ST. LOUIS—In a weekend marked by inspiration and unity, members of Muhammad Mosque No. 28 were graced with a visit from Nation of Islam Shura Executive Council member and Student National Imam Sultan R. Muhammad, December 19-21. Student Imam Sultan, who is also a great-grandson of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, delivered a powerful message centered on love, nationhood and right guidance, leaving a lasting impact on the St. Louis Muslim community.
The three-day gathering of events began with Jum’uah (Friday congregational) prayer service held in the masalla (prayer hall) at Mosque No. 28. For the students of Muhammad Islamic Academy, who typically view Student Imam Sultan’s live webcast from Chicago, the in-person experience was a source of immense joy. Their faces, filled with pure delight, reflected their intensive focus on every word from the imam.
Two students shared their thoughts with The Final Call. “I was really paying attention to the lessons today,” said 12-year-old Brother Yusef Mujahid. “The lesson I learned is that Christians and Muslims should not be divided over religion. I love Islam because I feel it’s my natural religion to be in,” he said.
Sister Fahima Muhammad, 9, added, “We watch him every Friday for Jumu’ah and it was really good to meet him. I was excited to be here.”
During his kutbah (message), Student Imam Sultan emphasized the profound meaning behind the six words taught and given by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad: “Accept your own and be yourself.”
“This connects us not only to the Muslim world, but it connects us to the origin of our nature, which goes beyond religion into a new reality the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan have been preparing us for,” he told the brothers and sisters gathered. He described this new reality as “a new heaven and a new earth, a new political system and an entirely new people,” founded on the principles of Freedom, Justice, and Equality, as represented by the Nation of Islam’s flag.
He also stressed the importance of introspection and self-improvement. “We have to look first within ourselves and ask some very hard questions about our progress and our intentions and we have to recommit ourselves to perfecting our character,” he urged.
He cautioned against falling into empty rituals, a common pitfall in the old world of religion. “As sororities, fraternities and organizations have slogans, regalia, pins and identifiers, what are the true identifiers of a Muslim?” he asked. “It is a transformed character in the image of God Himself.”
He continued, “If we can look in the mirror and say, ‘I love you and I am satisfied with you as a servant of The Most High,’ then we are on the right track of the self-accusing spirit that will take us into the heavens that we have been promised. A heaven here, after we have purified the heart, the self and the earth of the evils within and without.”
On Saturday evening, Dec. 20, the spirit of community was further strengthened as nearly 80 people gathered for dinner and conversation in the lower level of the mosque. During this event, Student Imam Sultan introduced the Table Talks Project, a collection of intimate recordings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s informal discussions with dinner guests. These recordings, archived by Student Imam Sultan’s father, also named Sultan, offer a rare glimpse into the personality and wisdom of the Eternal Leader of the Nation of Islam.
As excerpts from the recordings were played, a reverent silence filled the room and tears fell from the faces of many as they heard the voice of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad.
Student Imam Sultan explained the deeply personal and educational significance of these recordings, stating, “For the nation baby, those born in the Nation of Islam, for me what made me accept my own and be myself was the Table Talks. It gave me an insight into the Teachings in a way I did not have and it was also early education in Islam, so I could view Islam in a way to understand that Islam is not a religion. It is a way of life.”
He emphasized the importance of a consistent focus of conversations based on The Supreme Wisdom Lessons—and its practical implementation. “We have to get back to our studies of our Lessons,” he stated.
The Table Talks recordings, spanning hundreds of hours, were carefully preserved and made available through Student Imam Sultan’s dedicated efforts to bring this invaluable resource to light. As an early Saviours’ day Gift, everyone present received a copy of the second volume of the Table Talks, along with a QR code to access the online subscription, furthering the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s desire to see these talks shared with the world.
The weekend concluded on Dec. 21, with a powerful call to action in a lecture titled, “Accept Your Own and Be Yourself.” The sanctuary was filled to capacity and the audience’s appreciation was evident through numerous rounds of applause and bearing of witness. With a tone both direct and gentle, the Student Imam Sultan spoke of the importance of self-sufficiency and ownership.
“When you can steal away from that plantation and have something for your own, this Teaching gives you your own, something that can help you or another person,” he said.
The message resonated deeply with the attendees, especially the youth. “The message was very inspiring and well-spoken and needed for us, especially young people,” said Bro. Bryant Moore, 26. “I really enjoyed his message.”
Bro. Garrion Hayden, 23, added, “I liked the part about having ownership and having substance, that moved me. And the part about what’s happening in other countries and how we must be prepared when it comes here.”
Sis. Atiera Muhammad of St. Louis reflected on the cultural richness of the weekend of events. “We were very blessed to have his presence and it was enriching to hear all the Arabic and the different phrases we were introduced to.”
In his powerful and moving closing remarks, Student Imam Sultan Muhammad reiterated the theme of unity, quoting the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad: “We are not an organization, we are a world!” He declared, our brothers and sisters in Islam, Christianity, and those who are Hebrew, we are one. The Qur’an comes to seal our relationship as a family by revealing to us the Nature of Allah (God), in which we are Created. Allahu-Akbar (God is the Greatest).”
For more information on the Table Talks Project, visit www.tabletalks.org.