Video Clip: Janazah Service for Brother Hannibal Muhammad with words from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan – Phoenix, AZ. October 5, 2019
On Oct. 5, The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan shared words of comfort and guidance during the Janazah service for Brother Hannibal Yusuf Sirboya Muhammad in Phoenix, Arizona.
BY CHARLENE MUHAMMAD
(Source: FinalCall.com)
Christmas is supposed to be about Jesus, joy, love and happiness, yet a mythical Santa and price-gouging merchants have taken Christ out of Christmas.
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam has called for a revolution in thinking and action this year to put Christ back into Christ-Mass.
“This Christmas let’s make it a real mass for Christ,” stated Minister Farrakhan during a recent address at Mosque Maryam in Chicago. “Christ is not interested in you going in the store and making the already rich rich, putting yourself in debt for another year to give out gifts. Come on! Jesus didn’t ask you to do that,” Minister Farrakhan said.
Examine the 10th Chapter of Jeremiah in the Bible, he said Nov. 18 in a major address. Going out in the forest, cutting down a tree, taking it home, decking it with silver and gold is what heathens do, Minister Farrakhan observed, referring to the verses in Jeremiah and their warning against following the way of the heathen.
Leave the tree, the lights, and the mythical Santa alone, and don’t ever again spend money on children and give the credit to a mythical Caucasian, making them think they’ve got to look to White people to get things that parents purchased through sweat and hard work, he said.
The Minister offered an alternative approach and activity taken from the Holy Qur’an’s 107th Chapter titled, “Acts of Kindness.”
“It doesn’t cost money to be kind,” he stated. A smile and kind word to one’s neighbor would be the best gift,” he said.
“But this Christmas, let love break out in the ghetto. They won’t even know what happened the next day when they see a measure of peace.” [READ FULL ARTICLE]
by Fudia Muhammad
Over the years, The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has been very candid in sharing the circumstances of his birth and the details surrounding his childhood. He speaks of his beloved mother with great reverence and honor. She was a strict disciplinarian who reared her sons to be respectful and truthful; to be God-fearing and to love Black people. He describes his mother as a woman who demonstrated her love for her children daily, through the manner in which she was determined to rear them. She was a single Black woman with the serious task of rearing two boys during the 30s and 40s, leaving little time for foolishness. She was not affectionate with her children, giving them hugs and kisses;or saying, ‘I love you,’ with the regularity that children may desire. However, she was a dutiful devoted mother; and though they were poor,she made sure that her children did not want for anything.
Love is a word used far too casually – I love ice cream; I love that song; I love my bestie! However, we are taught that love is NOT an emotion. The dictionary’s definition of love is simply inadequate; it does not capture the scope of the word. In its fullness, God is Love. Duty is Love. Love is a verb; it’s action. Love is not something we merely feel; love is mostly seen. How do we know if we love our spouse? Our children? A critical examination of our actions will allow us to honestly ascertain whether or not our love is complete. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, a divinely guided man, dissected real loveand offers a brilliant explanation.
In Self-Improvement: The Basis of Community Development (Study Guide 18: Rising Above Emotion into the Thinking of God), The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan wrote, “Though ‘Love’ is equally defined as an emotion, I would say that Love is not an emotion; Love is the Mother of Emotion. Love is the Creative Force out of which all things come. Love can be broken down into 4 principles: Freedom, Justice,Equality and Obedience to the Will of Allah (God). We call our intense feeling of like or dislike ‘Love’ and ‘Hate.’ But Love is not just an intense feeling. That is a limitation that this world has placed on it, making it our emotional reaction to something…We must not narrow Love to an emotional reaction. But when we say, ‘God is Love,’ the word ‘is’is represented by the ‘=’ symbol, then Love has to be complete, because God is not an emotion. All of His Attributes are embodied in the Creative force we call Love; an intense like for something is only one of its manifestations.”
Again, on the subject of ‘Love,’ The Minister writes in Study Guide 16: The Law of God, “The Essence of Divine Law is Love…When one gains Love for Allah (God),and for His Creation, then in that Love is contained the Law. One willingly obeys Divine Law out of Love. We need Love, but not without Law.”
Displaying love at this level is deliberate and purposeful, nothing is done haphazardly. Parents who unwisely seek the friendship of their children, and above all simply desire that their children be happy with them will acquiesce to their children’s wishes even if it conflicts with what they know is right. This is the emotional aspect of love. Seeking favor from our children and not the favor of God is an unworthy goal because the reward is fleeting. How can we honestly profess our love for our children and allow them to engage in activities that are not good for them? It is a contradiction to say we love our children but will not discipline them or put restrictions in place to protect them. We are guilty of abdicating our God-given responsibilities as parents when we seek the path of least resistance.
The evidence that a mother or father love their children beyond the limitations of an intense emotional relationship is manifested in their actions. They will teach their children about God and righteous conduct. They will correct them when they deviate or rebel against the rules of the home because this reinforces discipline and builds respect and character. They will feed their children the best foods because this increases the likelihood of long life and good health. Parents who love completely will also take all necessary measures to keep negative influences away from their children; as well as teach and train them on how to navigate around those that seep through. This means that cell phones, social media, friends and activities are all monitored.
It is in the nature of a child to be curious about the unknown; so children will push boundaries until they are stopped. Children do what parents permit them to do. Therefore, we must BE THE PARENT and not the friend. Giving in to pressure is not love. Certainly, our children may feel that we are strict or even “mean” for keeping an ever-watchful eye over what they watch; listen to; the friends they keep; cell phone usage and all their comings and goings. But in the end – SO WHAT! Rest assured, they will not be children forever and will thank you later. If we love our children completely, we will do what is best for them; whether it leads to their displeasure or not. After all, the Holy Qur’an reads, “It may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you;and Allah knows while you know not.”
If love is freedom, justice, equality and obedience to the Will of Allah (God); our children should be free to (respectfully)express themselves – we should welcome questions, comments, complaints and conversation. Their concerns should not be dismissed. We must be just and fair in our dealings with them; and if they are right, we must bow down to the truth that they speak. If we parent with equity and justice, our children who are righteous by nature, will grow to love God’s law and His way. As they mature, they will be grateful for our obedience to the divine laws of Allah (God). We cannot parent our children, looking for instant gratification – our reward comes tomorrow.
All of this is not to say that we should not be affectionate with our children because we absolutely should. Children need to be hugged and stroked and kissed. There is power in the touch; just a few seconds releases oxytocin, strengthening our natural bond and trust. Children also need to be reassured and validated by receiving positive affirmations and praise; and by hearing the words, ‘I love you’ all of the time. But if we say it and don’t show it, then our words are in vain. So, the greatest testament of our love is to be dutiful to Allah (God)and to rear our children in the best manner.
(Sister Fudia Muhammad is a member of Muhammad Mosque No. 64 in Austin, Texas. She is married to Student Minister Robert L. Muhammad and they have been blessed with four children. Sister Fudia holds a Master’s degree in Education – she is a writer, an educator and an advocate for God-centered child-rearing.)
Source: FinalCall.com
By The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan
In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful.
One of the most beautiful things about the religion of Islam is that it offers to all who accept it security, it gives them peace and contentment of mind. Louis, Jr., brought us all together today. I wanted to personally thank all of you for the kind of love that you showed to Louis, Jr., his family, Mother Khadijah Farrakhan and me. You came to strengthen us, and we felt it, and we appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan speaks at repast which was also an iftar (breaking of Ramadan fast) in the gymnasium of Muhammad University of Islam. The Minister thanked the many supporters and friends who gathered to pay tribute to his eldest son, Louis Farrakhan, Jr., Min. Farrakhan’s daughter, Fatima (standing at right) and family members look on. Bottom: Series of photos of Louis Farrakhan, Jr., with members of his family. Photo: Andrea Muhammad
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Knowing my son, he was always a study. And, you could never think that you knew him because he was always giving you something more to think about. He was a deep visionary. He used to speak so far ahead of time. When people can outthink their contemporaries, the contemporary looks at the thinker and thinks that the thinker is a little off. That’s natural for those of us who are not on the level of such focus.
I used to tell my son, “Son, you can’t start people from where you are because then they’ll think strange things about you.” I said, “Start them from where they are and then gradually move them to your vision.”
From a young child, Louis, Jr., was unique as brother imam Ishmael Muhammad said so beautifully today, he really captured the spirit, the mind, the heart of Louis and he brought Louis up out of the box, front and center into the room. So, I thank Brother Ishmael Muhammad for the wonderful job he did today.
When Louis, Jr., was out in Phoenix, they asked, “Lou, when are you coming back to Chicago?” He said, “When the party is over.” That was so profound because he was having a wonderful time in Arizona with the Believing Community, with the people, the family, the friends and at the same time he was having a little difficulty with the heart. But Louis did not wish that we would be concerned about him.
Louis, I think, was playing the part that he wanted to play up to the end. It’s a hell of a thing for a man to see the end and he’s making everybody around him happy because he wanted to create joy; and the joy of this day is that some of what he suffered a lot about was the division between the communities of Islam.
Today, there was that sign of genuine love across different community lines and especially in the families of Muhammad and Farrakhan that I think would make Louis exceedingly happy that on his passing he accomplished what he wanted for us all.
His children were blessed to have a visionary as a father, and there’s a lot that he imparted to his children of his vision for the Nation of Islam. He is not here to fulfill it, but we are. And it should not only be a personal journey for the children that he wanted to do A or B or C, the most important thing to Louis was the vision of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.
Elijah Muhammad wanted us in a vanguard position. He didn’t want us following others. He wanted us to be what the Qur’an says: “You are the best nation raised among men for you enjoin good and you forbid what is evil.”
I come out tonight just to say thank you and to thank Louis personally for being an intermediary between his father and the people. The Minister does not get out among the people and that’s not the way the Messenger raised me to be out cavorting, so to speak, and so you don’t see much of me except in the mosque. And if we catch a glimpse of each other at a restaurant, which I very seldom get a chance to do, that’s where I feel the love of the people.
I did not know so much love was out there in the streets, but Louis helped to create it because of his manner, his method, the beauty of his heart. It touched those who came from near and far to be here to celebrate his life.
He was a great representative of what Islam should bring about in family and among us in a real strong, devoted brother. Your being here is a testimony to who Louis really is. I pray that this is not just a wonderful Iftar, and breaking of the fast, and celebrating the Life of Louis. I pray that the beauty of that man will inspire us to continue on the path of Islam.
Let this be the first day of a new day for our families, for our Nation. God always uses the sacrifice of somebody’s suffering to bring people who have feelings of bitterness out of their mouths.
Louis would not take no for an answer. He went where he wanted to go, met with who he wanted to meet with, laughed and joked with people. So, the party is not over but he did come home. That party ended but the real party is making his vision, which is the vision of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, real.
May Allah bless each and every one of you and I hope you had a beautiful evening. And to Louis’ family, I just wanted to look at you. His son, Mutawakkil, is graduating from high school and will be, God willing, entering college. Every one of Louis’ children is special, not that your children aren’t.
Louis had a certain spin that he put on his children through Lesil Farrakhan, the mother of these children. Louis’ name will live not only because of the work that he’s done but because of what he implanted in the hearts and minds of his children and I believe they will fulfill it. Thank you.
As-Salaam Alaikum.
By Ebony S. Muhammad | Hurt2Healing Magazine
Ebony S. Muhammad (EM): During your visit in New Orleans, as you testified of the beauty and work of the Hon. Minister Louis Farrakhan (HMLF), you stated:
“As a young Black man, I was a victim of a lack of self-love. I did not know myself. Many of us act out of our insecurities and begin to act in a way just to become acceptable by others”.
“Since we don’t think much of ourselves, we don’t think God loves us. There is nothing that you can think of that God hasn’t already prepared for you to receive. Minister Farrakhan taught me to love myself so I can love others. The more we love ourselves, the more we love the God who created us.”
Right before your words were published, I received a comment on the H2H Magazine website by a brother responding to the “What Is My Identity As A Black Man” article with the following words:
“I’ve been stuck. Stuck in my mind, so frustrated with my life, trying to figure out how to live not knowing who am I. Being a black man I walk with my head down but inside atomic bombs are going off from the time I wake till the time I sleep. The things I’ve learned about Islam are completely opposite from the words I’ve been reading on this site concerning the articles. I would think that one would even dare to think that way about my SELF and could never really be a focused black man who really knows who he is and what he’s a part of. I have so much to say concerning me. Reading these articles about God and the black man. I need to know the truth about Islam, and the truth about me.” — Yusef Green
How would you respond to this brother and any brother feeling this way about himself? I believe from what you shared in New Orleans, he would benefit greatly from your experience coming in to Islam and what you learned about yourself within the Fruit Of Islam (FOI) class. Please expound on that as well as how the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan taught you what it means to love yourself as a Black man.
Rashad Muhammad (RM): Since most of your questions have some aspect concerning love, I would like to start this interview with defining my understanding of love.
According to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan in Study Guide #18 Rising Above Emotions Into The Thinking of God, “Though Love is generally defined as an emotion, I would say that love is not an emotion; Love is the Mother of Emotion. Love is the Creative Force out of which all things come. Love can be broken down into four (4) principles: Freedom, Justice, Equality and Obedience to the will of Allah (God). We call our intense feeling of like and dislike Love and Hate.
But Love is not just an intense feeling. That is a limitation that this world has placed on it, making it our emotional reaction to something”. This goes right into my thoughts. Allah loves us so much that He creates everything we need to sustain life, even before we are created in the wombs of our mother’s. There is nothing that we can think of or that we need or want that He has not provided for us. All that is in His universe has been made in the service of man.
According to what we have been taught, it’s the promise of God and the Blackman’s future and the knowledge of his past that this world does not want him to know. So before he was created in the womb of his mother, this world worked to destroy his very existence, by creating an environment that tries to crush the mind and thoughts of anyone who would recognize greatness in a Blackman and dared to teach him. This kind of hatred of the Blackman is supported by institutions created by our open enemy that is against our rise.
The Devil blocks and tries to ensure that the prerequisite knowledge that is needed to grow into a “God”, does not reach the Blackman, which is the knowledge of God and self which are one in the same and the knowledge of other than self, the Devil, and the knowledge of the time. Once he (we) the Blackman understands this and accepts the offer, which is the mind of Allah (God) in the person of Master Fard Muhammad (MFM), then we may start the journey to God and become ourselves, which can be a long and painful struggle with great rewards. When we gain the knowledge of God, we will learn to love Him then out of His Love and Mercy we learn to love ourselves. The reason I say His love, is because “God is Love” and all love comes from God. Love presupposes duty, and He has done by us a great duty making everything we need to sustain life. This justifies us being dutiful to Him by living according to His creation of us. When we do so, that allows us to live in harmony with every person and the things that Allah has made to serve our existence which proves His love for us.
EM: What was your life like before you joined Nation Of Islam?
RM: My life was that of a typical Blackman raised by a strong mother without the influence of a father. Growing up in affordable housing apartments units better known as “The Projects”. Not having adequate funds to sustain balance in the lives of eight children my mother struggled. Being poor without the understanding of what it means and not knowing why I couldn’t have the clothes I desired or eat the foods I wanted led to many question that were not answered. In this kind of environment as children we would mock and taunt one another about the condition of our lives, and not to feel ashamed, we lied. This behavior led to hatred and pain that produced destruction in the lives of most of us who live in these housing units.
I didn’t know how to handle humiliation and embarrassment. So most of my childhood and teenage life was fill with self-hatred and rebellion against my mother, the school system and all whom I thought didn’t have love for me. I found myself in trouble at home, in school and my neighborhood. I would try to hurt any and every one that caused me pain. I was not a bad child just confused and potentially dangerous, which led me into the street as a hustler using trick dice to rob unsuspecting working men of their hard earn monies. My mother did the best she could to instill Christian values in my sibling and I, so we were God conscious but it was not the guiding light of our lives. She tried to shield and guide me from the practice of self-destruction, but I rebelled. She was not successful and I fell into the pits of life where I was robbed and deprived of the very essential that were needed in becoming a man. Independence, self-sufficiency and the ability to do for self which is paramount for every young boy who’s desirous of become a man.
I found myself in a terrible state not knowing what to do and where to go, until I found The teachings of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad as taught by The Honorable Minister Farrakhan. In the teachings, is a profound understanding of the destruction of the Blackman and the only solution to solving all of his problems. The teachings forced me to analyze myself, the things that I placed values on which were based upon lies taught and used by Satan to destroy the Blackman’s mind and his ability to think. I now have the solution to solving my problems and the ability to think, exposing and crushing the mind that has supported my destruction. Because of this teachings I’m now being freed, justified and made equal to all civilize people on the earth. With love and respect for myself, my Mother, and all who had a part in my development in becoming the man I destine to be; I now have the ability to take on the responsibilities for my life and family. All praises are due to Allah and His Christ to whom I will forever be indebted.
EM: What prompted you to visit the Mosque, and what inspired you to join?
RM: It was an invitation from Prison Minister Abdullah Muhammad and the gift of the book Message to the Blackman in America. As I read the book it unlock many question that I had pertaining to God and religion. After reading The Honorable Elijah Muhammad response to the Imperial Wizard of KKK I was very proud to see a Blackman with strength standing up to white people. The Muslims were very active in my neighborhood.
There were three Muslim Restaurants and they also held meetings at the local college, and my barber was also a Muslim. I thought it would be nice to one day become a Muslim or Mason because of their ability to organize and secure black people. When Minister Abdullah invited me, I gladly accepted and I have been active ever since. This has been the best decision of my life, I’m very grateful to Allah for His intervening in my life. I highly recommend for all young black men the book (Message to the Blackman in America) as required reading.
EM: What challenges did you face as you were learning what true self-love was as well as how to love others?
RM: The challenge that I faced, in my opinion, is believing that I have value and that God loves me and the discipline to change. As a people, we have been taught that black life has no value and we accept that concept. The evidence is in how we treat one another and the reverence we have for others. I needed to be retrained in my thinking because of the many years under the tutelage of white supremacy and black inferiority. So there were times I found myself acting out of emotion, which robs one of the process to think, allowing inferior minds to govern your actions. So I placed emphasis on Belief, “for as he thinketh in his heart so is he” Proverbs 23:7. It starts with believing in God’s love, which makes it easy to love others once you love self.
EM: What words from the HMLF stand out to you as it relates to self-love and what it means to be a black man in America?
RM: That Allah has come Himself to claim the black man and women as His own, and that we would be His people and He our God. To me this is the greatest thing that has happened to the Blackman since his sojourn to America. Allah (God) consider us as His own, and He has come to restore His mind and heart in us. This is the greatest love story that has ever been told. I say rejoice and be glad, for this is the day that our Lord has made and it is marvelous in our sight. All praises are due to Allah for Coming in the person of Master Fard Muhammad!!!
EM: In what ways have you seen the HMLF grow in love with himself as an example to you and others who travel(ed) with him?
RM: The beauty of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is his heart and the way Allah formed him. He went through the same vicissitudes of life that we are going through. In my opinion, he suffered from the lack of love in self as many of us do. But it was his profound love for God that allowed him to overcome his insecurities and fall in love with himself. I will try to explain how that happens. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is a humble man so he did not spend time thinking of himself, most of his time was in reflection of Allah (God) and The Honorable Elijah Muhammad. As he was being developed in the teachings, he discovered a gift. The more he uncovered and perfected the gift, (his ability to represent The Honorable Elijah Muhammad), the greater his love grew for Allah and The Honorable Elijah Muhammad. His love for his teacher is so great that he dedicated his life to the perfection of the word, to whereas he is a living example of Their love for us. So as he grew, he started to see the God in himself and naturally fell helplessly in love. That is when he recognized his father (Elijah Muhammad) and he were one. He discovered that what he had been taught of God in man is the truth and he came into the knowledge of how it is done, how to replicate the process and also came into the understanding of the purpose for his life. His journey has been one to inform the world of the greatness of God coming in a person of Master Fard Muhammad and his raising of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad and how to obtain this gift that Allah has made available to man (Allah Himself). The way he lives his life in public and in private is a great testimony to his teacher and the God he serves (Master Fard Muhammad), he is the greatest example of man’s reconciliation to God.
EM: In your world travel with the HMLF, how would you relate patience with self-love as he continues to show both to our people?
RM: We are taught that patience is derived out of understanding, faith or love. It is difficult to have patience without one of the aforementioned. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is the embodiment of patience. He has consistently, for the last 58 years of his life, served black people in America and throughout the world. As I have watched him serve, I must bear witness to his love and patience for us as a people working day and night to change the condition of how we are living, only to find in some cases us degenerating to a worse state of being. Yet, he still continues to work. It’s out of love and his faith in Allah that he knows his labor will not go in vain, and Allah’s promise to restore the Blackman to the top of civilization will come to pass no matter how dark it may seem. So he is very patient with us and he appears to be working effortlessly in accomplishing the goal. We thank Allah for such a wonderful example in The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan!!!
EM: While Sis. Ava Muhammad was visiting Houston, she made a profound statement that we as Black people are able to kill one another easily, because we are looking with the eyes of our former slave masters when we see another black person. This naturally made me think of the THEM’s words that every time you look at a Black man or woman you are looking into the face of God. How would you address this to a group of young brothers in street organizations who only know violence toward each other? How would you open them up to see each other and themselves properly versus how Sis. Ava described we view each other as our former slave masters did and do?
RM: Young black men need to see the example of the teachings of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad in the lives of those of us who believe. We have to build a new reality and invite them to take part. How do young men grow into manhood without examples? The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan believes what The Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches about the Blackman. “When you’re looking at the Blackman you are looking at God”. So he is very mindful of his duty to God and shows gratitude by his service to black people and humanity. He asked all of us who believe in him to go out into the streets and serve the needs of our people sharing what we have learned. My question to us who say we follow Him: What do we owe in service to young black men, and are we performing our duty? Will we hide our light that God has given us in our Mosques or homes? No! We must go and get our people and share the teachings that heals and restores.
My message to young Black men; you are destroying what God has come to save. Wake up and except the truth about yourself and take on the responsibility to help change the world in which we live. The future is yours, God has already claimed you and declared he would make a nation out of black people. The enemy knowing this is working very hard to keep you distracted with illusions as his world crumbles by giving you false values to serve your vanity that they create. Knowing you are without the means to buy and support your desires, you will promote and partake in your own destruction by participating in vices that are designed to railroad you to prison. I say, get up and go report to the local mosque or temple where The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is the instructor and participate in your development into God. Claim your stake in the new world (The Kingdom of God)!
EM: What influence did/does Bro. Salim (May Allah Be Pleased with him) have in your growth and development? What was it like working with him, and what are some words and experiences with our brother that stand out to you that have found a firm resting place in the person you are today?
RM: Brother Salim, as a senior instructor in our class, had a great impact on my Islamic life. As a young F.O.I. under Bro. Salim’s tutelage we learn all the basic of being a man. For years I studied his coverage of The Principal with great admiration before becoming a member of the E-Team. Once a member of the E-Team, my journey began. It was fascinating to watch Bro Salim hold post, moving nothing but his eyes, and the way he would care for the Minister. Salim was indeed a jack of all trade, a master in his craft, and a man of many talents. Salim was such a great man, it took several members of the team to perform all the duties he carried out daily. He was a Valet, Chef, EMT, Chauffeur, Peace Officer, Scuba Instructor, Lifeguard, Restaurateur, Maître D, Executive Protection Specialist, Captain, Father, Brother, Friend, and most of these jobs he performed while serving The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
It was a great joy to be with Brother Salim. The manner in which he expressed love to others through his service was a great example to all young Muslims. He was indeed his brother’s keeper. I remember when The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan gave him the name Salim and the words The Minister spoke. The Minister said everywhere they went Brother would make friends and keep peace so he now will wear the name Salim, which means maintainer of peace, peaceful, secure. In the words of Brother Salim “Keep Breathing AKH”(Brother)!!!
Brothers and sisters… I must confess…. this genuine moment I was blessed to capture on Tuesday made me teary-eyed when I went back and looked at it. This is one of our elders that we check on every week as we are #TruthTrafficking through the Southeast Houston community.
Over a year ago, she wouldn’t even talk to us and refused The Final Call Newspaper when we first knocked on her door. However, we kept on knocking on her door just to let her know, with sincerity, we just wanted to check up on her. She never smiled.
Over time—like so many others who originally rejected us—a bond developed. Soon we couldn’t stop her from talking! Soon she would fuss at us if she didn’t get her Final Call! Soon she told us how much she loves us! We have witnessed her overcome many health challenges and become more and more vibrant every time we see her. She has said she looks forward to seeing us and when she doesn’t see us, we’re on her mind and she is praying for us.
She has greatly lessened her cigarette intake and told us this is the year she told her doctors she will be completely smoke-free, pork-free, fried food-free and more as a birthday gift to herself! “Y’all better watch out when I lose 20lbs,” she said.
This and more is why you can feel the LOVE in this embrace with our Brother Linton Muhammad. She was actually giving him a loving chastisement for not going to her door first along with me and Brother Chad Muhammad. ?
We adore her. We always gain something from the conversations with her. She gives God the praise for us coming into her life and we give Him all the credit as well. What a blessing to serve our people—young and old— with The Teachings of The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad as Taught by The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. The work in the streets continues! Allah-U-Akbar!! #loveyourself #LifeLightPower#BrotherLintonGotTheBiznessThenAHug
Ebony S. Muhammad (EM): For those who are studying the Teachings of The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad (Nation of Islam) and for those who are not, if they are not keen to the Time in which we are living they may be consumed in what looks like hopelessness or intense darkness. The rate of suicide is climbing in our community, the Black community. How can one maintain under the pressure and affliction of this time?
Ishmael Muhammad (IM): If you look at the despair, and there are so many levels of despair. For those that feel like they don’t know if they can make it another day or make it another week, we all in a sense or a great majority are marking time. We really don’t have the hope that we should have, I’m talking about believers. There is no certainty in the Hereafter (among the people). Certainty of the Hereafter with the promise of Allah would reflect itself in us in a greater activity. There would be greater joy, there would be greater happiness among us and you don’t find it. We have to be constantly dealing with the trauma, if you will, and the effect of death and dying. This (Thanatology/H2H) is so critical in our Nation right now and among all of our people. If you notice only in the extreme cases do you find, and even though it is increasing in our community, where a person will take their own life. Again, nature will prevent that. You have to be completely ruined and at the lowest point. To even begin considering it… If it were that easy people would be checking out of here just like that. However, look at what they contemplate and the length of the contemplation before the actual act is carried out. Yet, that’s a very small percentage, but it’s reflective of what a great majority or percentages of people are thinking.
EM: You mentioned in our lecture, “Suicide: Losing the Will to Live”, that it’s not necessarily the conscious thought about taking your life as much as it is our lifestyle that is self-destructive. What is an example of the lifestyle you were speaking of?
IM: Why do we drink, abuse drugs, etc? It’s to escape our reality. Living this life is not fun. There’s no joy in this because the real joy that life brings and the peace that life should be giving us is that good feeling you get when you are creating and producing. So you have a people who aren’t producing for themselves. They’re not using their creativity for the benefit of themselves. You’re disappointed, you’re depressed; you’re dissatisfied, you’re angry because you’re not producing. So here comes heroin, here comes cocaine, here comes Mr. Alcohol. You’re just getting lost. Most of us who lose ourselves either we don’t have a goal in our life, no hope for the future, or you don’t see yourself going anywhere. For those who do these things, when you finish the party, what is your life like? Where do you find yourself going? What are you realizing? So this becomes the means of your destruction and even if you have a goal, you’re not focused on the goal as you should. No focus or aim.
EM: In that same lecture you stated, “What man or woman who loves themselves, knows the value of life and discovers his or her purpose in life would willingly entertain death”?
From that question it appears as though self love or self hatred is the catalyst of such thoughts and behavior. Do you agree?
IM: Yes, it starts with rejection. I have found that at the root is rejection and the moment the human being experiences rejection, and I’m talking about from as a child, that is what create insecurity. So you as a human being begin down that road of feeling insecure, but it started with you being rejected either by your mother or your father. Somebody dealt you the blow of rejection. So then what happens along the road? You lose your sense of self value even though you feel as though you have some value. Now, that rejection takes on many forms. If there isn’t somebody who appreciates your value and to listen to you, then you start questioning yourself.
The people you look up to and the people that you admire and the people that you believe, and rightly so, that should be there for you they’re not there. However, it starts in the home. Forget everybody else who comes in and out of your life. These are not the important pivotal players in your development. It starts right there in the home with mama and daddy. In the pathology you trace it all the way back to the home. Whether it’s in the womb of the mother at the time and what she impressed on the mind or the circumstances that surrounded the child coming out of that womb and the relationship with the father. It’s all right there.
Those two are so critical to how we develop relationships. Who we let in, who we keep out; it’s all based upon the relationship with the parents. So that rejection takes on many forms, because then I start underestimating myself because all of the support should be coming from mom and dad. If you don’t have the right support and guidance you can make some very bad decisions for yourself. However, it all starts early in childhood.
The key for all of us; you, me, and for all of our people….where is the hope? Where really is the hope? With this generation out here…we talk a lot. We need to point, because young people have to see the word taking on some form. The word and the hereafter has to take on some form, some flesh otherwise…it’s sounds good but… that hope and the hereafter… at the end of the day… we need to get out of a certain mindset that disallows us from being creative, being productive… at the end of the day it doesn’t matter who God decides to remove from the Earth. The Earth isn’t going anywhere and we’re not about to get transported to another planet so let’s keep it real. This is the land; this is the Earth…can’t we be a little more focused on living as opposed to just getting by?
The grief, the loss, the misfortune; these are the realities of life that are starring us in the face every single day. What is the alternative? Well we’ve talked about the Kingdom of God. Are we saying that we have to wait until the enemy is destroyed? Are we waiting for the Baby Planes to come down and drop bombs? Is that the way God is going to kill the enemy? I don’t think so. It’s not going to be like that. Everything that we see right now, is it the result of the Son of Man doing it Himself, or is it a result so that man can learn the valuable lesson of the price of rebellion and he has to learn when he tips the scale of balance with nature. You see nature is reacting to the deviation. The storms the physical storms are the reflection of the thoughts of the people.
What advantage would Master Fard Muhammad accomplish in all of His wisdom by destroying the enemy with weapons or with the forces of nature? What would be accomplished? Has not all other civilizations been established through force and power, but He says, “Not by might nor by strength or power but by My Spirit Sayeth the Lord”. He made the Devil. The devil is not self created. Some of us still think that the Devil has power. We should have left him in Europe.
It’s like the Matrix. There is a program that He (Allah) allowed to be written into our hard drive, but that was an application necessary for the new software that would be put on the hard drive. He needed the Satanic program to reboot the system to activate the other software. See you just can’t put any software on your system unless you do some updates. Other applications have to be put onto the system in order for other software and programs to run. So ‘Agent Smith’ was a program and every person that he touched he made them into himself. He overwrote their programming, but it made it possible for ‘Neo’, at the end, to get into everyone. ‘Neo’ and Agent Smith, when they were fighting, you see that is Satan and God. It was only when Neo took the oracle into himself and allowed himself to be consumed. He had to break Satan or Agent Smith up from the inside out.
The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad said that Master Fard Muhammad could take this country without lighting a match. He is so wise. Well what is the wisdom? The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan spoke about the sheep lying with the wolf, two natural enemies. How did He do this? You’re dealing with forces, not the physical.
EM: I was told that the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad said that as for His followers the Hereafter is now. To me that meant that once you raise your hand and accept these Teachings, accept this Truth and come out of ignorance you have, at that time, entered into the Hereafter.
IM: That’s exactly right! Truth is destroying the falsehood and the premises for such. Before the Minster makes his ascension and even in that, the believers will realize that his ascension is followed by our ascension. You have to see; you have to be given the hope based upon what’s written. Not just false hope but the real hope that you will be with Him who sits on the Throne, and it’s there. So we must come behind it and preach the whole prophecy. It’s like saying, “Brother Minister, we know you have to go, but we know that you leaving only means that we are shortly behind you”. Now that’s a whole different attitude. There’s so much despair, I don’t really hear a lot of hope.
How many of us really believe we’re going to see Master Fard Muhammad? If you ask by show of hands how many would like to, hope to, or find firmness in that reality of seeing Master Fard Muhammad, you’ll see the number of hands decrease. Some of us would begin to question ourselves. We must begin viewing the Minister’s ascension, not as a loss, but as a gain for all of us! Jesus put it like this, “Your hearts should not be troubled but you should be glad. Where I am you may be also”.
EM: Thank you so much for your time!
IM: Yes ma’am, thank you.
Ebony S. Muhammad is a Certified Thanatologist (Grief / Loss) and Lifestyle Coach helping others change the way they view themselves. If you would like to learn more about her one-on-one sessions, click here.
“Our people are a beautiful people; all they need to bring out their true beauty is to be loved; and to be loved means to feed them the knowledge that will remove the blight of ignorance which makes us the playground for the wicked (Satan). The love that I am referring to is not this emotional feeling that is not accompanied by duty. I am referring to the awesome Power of Allah’s (God’s) Love that is bound up in His Word.”—The Honorable Minister @louisfarrakhan #Love #The1stWork #TruthTrafficking
