Why A Man Such As Minister Farrakhan Loves Us So Much: A Response To Kwame Rose

By Shareefah Muhammad | Last updated: Jun 7, 2016 - 10:34:45 AM

During his informative, thought-provoking and divinely-guided interview on The Breakfast Club that aired May 24, that covered a myriad of topics, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan addressed from a spiritual perspective and as a man of God, the inherent value and beauty of the female, the crime of rape, the abuse of women and the critical importance of modest dress for women and girls as a means of protection in a world that devalues them. His remarks were misinterpreted and mischaracterized by activist and artist Kwame Rose in an essay on abernathymagazine.com entitled, “On Louis Farrakhan and rape.” Below are responses to Mr. Rose’s commentary and other critics of the Minister written by three Muslim women in the Nation of Islam.

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After reading your article on Abernathy Magazine’s website, I felt compelled to write this piece to inform and debunk the improper view of how the Minister’s words were expressed in your writing. While your point of view is appreciated, it just shows that we women in the Nation of Islam (M.G.T.) have more work to do to shed light and truth on ideas such as yours that pervade the mindsets of some of our people. I thank Allah (God) for using you in this way to open up more dialogue on this topic.

A little background about myself. I am a member of the Nation of Islam in the women’s class, the M.G.T. and G.C.C. (Muslim Girls Training and General Civilization). As a young woman who did not escape the occurrences of childhood molestation, I grew up suffering from a serious complex of understanding my self-worth. It was not until I joined the Nation of Islam and came into the understanding of my value AND that we as women are the second self of God that I was able to rise above the mentality I carried that was weighing me down.

In addressing the beginning of your article it must be understood that it is not the responsibility of Min. Farrakhan’s views to reflect the masses of Black people; it is Min Farrakhan’s responsibility to reflect the Views of God. So, if the masses’ view has shifted away from God, then what should the masses expect but the sick society that we are witnessing today.

You said that Min. Farrakhan, “suggests that the way to stop sexual predators is not by telling men not to rape, but to tell young women to cover up because a man is supposed to be sexually attracted to you.” Your ‘spin’ or ‘interpretation’ of his words are not a reflection of what is a part of the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad as taught under the leadership of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Yes, we are taught who we are, our true value in the sight of God and to understand our nature as well as that of man. It is because of this understanding that we as women who are being civilized in the Lifestyle of God choose to live the life of modest women.

You are right that the way a woman dresses is not an invitation to be raped (Min. Farrakhan also agreed on The Breakfast Club Interview), yet you neglect to acknowledge that the type of world that we live in is filled with sick-minded individuals. The Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan teaches us that everything of value is covered and protected. To be God’s most valuable treasure, we too should be covered, in a modest and beautiful way. When we as women cover, it affects the psyche of the environment we are in; this is why it is called our protection.

Our disrespect for the nature of the male and female is one reason we are in the condition we are in today. Regardless to whether or not one believes in God, there are certain laws (such as gravity) that we all must follow in order to continue living. God has designed us (male and female) to be attracted to one another which aids in the continuance of our species. So yes, our form or adornments should be covered so as not to attract unwanted or inappropriate responses at the wrong time. A woman who comes into the knowledge of herself understands that she has a right to choose to dress as she pleases but BECAUSE she is now embarking on a path of civility and has the correct view of herself, she chooses the modest approach.

In no way does Minister Farrakhan excuse such behavior (rape and abuse) of men towards women for he teaches us that men who commit such acts are worthy of death (he said that on the interview as well) yet it is because of the pathetic condition we are in due to PTSD (Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome) that we are granted the Grace of Allah (God). Men should be taught more than just that a woman’s body belongs to her; they too should also be given and taught the knowledge of themselves that they may better respect themselves and the women in their community. If they understand this, then ‘controlling themselves’ would become second nature. But then they too because of their heightened level of respect and civility would cause them to ask sisters to cover as well! (smile)

Minister Farrakhan’s comments don’t promote violence. If anything based off of what he teaches us as women, it promotes self-defense. For example, in the interview Charlamagne made the comment that if a rapist wants to rape a woman, he would rape her regardless of what she is wearing. So if the first line of defense of modest dress doesn’t work, then this is where our training as soldiers is activated and we defend ourselves and our virtue even if it means taking our assailant’s life because the virtue of any woman is invaluable. Remember, civilizations have been raised and destroyed through our women, that is why we are considered the ‘booty’, a treasure or prize.

Your closing statement that the Nation of Islam is undermining our teaching that says, “A Nation Can Rise No Higher Than its Woman,” is very well misplaced. If you have not had a chance I implore you to purchase and view a lecture Min. Farrakhan did last year titled “Save Our Girls” (http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/Minister_Louis_Farrakhan_9/article_102302.shtml), where the program demonstrated that a woman’s gifts and talents can reach unlimited heights. Many different professions of women were displayed and they were all in beautiful, modest attire. So the question really is, what is your definition of ‘beauty’ and ‘independence’? If it is something that doesn’t involve God in the equation then it is something I can respectfully say we don’t want.

Thank you for taking the time to read these few words. I pray they helped to shed some depth as to why a man such as Minister Farrakhan loves us so much.

Shareefah Muhammad is a wife, mother, writer, nutritional lifestyle consultant and wholistic health care practitioner.

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