“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” —1 Corinthians 3: 16 (New International Version)

“For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.” —1 Corinthians 12: 14 - 20 (King James Version)

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad stated that one of the factors that made him a more effective spiritual teacher was his knowledge of the human body. This would include anatomy and physiology.

His study was done in a special way, from 1935 to 1942 while on the run from hypocrites and other enemies who were seeking his life. Such plots against his life were continuously in motion. These wicked efforts reached their apex towards the end of the first phase of his mission among us.

From the time the Honorable Elijah Muhammad received his mission, his life was characterized by the most intense mixture of praying, studying, teaching, traveling and suffering. He said openly, during his 1973 Saviour’s Day address, that his suffering was an act of Divine love for us. Seated on the stage during this historic event was his National Representative, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, who could be seen apparently wiping tears from his eyes. He too, suffers greatly, while maintaining the most beautiful attitude in pain and discomfort, gratefully viewing what he experiences as a learning experience among other factors.

It is no accident then, that while the Honorable Elijah Muhammad would be going through an especially painful period in his spiritual development, he would be taken deeper into the knowledge of Self via anatomy and physiology. A brief and general definition of anatomy, according to Answers.com is, ‘the bodily structure of a plant or an animal or of any of its parts.’ A brief and general description of physiology from the same source is ‘the biological study of the functions of living organisms and their parts.’

I encourage all who read this to speak to medical professionals of all kinds to receive better and deeper definitions of anatomy and physiology.

How does any or all of this relate to business planning?

In every definition I have seen of anatomy and physiology, there are two words that invariably come up. They are ‘function’ and ‘structure.’ These two words are enormously important in business. Every business organization has a structure and function. Here are two brief definitions for each from Answers.com:

structure: Something made up of a number of parts that are held or put together in a particular way: hierarchical social structure. The way in which parts are arranged or put together to form a whole; makeup: triangular in structure. The interrelation or arrangement of parts in a complex entity: political structure; plot structure. Something constructed, such as a building. Biology: The arrangement or formation of the tissues, organs, or other parts of an organism. An organ or other part of an organism.

function: The action for which a person or thing is particularly fitted or employed. Assigned duty or activity. A specific occupation or role: ‘in my function as chief editor.’ An official ceremony or a formal social occasion. Something closely related to another thing and dependent on it for its existence, value, or significance: Growth is a function of nutrition. In Mathematics: A variable so related to another that for each value assumed by one there is a value determined for the other. A rule of correspondence between two sets such that there is a unique element in the second set assigned to each element in the first set. In Biology: The physiological activity of an organ or body part. In Chemistry: The characteristic behavior of a chemical compound, resulting from the presence of a specific functional group. In Computer Science: A procedure within an application.

Anyone who: 1) has a medical condition 2) is in communication with competent medical professionals and 3) is self aware and able to observe what is happening to them, is learning about anatomy and physiology. The knowledge of anatomy and physiology, although many may not think of it as such, is a critical aspect of the knowledge of self, that all of us should be engaged in learning.

A friend and brother of mine, and to so many others, Brother Jabril Muhammad, is currently gaining such critically important knowledge. It is deepening him spiritually.

Brother Jabril, among other ‘things’ is a theologian trained directly by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. He had the honor of living in the Phoenix, Arizona home of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad for a 6 year period. His column, Farrakhan The Traveler has appeared in this newspaper—The Final Call —for nearly 30 years.

He currently has a medical condition known as aphasia.

As he learns about this condition, he has been publicly encouraging others to do the same. In the Vol. 27; No. 26 edition of this newspaper he wrote, “Most people say that I am ‘suffering’ from Aphasia. I don’t see it that way. I see that I’m ‘learning’ from Aphasia. For an introduction into what is Aphasia, go to www.aphasia.com”

Here is some of what I learned recently from Brother Jabril regarding his condition:

“When a person with conduction aphasia has problems getting words out, it is because the brain is using the pathway that was injured by the stroke. In order for words to be spoken in normal conversation, it has to leave one part of the brain and get to another part of the brain, and it does it by way of pathways. In conduction aphasia, the pathway that connects the two parts of the brain responsible for word finding; word retrieval and pronunciation is broken. The brain due to its many years of using the old pathway “forgets” to use the newly made pathway that the body, spontaneously made, after such injury. This is because that newly made pathway needs to be made strong or strengthened via speech therapy.

“Every time a person with conduction aphasia either speaks or writes complete sentences without any mistakes, that is strengthening the newly made pathway because the brain is now using the new pathway. Some times a person with conduction aphasia may use both pathways simultaneously. When a person with conduction aphasia does this, you will notice that he/she may start saying or using the wrong words which he could clearly see and hear himself. This is an excerpt from material from a doctor about my condition. By the help of Allah, all of this will become public.”

The Holy Qur’an states that the human body is the best of makes or the best of molds. How many who are Muslims, or respect the insights of the Holy Qur’an, factor this truth or this Book of Scripture into their business planning? Why wouldn’t a Believer see a utility in applying a Book that comes from One referred to, in that Book, as The Best Knower, in all of their business affairs?

Just reflect over that contradiction.

The human body like any created (or even ‘evolved’) thing has a nature.

The nature of anything is comprised of three elements: its purpose, structure, and function.

We can always find the purpose of a thing if we are able to learn its structure and function. This is one of the areas where it is easy to show the ultimate unity of true science and true religion.

Theology and History are the sciences best qualified to demonstrate this relationship.

If you, as an entrepreneur or business owner are not clear on the purpose, structure, and function of your business, your chances of success, in the short term or long-term are not very great.

In business planning there are five brief statements—which get at the heart of purpose, structure, and function—that I advise my CM Cap clients to write:

Mission Statement: Why your business organization exists.

Values Statement: What your business organization believes in and how it will behave.

Vision Statement: What your business organization wants to be.

Strategic Statement: What your business organization’s competitive ‘game plan’ will be and how you will implement it.

Metrics Statement: How your business organization will monitor whether it is successful or failing in the execution of its plan

If you can’t answer these questions and write brief and concise statements regarding them, you are not fully acquainted with the purpose, structure, and function of your business.

Some I know may still not understand why, in a discussion of business planning I have previously referenced the Scriptures, and now, Anatomy and Physiology.

That makes me think such persons are not clear on what the word ‘supreme’ means. It also makes me think they may not be aware of the fact that the Honorable Elijah Muhammad compared money to blood.

Hopefully the relevance of: 1) the Scriptures, 2) the science of Anatomy and Physiology, and the next three areas I intend to write on: 3) the Divine Creation of the Woman 4) the Universe; and 5) Botany and Zoology; and their ability to inform your business planning will become crystal clear.

Please have patience, and attempt to view this series with a spiritual eye.