The Immeasurable, Limitless Value and Beauty of a Woman

By The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan | Last updated: May 25, 2020 - 12:47:16 PM

[Editor's note: The following are excerpts from a Special Mother's Day Message delivered by Minister Farrakhan on Sunday, May 10, 2009 at Mosque Maryam in Chicago, Illinois. Click here to order this message on CD/DVD.]

In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful.

The enemy calls today “Mother's Day.” I don't know how many billions of dollars the enemy has made commercializing on our natural love for our mothers, but in Islam, every day is a day to honor our mothers.

The commercial nature of the enemy is to make money on Jesus by celebrating what they call “Christmas;” and to make money on his resurrection, which is the day they call “Easter.” They also make money off of your girlfriend and boyfriend on what is called “Valentine's Day.” A smart, crooked deceiver will think of everything they can to make money by sucking the blood out of the common people who are ignorant, and easily taken advantage of.

Women: The Foundation of Civilization

In the Holy Qur'an, which is the book of scripture of the Muslims, the 4th Surah (chapter) is titled Al-Nisa: The Women. Further on, you will see that the 19th Surah, titled Maryam (Mary), makes reference to the very special woman who is the mother of Jesus, the Messiah. This Qur'an was not arranged haphazardly—it was divinely arranged, so each chapter has significance.

The number “4” is a foundational number. You can't become president of the United States until you've reached the age of “40.” Moses was “40” when he received God's Command; and he was in the wilderness “40” days. Jesus fasted “40” days and “40” nights; and, consider the 450 years of the Black man and woman's sojourn in America. This number, “4,” signifies that something was and is being done to lay a foundation.

Well, why women? What is a woman the foundation of? This world in which we live has been destroyed because the woman has been spoiled and laid waste. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught us that where there are no decent women, there are no decent men, because the woman is the Mother of Civilization. Civilization is not judged by the man; civilization is judged by the female.

Man's abasement of woman

I have traveled all over the world, and I have been in certain parts of the Islamic world where the woman can't pray in the mosque with the man. In Africa, I saw that men would be in air-conditioned rooms saying their prayers, while the women were out on the dirt making prostration in the hot day sun.

But in Mecca, both women and men are at the Ka'bah, praying. Shouldn't that be the example? What has happened to us throughout the world of Islam, that we have allowed old, cultural traditions to sideswipe the culture of Islam? The Islamic World needs reform. When you look at our world of Islam, we, as elder Muslims, see that we're losing our children to the world. The Christian World also needs to be reformed in its expression of women; and even the Jewish World needs reform. Why? It is because an ignorant woman is the death of a nation.

How can any man be afraid to educate a woman; and deprive one of God's creatures of the gift of knowledge, if we say we believe that Allah (God) is “The Supreme Being” and introduces Himself to us as “The Best Knower”?

Women are devalued in this society. It is heartbreaking to drive down certain streets in major cities and see beautiful women of every color, of every race, half nude and selling themselves to anyone who would purchase pleasure from them. Women have fallen so low, and it doesn't seem that we, as men, care, because some will put our women up to this kind of behavior for the sake of money.

Once men are taught the knowledge of God, and the value of a woman, then men will kill to keep her safe! But because you don't know her value, or yours, you play with her, devalue her, and laugh at her. How can she open her knees to you, and you impregnate her, and then walk away—without even a thought of responsibility?

When I was a young Muslim, working in a store in Elmhurst, New York, I saw two White policemen beating a young Black girl. It was my job to keep the store open, but when I saw those police beating that woman, I left the store and challenged the police. These police thought I was crazy; and, evidently, to them, I was—but I was “crazy enough” to try to protect a female. I warned them, with no F.O.I. around me, because Allah was sufficient for me: “Don't put your hand on her!” They put her in the car, and I went down to the station to make sure they didn't!

Now, what gives a man that kind of strength, where he doesn't fear death? 1) It is love for your people; and 2) It is knowledge of the value of what that policeman was desecrating.

Woman: The Second-Self of The Creator

Who are you, Black woman? Do you really know how valued you are in the Sight of your Creator?

In the Holy Qur'an, Surah 4, verse 1, there is a very beautiful scripture that reads: “O people, keep your duty to your Lord, Who created you from a single being and created its mate of the same (kind), and spread from these two many men and women. And keep your duty to Allah, by Whom you demand one of another (your rights), and (to) the ties of relationship. Surely Allah is ever a Watcher over you.”

Here, the Arabic word nafs is translated as “being”; other Qur'anic scholars translate nafs to mean soul, or, essence. But if Allah created us from a single essence, what is that essence? How could Allah create man as His khalifah (successor), and the essence of that man is not the Essence of Him Who created man? Biblically speaking, you can't say that man and woman are created in the image and the likeness of God, and the Essence of God is not in you.

Why the subject, “The Limitless, Immeasurable Value and Beauty of a Woman”? Some women may look in the mirror, and think, “Oh, I am not so pretty.” They may not be considered physically attractive, but physical attractiveness is not beauty, that is why I am teaching on the limitless, immeasurable value and beauty of all women. The beauty of the woman is the matchless beauty of God. This is you on the inside.

The Qur'an says that Allah is “not begotten, nor does He beget.” He is Self-Created. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches that Allah (God), in His Limitless Wisdom and Power, created Himself in Triple Darkness; and that we don't know how long it took Him because nothing was there to measure time. God created Himself, and then studied Himself; and, out of Himself He made a Second Self. Sisters, you are from Allah (God).

The Sacredness of The Womb

In my study of the act of “birth” and “creation,” there is always pain involved in the Creative Process. Allah (God) made each one of us a witness of Himself, so mothers: You have nothing to do with the babies that form in your wombs. What is being formed in your womb is like a self-creation after the Order of God!

There is an intelligence in the sperm that seeks the egg because it is looking for something. How could it be “looking for something” that it didn't know what it was looking at? And Who's intelligence is in the sperm when it seeks the egg to form the first cell of life? It's not your intelligence—you didn't know what was going on! It is God's Intelligence; His Essence.

The scriptures below bear witness that Allah (God) is working in the womb:

“Such is the Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Mighty, the Merciful, Who made beautiful everything that He created, and He began the creation of man from dust. Then He made his progeny of an extract, of worthless water. Then He made him complete and breathed into him of His spirit, and gave you ears and eyes and hearts; little it is that you give thanks!” (Holy Qur'an, Surah 32, verses 6-9)

“O people, if you are in doubt about the Resurrection, then surely We created you from dust, then from a small life-germ, then from a clot, then from a lump of flesh, complete in make and incomplete, that We may make clear to you. And We cause what We please to remain in the wombs till an appointed time, then We bring you forth as babies, then that you may attain your maturity. And of you is he who is caused to die, and of you is he who is brought back to the worst part of life, so that after knowledge he knows nothing. And thou seest the earth barren, but when We send down thereon water, it stirs and swells and brings forth a beautiful (growth) of every kind.” (Holy Qur'an, Surah 22, verse 5)

See how sacred the woman's womb is? No man should have access to the sacredness of your womb unless that man is worthy—not because he's “cute”; not because he's “popular”; and not because he has a little money. Your womb is too precious to throw it away.

Respect, Control and Protection

Satan is always after the woman, because his desire is to create an adverse world. He can't bring the man down unless he goes through the woman, so Satan has to beguile and deceive the woman. Because the woman is so sacred, this is why, in his Saviour's Day address in 1957, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught the subject: “The Respect, Control and Protection of the So-Called Negro Woman.”

Brothers: You can never protect a woman that you can't control. And sisters: I know some of you may think, “No man is gonna control me!” but wait: You are not going to mind being controlled if the man is under The Control of God.

God regulates the affairs of everything that He creates, and He does it by means of Law, so when He takes woman from man; and gives the woman to the man as His Second-Self, God also gives the man the responsibility to maintain her in all aspects of her creation. A good woman doesn't mind a man's exercise of control, if that man is a good maintainer of her. A man under The Control of God is not going to be wicked in the way he exercises his authority. He will be just; he will be fair. A good husband will listen to his wife; and when truth is spoken from his wife, the husband will bow to truth—not to her biology, but to the fact that she is telling the truth, because truth is uppermost in the mind of a true servant of God!

When Satan gets a hold of the woman, he encourages, exacerbates and makes mischief with her natural power to give consolation and solace to a man. The woman that has been captured by Satan is so different from the Woman of God.

The Value of Virtuous Women and Girls

Women know the beauty of their form; their breasts and buttocks are embellishments of their bodies, and are very attractive to the eye of a man. As young girls come into puberty, and they see their form developing, they will try to be in the presence of boys and men to test the power of attraction they are just beginning to discover. This is why we do not allow our girls in the presence of men, because when they begin to discover their powers of attraction, they want to see just how attractive they are. Now Satan has entered our homes, and is creeping up into our young girls who are just beginning to know their power of attraction, but not their value.

The Bible teaches that a virtuous woman is more precious than silver and gold. How many virtuous women are in the world that we live in today? Is it just a thing of the past? Girls are having sex as young as the age of 8! But look at what the Honorable Elijah Muhammad said: “There's no such thing as a no-good woman. Every no-good woman was made no-good by a no-good man.”

When a man—a good man—sees a young girl whose body is forming; and that girl is trying to attract him, the good man will look away, because he realizes that this beautiful child does not know her value. This child's value is not in her bosom; her value is not in her buttocks. Her value is not in the prettiness of her face. Her value is in the Beauty of God that is hidden within her, which has to be cultivated.

‘A Precious Corner Stone, A Sure Foundation'

Allah (God), through The Messiah and The Mahdi, wants to make a new people out of us. In Mecca, the Ka'bah, which is the Kiblah (Spiritual Center) of Muslims, features a simple cube of stone that is called the “Black Stone.” All Muslims who are blessed to go to Mecca want to kiss the Black Stone, following in the way of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). The Ka'bah is an Ancient House that is a sign of something bigger than itself.

You are a stone. I am a stone. We are stones, mortared together in the Love of Allah, His Messenger [and] Islam. This is what makes us into an impenetrable building that becomes the Real House of God.

As most Muslims are amazed by the beauty of Mecca, Mecca is not more beautiful than you. Which building made by the hands of man equals in beauty the building fashioned by Allah? There are none. You are the Real House of God, so in the end times, The Mahdi is going to fashion The Kingdom of Islam from a “Black Stone”; a stone that is like the Guide Stone; the Corner Stone. The Bible calls it a “precious corner stone” laid in Zion: “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” (Isaiah 28:16)

Sisters: The Mahdi, or, The Messiah, can't make a new and holy people without making a new and holy woman. You are the candidates for that. You are candidates to be, again, the Women of God.

The Woman and The Dragon

I want you to study Proverbs 10:1, which reads: “… a wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.” This is how valuable a woman is in making great men.

I didn't have a father, but I had a great mother. My mother was a strong woman. My brother and me—we didn't get any checks from our fathers. My father never bought me as much as a shoelace, but I thank Allah for him, because without him, I wouldn't be. He did nothing for me, but, my mother: She did it all.

My mother was not a foolish woman; I never saw my mother engaged in foolishness. I never got out of bed before my mother did. And, when she put me to bed, she was still working. My mother didn't care if the men in her life did not support her children. She said she would do it herself. And when my mother would beat me, she always did so for a principle. One of the things that she would beat me for, more than anything that I did, was when I lied about what I did. Because I couldn't fool her, she would trap me in my lie, beat me for what I did, and then, beat the hell out of me for the lie! What was she doing? See, she was beating into me a love for truth. She was making me into a man that would not be afraid of the consequences of telling the truth. God cannot use you if you fear men as we ought to fear Allah! If we were unafraid, we could raise a nation better than what we are doing.

Please study the 12th Chapter of the Book of Revelation. This scripture teaches us of a Dragon that is after a certain type of woman pregnant with a man child that will rule the nations with a rod of iron.

As a mother, you should want to be like the woman that the Dragon was after. But sisters, sometimes you are too weak to make a man child for God because you compromise too much with that which devalues you. You are full of foolishness; sitting in front of the television, watching these silly programs such as “reality shows” and music videos that exploit women. What do you get out of it except that which makes you more and more foolish? You're going to have to be stronger than you are now, because you are much too weak by compromising with a world that God is taking out.

Look at your children and how very special they are these days. Have you noticed how smart they are? Have you noticed the level of intelligence they have? Have you noticed the curiosity in these children? But if they have a weak mother, a foolish mother, she'll involve these children in foolish pursuit.

Become a Woman and Mother Like Unto Maryam

May Allah bless the womb of every one of you, my dear sisters, who are expecting. Do not engage in a lot of foolishness as you are making new life, because you will be marking your baby with foolishness.

Be serious about the life that is growing within you! You can make it into a likeness of God! In the Book of Psalms it teaches: “Ye are all gods, children of the most high God”—but it's going to take a strong mother to make a child like that. Don't doubt yourself; you do have this ability—you just have to start now putting off foolishness!

Fill your head with knowledge! The more knowledge you have, the more you can see something great for what is growing within you. And with the knowledge you acquire, you will be able to project it onto the one that is growing within you! Then, this child coming from your womb will be born to achieve.

This is why the Nation of Islam's flagship mosque here in Chicago—Mosque Maryam—is named after the mother of Jesus, one of the greatest human beings that ever lived. I call it Mosque Maryam because for everyone that enters through these doors, I want to make you pregnant with an idea that is bigger than the foolishness of the world in which we live. And when that idea gestates and grows in your mind, as you go back out into this crazy world, you will go out as a Saviour! As a Deliverer!

So from this day forward, make no merchandise of your women and girls. Treat them with respect and honor—even if you think they don't deserve it—because underneath all of their foolishness, they are still God's child.

May Allah bless each and every one of you! As-Salaam Alaikum!

The Final Call