[Editor’s Note: This article is a reprint that was published online on July 21, 2003.]
Now we arrive at the concluding words of that part of a talk, by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, in which he took up the significance of: “As-Salaam Alaikum,” nine years ago.
“And ‘We’ did this, and ‘We’ did that. We who? We, acting on Allah’s will, we did it. We created the heaven and the earth. We adorned the Lord’s Heaven with stars. We made man and we know what His mind suggests to Him. We who? We–original man–acting on the will of Allah, the Most High. We did this.
“So who are you? Collectively, you are Allah.”
Do you agree with him? If not, what was the process by which you arrived at a different self-concept? Are you right?
Minister Farrakhan: “Well, since nobody comes to Allah except as an honored servant, what is the Lesson teaching you? How to serve.”
How well do we understand Minister Farrakhan’s answer to the question he raised? That depends on what we bring to this question of prior knowledge; attitude; predisposition; experiences; desires; our reasoning power, and, of course, Allah Himself.
If we agree with his answer, then to what degree has that wisdom entered into our daily practice? He warned those in authority (as he has warned all) against that foul spirit–hated by Allah–which includes having “a chip on their shoulder.” That idiom means: “a habitually hostile or combative attitude;” “an antagonistic disposition, a readiness to quarrel.” In this state, some don’t, or can’t, even properly offer the greetings of peace.
He said: “You come humble, strong in the Lord, strong for righteousness, but humble.” Balance is an essential of humility. In Minister Farrakhan’s study guide entitled “The Struggle For Balance” he wrote: “Let us analyze this situation: why do our relationships in life invariably bring discontentment, dissatisfaction, and in most instances, dissolve?
“It is because our inclination towards other human beings is not a primary inclination; it is secondary. We cannot find fulfillment in any secondary need if we ignore the primary need. Our primary need is for Allah (God). Though He is the true Center of our existence, we have replaced Him with secondary needs, which cannot be successfully done. When we put our personal relationships ahead of our relationship with Allah (God), we are guilty of ‘shirk,’ which is the Arabic word for belief in more than one God. When we set up gods besides Allah, not only do we bring about the degeneration and destruction of those relationships, but we destroy our hope of a relationship with Him.
“Then what is the means by which we learn to love our Lord the way we should? How is any true love created, nurtured and brought to fruition? By repetition of those actions which increase the bond that is Love.
“The child sucks from the breast over and over again. Each time the child draws the milk and the satisfaction that comes with it, the child’s love for its mother grows; her love for the child grows as she draws satisfaction from giving him the milk.
“Our love for Allah (God), is nurtured from repetition of acts of devotion to Him. Each time we pray and draw the incredible feeling of happiness and satisfaction that comes from prayer, our love for Him grows. Each thing we do in His way increases our Love. And as our love for Him grows, we recognize Him as the True Center of our existence and the source of balance for our lives. Once we are right with Him, and only when we are right with Him, do we have a hope of right relations with others.
“Each of us has experienced overcompensation. E.g., the human body needs iron. When the iron supply in the body is depleted due to one thing or another, the result is a condition known as anemia. In order to correct this imbalance, or iron deficiency, we ingest certain foods, which are particularly rich or abundant in iron, in order to restore balance.
“Mental imbalance results from the taking away of some component necessary to mental stability. In order to restore that imbalance, the missing component must be restored or compensated for.
“Black people are not balanced; nor is humanity in general. Allah (God) created us with a natural inclination towards Him. That inclination causes us to move in His direction from the very beginning of life to the end. But the journey to Allah (God) has been aborted because of Falsehood and the acceptance of Falsehood.”
(Used rightly, these study guides are extremely valuable instruments in the healing of the wounds inflicted by the wicked. The wicked need them too.) A Sister, here in Phoenix, has successfully used Minister Farrakhan’s study guides in her employment, where she helps others, for the last twelve years.)
“Allah says He will remove this group and bring one in the place of this group” … and he continued with an effectively paraphrased statement of surah 5:54 of the Holy Qur’an, which was (and is yet) so very fitting: “O you who believe, should any one of you turn back from his religion, then Allah will bring” another people, who will be “humble towards the believers,” etc. But, as Minister Farrakhan said, so many act just the opposite of the excellent characteristics given in that verse.
This is Minister Farrakhan’s work: to turn this evil situation and condition around, with the backing of the Mahdi and the Messiah, who are working here and elsewhere. We must work better and harder to help him accomplish this most worthy work.
Except for one more point, Minister Farrakhan concluded: “I’m not putting us down. I’m trying to lift us all up. I want us to have peace. I want peace to be in the hearts of Believers for Believers. Peace to be in the hearts of our people. I want the peace of God to descend on each one of us, like a dove, because in that peace is the spirit and power of God. That’s what I want for you.”
Minister Farrakhan wants for us what the Mahdi and the Messiah want for us.
The above should be seen in the context of these relevant words of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.
“Master Fard Muhammad aims to raise the Lost-Found (so-called Negro) into the knowledge and wisdom–the very ideas–of the Gods of the past. He also aims presently to raise His people into His own .i.;
“He aims not only to reveal His ideas for the present creation of the universe, but also to give to man the nature and the creative wisdom to produce creative ideas as The Father of Civilization. This is what was prophesied: that God would make man like Himself. He aims to make The Nation of Righteousness, who will rule in the Hereafter, with the potential knowledge of producing and bringing into action, or existence, that which He has been able to produce. We call this ‘ideas.’ He aims to make each one into a god.”
More on these “wants” next issue, Allah willing.
