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Celebrating 30 years of service, work and history

By Starla Muhammad -Managing Editor- | Last updated: Oct 4, 2016 - 1:34:07 PM

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CHICAGO—Three decades ago, armed with few resources, but filled with a genuine desire to preserve, document and share the unmatched history and eternal legacy of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, a plan was born. Spearheaded by Munir Muhammad, his brother Halif Muhammad and Shahid Muslim, with assistance from a small group of people, the Coalition for the Remembrance of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad (C.R.O.E.) was launched in the autumn of 1986. One of the objectives, said Munir Muhammad, was to shine a light on what he calls, the “glorious history” of the Nation of Islam patriarch. 

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Munir Muhammad, co-founder and business manager of C.R.O.E. showing historical photos on display along the walls of its headquarters.
Munir Muhammad was born and raised in Birmingham, Ala. but in 1959 as a nine-year-old youngster he began traveling to Chicago to visit his older brother. At age 22 he heard the teachings and message of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad. He began the process of receiving his “X” in the early 1970s and was an assistant to Minister Louis Farrakhan on Chicago’s West Side. Like most, when the Messenger of Allah departed in 1975, Munir Muhammad struggled. When Min. Farrakhan began rebuilding the Nation of Islam in the late 1970s and early 80s, Munir Muhammad appreciated and respected those efforts and also wanted to help but in a different capacity in lifting up the name of the man who produced Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and countless others.

Min. Farrakhan, he said “told me whatever you want to do in that man’s name (Elijah Muhammad) you can do.” Having always had an interest in history, an idea was sparked.

What started as a group of a few dozen people meeting in the home of Munir Muhammad listening to and discussing messages and addresses of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad on audio cassettes eventually grew and developed into a humble yet impressive building situated on the Chicago’s Southwest side that houses a television studio and extensive collections of historical photos of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, Nation of Islam pioneers, memorabilia and issues of the iconic Muhammad Speaks newspaper.

The first tape the group listened to, Munir Muhammad recalled fondly, was one from the Hon. Elijah Muhammad’s 1972 Theology of Time lecture series.

“Yes the one tape the group of people that I had—I think I had about 60-70 people at my home and I sold that one tape … but I sold it for $10 as a fundraiser.  And that was our first fundraiser.  And little did I know that we would get little tapes here and there that people were actually throwing them away (they) didn’t realize the value.  And when we started to show tapes we would rent a place before we even had a place.”

It has not been an easy journey, he admitted

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Munir Muhammad and Min. Louis Farrakhan

“We started and a lot of people were saying they wanted to be with us but it was too hard.  That’s why in the 9th Surah the 42nd verse (of the Holy Qur’an) is so beautiful … ‘had it been a near gain or a short journey they would have surely followed me.’ But it was hard trying to convince people that we weren’t anti-anybody. We just loved Elijah.” 

In 1992 C.R.O.E held its grand opening where Min. Farrakhan delivered the keynote address and the group also began broadcasting its popular Muhammad and Friends television show.

Munir Muhammad said he has learned that his love for Min. Farrakhan started from the time he first met him in the 1970s and has grown, despite a few years of misunderstandings and disagreements.  “I can recall going out to Phoenix and we made this pledge that never again will we be separated no matter what.  And that’s something that I feel true to because I know that it has benefited me but it has benefited other people,” he explained.

“And when we live long enough for whatever misunderstanding that we may have had that—that reconciliation was able to come together before either one of us departed; that’s what I’m happiest about.  I cherish those moments every day and it’s special for me.”

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C.R.O.E. is located on the Southwest side of Chicago.

Today, C.R.O.E.  has continued expansion into multi-media arenas which include weekly television shows filmed, produced and aired from its onsite studio. Over the years, Munir Muhammad has interviewed local, county and state political officials, religious leaders, community activists and national and international luminaries on a wide variety of important and critical issues in C.R.O.E’s studios including Min. Farrakhan and recently, several top N.O.I. officials and laborers.  C.R.O.E welcomes Muslims and non-Muslims and especially young people to visit and encourages educators to schedule field trips for students to tour the facility and learn more about the history and impact of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad. C.R.O.E. continues hosting weekly film screenings that are open to the public. Munir Muhammad said he thinks people are beginning to realize again the value of what C.R.O.E is doing in preserving the history of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad. 

“I’m really excited.  On the 7th and 8th  of October we’re going to be showing films but we’re going to also entertain anybody that wants to come for the film that I’m showing on the 8th of October is important because it starts at 2 o’clock for everybody.  But in the interim we’re going to have tours that morning and on the 7th we’re open all day,  the Messenger’s birth anniversary.  And people can come in.  But we’re here 7-days a week but we want to get people more involved.” 

The special film showings at C.R.O.E are as follows: Friday, Oct. 7- Film showing at 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. throughout the day.  Saturday, Oct. 8-Film showing is 2:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.  Tune in on Chicago Comcast Channel 19 Sunday nights at 7:30 p.m. for  Muhammad & Friends and Chicago Comcast Channel 25 Mon. nights at 5:00 p.m. and Tues - Fri at 6:00 p.m. for The Munir Muhammad Show. View the live stream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/muhammad-and-friends Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.  and Sundays  at 2:30 p.m. For more information about C.R.O.E. please contact 773-925-1600, [email protected] or visit 2435 W. 71st St., Chicago Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.