by Zakiyyah Maryam Muhammad
DETROIT—During Saviours’ Day 2026 held in Detroit, the “Prayer: The #1 Pillar of Faith” workshop kindled the spirit of Ramadan, the Islamic Holy Month of prayer and fasting—inspiring believers to pick up their mantle of faith. Nearly 100 participants attended the workshop.
Panelists included Nation of Islam Student National Imam Sultan Rahman Muhammad, the great-grandson of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and a member of the Shura Executive Council;
Sister Rashida Muhammad, a student in the Ministry Class at Mosque Maryam in Chicago and Student Assistant Minister and Student Imam Abdul Aleem Ansari Muhammad of Mosque No. 45 in Houston. The session was moderated by Brother Robby X of Mosque No. 28 in St. Louis and Sister Qadirah Muhammad of the N.O.I. Tulsa, Oklahoma Study Group.
The panel began with an enlightening message from Imam Sultan on the meaning of prayer, known as “salah” in Arabic and the differences between salah and dua’a, and how prayer is meant to strengthen one’s connection to Allah (God).
“The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said all actions are judged by intention. If we brothers and sisters, are now in the process of preparing our mind for salah, we are now saying to Allah with every wash of the hand; ‘What did I do with my hands today?’
Keep thinking, ‘what have I done with my hands?’ Did I send a text? Did I send a letter that was of evil intention? What have I done with my hands? Have I stolen from my brother?”
He also provided information on the different positions and modes of prayer such as qiyam (standing). He highlighted how the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad followed the sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) in gradualism in the way He guided His followers in the observance of prayer and that “Al-Fatiha (the opening chapter of the Holy Qur’an) is the pillar of salah.”
Other pivotal points made included prayer as the purification of the heart, building of trust in Allah and the means of one’s spiritual advancement.
“The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan explained that prayer is important because it helps you to connect with the source outside of yourself that can feed that source within yourself. The source outside of you is akin to the divinity that is within you.
So, by prayer, you could connect with the source outside that feeds the source inside, then from the inside comes the development of the Kingdom of God, and that is why Jesus said, ‘the kingdom of God is within you,’” explained Student Min. Abdul Aleem Ansari.
Many Muslims who attended the workshop felt inspired to take their spiritual life to another level. Brother Karim and Sister Halimah Muhammad, a young, married Muslim couple from Mosque No. 93 Macon, Georgia, were among the attendees.
“The main reason why I came to the workshop is because I’m married and as the head of the household you should know how to pray. And I want to get a better understanding on prayer, as well as the work that we do as a whole in the community,” he said.
“There are a lot of young brothers that ask me about prayer because they get introduced to Islam and they don’t know or haven’t learned that the Nation of Islam prays as well.
So, they see it and they ask questions, so I want to be prepared to be able to answer the questions and help brothers when they’re first coming in and learning, as well as just a better understanding for myself,” said Brother Karim.
“It was very impactful for me. I have been struggling a bit in my prayer life as it pertains to making salah versus making dua. And it was very inspiring and impactful for me to be able to hear not only the knowledge that the panelists shared, but also the passion and spirit from which they communicated it. It really lifted my spirit as well. And I learned something new,” said Sister Halimah.
The workshop also included a salah demonstration by two young F.O.I. high school students of Muhammad University of Islam, Brother Daniel Muhammad and Brother Ahmad Muhammad. Both were acknowledged for successfully learning their prayers in Arabic and all the correct positions.
The Muslim Daily Prayers book by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad was published in 1957, which introduces new converts to the procedure of prayer.
Today, using modern technology, the Nation of Islam now has an app called “Islamic Sciences Courses,” containing a catalog of courses of study on the Muslim prayers and the study of Arabic. The courses are also available online via noi.org/prayer.