like these and with the difficult year that we have had as a Nation,” he said, “the gathering took on extra significance.”
He spoke of believers continuing to strive in the way of Islam and loving one another despite the challenges they faced. Supporting young people’s development through arts and culture was another important part of the occasion. Student Min. Jamil also valued the opportunity for believers simply to be together.
Sister Sharima Muhammad of Atlanta welcomed that opportunity. A relaxed setting offered something she said believers at times rarely have time to enjoy.
“Just seeing each other in a relaxed setting in the fellowship, you know, just seeing the believers, because we generally don’t get a chance to just be, and be family,” she said. “We are family, but we rarely, rarely get a chance to let your hair down and enjoy each other’s company.”
Food, music, shopping, and children’s activities gave families chances to enjoy that time together during the anniversary weekend.
Sister Dawn Muhammad from Charlotte had also been thinking about family since the previous day’s jumu’ah, the Muslim Friday congregational prayer service. Student National Imam Sultan Rahman Muhammad’s message about reconciliation and mothers “hit home” as she reflected on her life as a mother and her own mother.
“Being at Family Day was very special for me. My children got to see and meet other Muslim children. It was beautiful to see all the joy in their faces and the fun they had.”
Sister Qiyimah Carter, is from nearby Decatur. “Family Fun Day was refreshing, it was like being amongst blood family. It was really nice to see sisters that were like aunts to me while I was growing up, reconnecting with childhood friends, and just the peaceful energy I felt from everyone,” she said.
For Bro. Shaheed Muhammad of Memphis, the gathering’s significance rested in spiritual ties that extended beyond blood relationships. “The significance is that this family is not a flesh-and-blood family in a traditional sense,” he told The Final Call. “It is the family of Allah (God).”
Brother Shaheed emphasized the importance of family relationships as he described the bond believers share through their connection to their Lord. “Once we connect and become one with our Lord, as a community, then we are truly connected,” he said.
Family Day offered an opportunity to renew that connection. “We all need to reconnect,” Brother Shaheed said. “But we got to reconnect to the right source, and that is Allah.”
Contributing Writer Shawntell Muhammad contributed to this report.
Family Day
Abdul Wahid Muhammad and on the far right, Sister Paulette Muhammad with longtime Nation of Islam pioneer Minister Abdul Bey Muhammad, enjoyed the program with other believers and guests.
