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A man, a function, a title and a profound truth
By Jabril Muhammad
Updated Sep 3, 2014 - 12:45:45 PM

“To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. And whether you manifest what is in your minds or hide it, Allah will call you to account according to it. So He forgives whom He pleases and chastises whom He pleases. And Allah is Possessor of power over all things.

“Allah imposes not on any soul a duty beyond its scope. For it, is that which it earns (of good), and against it that which it works (of evil). Our Lord, punish us not if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, do not lay on us a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us. Our Lord, impose not on us (afflictions) which we have not the strength to bear. And pardon us! And grant us protection! And have mercy on us! Thou art our Patron, so grant us victory over the disbelieving people.” The Holy Qur’an 2: 284 and 286

We can read in the last two issues, of The Final Call Volume 33 Numbers 46, and 47, the words of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. I’ve studied his words very carefully and in context. This involves what is going on in the world and what is prophesied in the Bible and The Holy Qur’an.

I did not respond to any of the world’s events until after Minister Farrakhan spoke in Chicago on August 17, 2014. I’m now in the process of responding to his words that he spoke when he addressed the world in Chicago.

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I’ve wrote a book that contains these words:

There have been changes in the function of each man—the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and Minister Farrakhan. More often than not, in this world, titles are used to feed egos and seldom to describe actual functions. Not so in the case of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Take for instance these two names: “Jesus” and “the Christ.” There were many boy babies named Jesus 2,000 years ago. Many people in that part of the world expected a very important person, described in prophecy under various names, or titles to appear around that time. In the scriptures names or titles describe character or function.

It is beyond the scope of this article to explore the derivations or the roots of the titles or terms “Messiah” or “Christ.” The main point I wish to make is that Jesus (or Isa, in the language that he spoke) was his first name.  However, Christ was not his last name nor was it his family name. Nevertheless, people seem to take for granted that Christ was the last or family name of Jesus.

This point may seem to be of little importance. That’s a mistake: for if Isa (Jesus), of 2,000 years ago, was not the Christ, then the Christ was yet to come. Moreover, if we are looking into the past for someone who is alive—in the present—we may not recognize him even while looking into his face.

Take for example the fact that Mr. William Clinton is now the president of the United States. “President” is one of his titles. When we say “President Clinton” we do not mean the word or title “president” is his first name. Likewise, as was just noted, Messiah or Christ was not the family name of a man born 2,000 years ago.

Nor will it prove to be anymore than a significant aspect, or function, of the one who performs according to that function.

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad referred to himself as the Messenger of Allah. So did we who followed him. This reference, on our part, was from recognition of his relationship to the Supreme Being, mixed with awe—or at the least, a profound respect. Again, we used this title from an emotion of deep love.

Very often many of us used it as a convenient and short way to refer to this wonderful man we followed. But how many of us really understood this title and its implications?

Many of us, whether we follow the Honorable Louis Farrakhan or not, still use this term, or title, “Messenger.” However, we have entered another dimension. It is a fact that cannot be overlooked. In a major way this new dimension revolves around the Honorable Louis Farrakhan. 

Whether one thinks that the Honorable Elijah Muhammad died, in 1975, or not, the fact is he is not present in the ordinary sense of that word. And yet he is. He is not in our midst in the sense that we can pick up an ordinary telephone, dial his number and hear his voice on the other end, as many of us did. 

He is not delivering a message to Black people, America and to the world.  And yet he is. It is my intention to make clear what I mean by this in the tenth chapter of this book; and more fully in the next volume. 

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In the sixth Surah of the Holy Qur’an He raises the question: “What thing is weightiest in testimony?” He states, in effect, that His own word is weightiest! The Supreme Being is not a liar!!! 

Nevertheless, a great many people, in and outside of America, have conflicting views about the word of God. Such disputes are at the root of much bloodshed. Look at Palestine, for instance.

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad made very clear, time and again, that no mistake was made in what he was taught. He declared that he was given the utmost of truth. He boldly announced that he had the absolute cure for the ills of Black people, as well as the most equitable solution to America’s most explosive problem: the problem between Black and White. 

Nevertheless, there certainly is no universal agreement about what he said; nor even about who should be the rightful heir to his seat in his absence; even though that issue should be by now beyond dispute.

Is there a way by which, on paper at least, the truth of this entire matter can be made so clear that arguments to the contrary look, as my Brother, Minister Akbar Muhammad would put it, “Totally out of order”? 

Is there a method, by which every honest seeker of truth could agree that would generate unity without any loss of self-respect; and which would synthesize, or so compose, whatever is of good in all of the conflicting views now held about Master Fard Muhammad; the Honorable Elijah Muhammad; the Honorable Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam?

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Now Study the words of Minister Farrakhan when he addressed the world on August 17th; the message titled The Troubled World: What Should We Be Doing? If “we” are of those in the “we,” think carefully over what “we” should be doing “right now.”

More next issue, Allah Willing.

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