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FinalCall.com News
National News
Minister Farrakhan delivers a message of unity and brotherhood
By Ashahed M. Muhammad
FCN Contributing Writer
Updated Sep 28, 2007 - 5:10:00 PM
‘We must first be Brothers’
MOSQUE MARYAM (FinalCall.com) - Inordinate materialism, arrogance, excessive pride and the seeking of titles are barriers to establishing a true and lasting Brotherhood was the message delivered by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan to the capacity crowd at the Nation of Islam’s headquarters, Mosque Maryam, in Chicago, Illinois on Sept. 16.
“People with titles begin to feel a sense of importance,” said Minister Farrakhan. “When you think you’ve got a title and you feel important, your feeling of importance is destructive to peace and order and Brotherhood.”
“In this world, if you have a title, it confers on you honor and respect, but you may not be a good person.”
Minister Farrakhan went on to say that many who receive titles begin to think more of themselves than they should. Often, the position that we strive for and the influence we desire is the exact means by which we destroy ourselves and the spirit of others.
“We can be such beautiful people without a title, and then the moment a title is conferred on us, all of a sudden, we become tyrants,” said Minister Farrakhan. “We become oppressive, we can become mean-spirited and we begin to look down on others because they don’t have the title that has separated us out from our Brothers and our Sisters.”
“These kind of people destroy churches, they destroy mosques, they destroy progress, they destroy nations,” said Minister Farrakhan. “I wonder what President Bush would be like as just plain old George W? After commandeering an election and becoming the President of the United States of America, this man has acted as thought he is a god besides God.”
Ramadan and Hajj—pillars of Islam
Minister Farrakhan explained the holy month of Ramadan to those in attendance who may not be familiar with this observance practiced by followers of Islam all over the world.
“The day is given to prayer and to the study of the Qur’an which is the word that Almighty God Allah revealed to his servant Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and all through the month, we are students who impose a discipline on ourselves. We do it out of our love for God and our love for one another and our love for humanity,” said Minister Farrakhan. “We deprive ourselves of that which is natural so we will have enough strength to discipline ourselves against what is unnatural.”
Minister Farrakhan also described the hajj or pilgrimage to those in attendance using it as an example of another pillar of Islam showing the beauty of the principles in Islam which if properly understood and practiced, would lead to a high level of unity and cooperation among human beings. Those going on the hajj have to strip themselves of jewelry or clothes, or anything that would create classes of distinction is removed to prepare themselves for the spiritual journey which lies ahead.
“When you go to the House of God, you don’t come there with a title, God doesn’t care if the king is coming, if the emperor is coming, if the prime minister is coming; when we go before God, we stand in ranks, no one better than the other. All of us standing before our creator and all the things that would make us think we are better, we’ve left outside of Mecca.”
“God is The Ever-Living, but man can succeed God; man can be khalifah to stand in the place of God. Then if I and you and we can stand in His place, then in us is the ability to reflect Him perfectly, if we surrender and submit our will to do The Will of God,” said Minister Farrakhan. “Your DNA links you directly to The Originator of the heavens and the earth.”
Minister Farrakhan also blasted critics who over the years have said that he was out for personal gain, questioning whether he was sincere in his strident defense of Black people.
“I’m probably the only voice that has not bowed down to them,” said Minister Farrakhan. “Why would I challenge a government? Why would I challenge the Zionists if I was afraid for my life? My life and my death is all for Allah! I don’t care about their power!”
Support for Mychal Bell and the ‘Jena 6’
Marcus Jones and Melissa Bell, the mother and father of Mychal Bell, the young man who has been in prison since December 2006 in the ‘Jena 6’ case, were in Chicago and came to Mosque Maryam to meet with the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
The state appeals court threw out a felony conviction against Mr. Bell, however he remains in prison, and the district attorney has said that he will appeal the overturned conviction or pursue new juvenile charges against him. A large demonstration in support of Mychal Bell and the ‘Jena 6’ is scheduled for Thursday, September 20, 2007, to draw supporters and activists from across America.
“Their son and other children have been wrongfully arrested in Louisiana and we do not intend to let them suffer like this. Our unity backing them will get justice for them and all the ‘Jena 6’” said Minister Farrakhan as he brought the parents up to the front of Mosque Maryam.
Mychal Bell’s father, Marcus Jones said while they have achieved a measure of success, he will not be satisfied until his son is completely free.
“My son is still locked up. I won’t feel any better until I see him walk out of jail a free Blackman,” said Mr. Jones. “Racism is still alive and deep down in their heart, White people are going to take it to their graves hating Black people and everybody should be strong and stand up for what is right.”
Mr. Bell’s mother Melissa agreed, saying that the racism that has been going on for years is now seen by all. “It’s been going on for many years, it just hasn’t been exposed,” said Ms. Bell. “We’re going to lead the march to let Jena know that we are not sitting down for this,” she added.
They described their son’s mood as generally “positive” and “hopeful.” Ms. Bell said once he is released, she plans to move from Jena. She also has not ruled out legal action against Jena law enforcement and political officials.
“I enjoyed the speech today and we are thankful for all those who have supported us, I enjoyed meeting Minister Farrakhan and thank him very much for his supporting Mychal,” said Ms. Bell.
Student in the ministry, Bro. Carlos Muhammad of Muhammad’s Mosque No. 6 in Baltimore, Md. was in attendance just recently returning from Jamaica as part of a delegation representing the Nation of Islam and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan for the inauguration of the Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
“The Minister did such a beautiful job in introducing us to the real work that we said that we wanted to be a part of and that is the resurrection work. The Nation of Islam is being resurrected through the mouth and the example of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan by showing us that the real title is Muslim and when we learn to be good Muslims, we will be good Brothers and Sisters to one another.”
News Update: Mychal Bell of the "Jena 6" was released on $45,000 bail on Friday, September 28, 2007. -Click here for story.
