[Editor’s Note: This article is a reprint that was published on November 5, 2002; and The Final Call will continue to publish articles by our late and dear Mother Tynnetta Muhammad.]
“Surely Allah will make those who believe and do good deeds enter Gardens wherein flow rivers-they are adorned therein with bracelets of gold and (with) pearls. And their garments therein are of silk.” –Holy Qur’an, Surah 22, verse 23
In our Spiritual Journey to God, we are faced with great difficulties of overcoming the impediments of the smaller self or ego that ofttimes gets in the way of our greater Self which is the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within. Ofttimes people, places and things, times and events scatter our attention or focus on the real journey which is to manifest the Reality of God in our lives. This inherent weakness of the human condition, wrought with difficulties, is the challenge that produces trials for us.
In describing the Pilgrimage and our needful acts of purification with the fulfillment of our vows in going around the Ancient House of the Kabah at Mecca, we are also asked to shun the filth of idols and to shun false words. Thus we read: “Being upright for Allah, not associating aught with Him. And whoever associates (aught) with Allah, it is as if he had fallen from on high, then the birds had snatched him away, or the wind had carried him off to a distant place.” –Surah 22, verse 31
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad stated that the Holy Qur’an is our Book, even though it was late coming to us. It was late coming to us because we had been snatched away from our Original Land and People, with a westward wind that had intervened and carried us off on a westward course to this distant land of America. We were left in such a wretched and helpless condition, being deprived of life, that when the Great Master came to retrieve us, beginning in the early 1930’s, He stated that our own people didn’t even know that we were here going back 60 years from the time of His first Appearance.
Now, today, the world is becoming more and more aware of our presence by his Raising from the Dead, His first fruit or convert, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, who in turn raised his first real convert or fruit in the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan some forty years later. “That (shall be so). And whoever respects the ordinances of Allah, this is surely from the piety of hearts. Therein are benefits for you for a term appointed, then their place of sacrifice is the Ancient House.”–Holy Qur’an, Surah 22, verses 32&33
The week of October 21st through October 27th, manifested a continual unfolding of a new cultural explosion of activity which combined an incredible four days of meetings with the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan with his Laborers which produced the most powerful experience of an expanded Paradigm Shift in Spiritual Consciousness. This occurred simultaneously with the presence in the city of the world acclaimed and pre-eminent performance of the gifted artist, Yo-Yo Ma within the same time span with the members of the Silk Road Musical Ensemble at the Chicago Symphony Hall.
On the fourth day of our meeting, The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan lifted up the second edition of the “Cultural Links” magazine mentioning the interview rendered therein of Yo-Yo Ma and that of his own while speaking of Beethoven as being a common link in their friendship dialogue for musical and artistic expression which I believe will ultimately open the door for a more conscious and meaningful dialogue for world peace.
As in the eternal journey of souls being caught up in the Mind of God’s Calling, we read: “And they are guided to pure words, and they are guided to the path of the Praised One.” –Holy Qur’an, Surah 22, verse 24
To be continued.
