byTyrone Muhammad
Staff Writer

CHICAGO—Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, a son of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and a prominent leader in the Muslim world, was embraced with cheers, hugs and kisses Feb. 26 by the son of the Honorable Louis Farrakhan, other sons of Elijah Muhammad and 8,000 cheering Muslims at the McCormick Center during the Nation of Islam’s Saviours’ Day 1999 celebration.

The Imam joined the Friday Jumu’ah prayer service, a highlight of the three-day weekend event, at the special invitation of Min. Farrakhan in an effort to continue the process of resolving differences between the communities of the followers of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad since 1975.

During brief remarks, Imam Mohammed said he is praying for the success and good health of Min. Farrakhan, "that he will be around for a long time to help bring us to the right direction, and to the great goal and great destination of being a united ummah (community) on this earth." Min. Farrakhan was unable to attend the event.

Responding later to reporters that his appearance represents reconciliation between his followers and those of Min. Farrakhan, the Imam noted that "the day of Jumu’ah is a very special day, the very best day of the year. Our Prophet (Muhammad) said this is one of the two best days of the year, even better than our two Eids (feasts).

"I couldn’t resist coming here knowing that (The Nation of Islam) was observing this day. I haven’t lost my friendship with Min. Farrakhan," he said, adding that the day "Inshallah (God willing), the day is coming" when he and the Minister will be one.

Introduced by Min. Farrakhan’s son Mustapha, whose eyes began to well upon embracing the Imam, the young Farrakhan extended an "invitation of unity and brotherhood to the whole Muslim community."

"As a son of my father, I know he’s very proud this day. On behalf of my father … we extend this invitation of unity and brotherhood to the whole Muslim ummah that wants to see freedom, justice and equality (to all)," he said.

Mustapha Farrakhan noted that the Muhammad and Farrakhan families are united "spiritually as well as physically," referring to the marriages that have occurred between the families of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and Min. Farrakhan.

"Allah knew that we would have our differences, but Allah knew that in time we would settle our differences and become one community, and one nation," Ishmael Muhammad, the assistant minister of Mosque Maryam and a son of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, told the congregation of Muslims.

"The Honorable Louis Farrakhan wants all of us as Muslims in America to understand our role in the new century. We have seen a century of murder and violence and we have seen a century of persecution of Muslims. But the new century belongs to Islam, the new century belongs to entire submission to the will of Allah (God)."

Imam Mohammed also was embraced by Min. Rasul Muhammad, a son of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, and Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, the First Lady of the Nation of Islam.

During his Sunday, Feb. 28, Saviours’ Day message, Min. Farrakhan thanked the imam publicly "for his appearance and his words so beautifully spoken at Salat al Jumu’ah. I want my brother to know that he is not a visitor, he was among his family."

A diverse assembly of the Islamic expression participated in the Friday prayer service, including immigrant Muslims from the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe.

"We are called to faith in Allah and Allah alone, and we don’t need anyone to approve of us," he said. "I’m thankful to Allah in seeing our Pakistani brothers and our Arab brothers here with us today. Islam is represented here today. This is what we want, the representation of Allah. We want a true connection with our brothers all over the world. We want to be reunited within the vision of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, who taught once you know yourself and you know Who your Creator is, you’ve got to go to your own. That’s why the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan left to travel the world and teach what his teacher taught him," Sheik Ahmed Tijani Bin Omar said.

Dr. Rasheed Matthews, who heads the Nashuani Sufi Order in Chicago, brought 50 members of his order to pray with his Muslim brothers from all over the world. "I think it is Allah’s will that we come together as a united body. There is a verse in the Qur’an that says hold fast by the covenant of Allah, and I think today is a testament to that verse. We came as a sign of our unity. A Jumu’ah was called, and it is was the obligation of all Muslims to obey," Dr. Matthews said.

Sheik Tijani was very happy with the reception Imam Mohammed received. "I’m sure he (the Imam) was surprised at the reception he got. He was received with the chant ‘there is no God, but Allah, in Arabic,’ " said Sheik Tijani, who gave the kutbah (lecture).

"The truth, the veracity of this gathering was proven in the absence of the Minister. God allowed for the Minister to be absent for the Imam to see that the people are on the right path, to see for himself that the Minister never taught no hate, no disrespect, but only love and respect," he added.

This is also fulfillment of Allah’s word that Islam will prevail all over the world and the Imam’s appearance at Jumu’ah prayer fulfilled a promise Min. Farrakhan made to the Muslim world, Sheikh Tijani continued. The Minister promotes the unity of Muslims and has always held the Imam in high esteem, he noted.

"There can never be the unity of Islam in this country, without the unity of the Imam and his brother, Min. Farrakhan. So I congratulate the Imam with the utmost respect and honor for accepting the invitation, and I congratulate the Minister" for extending it, Sheikh Tijani said.

Photo: Among family and friends, Imam W.D. Mohammed is greeted by (from left) Mustapha Farrakhan, Min. Ishmael Muhammad, Rasul Muhammad and brother Nathaniel. (Credit: James G. Muhammad)