by Toure Muhammad

CHICAGO (FinalCall.com)�An air of expectation filled the University of Illinois at Chicago Pavilion here Sept. 1 as Imam W. Deen Mohammed welcomed the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and other Muslim and Christian leaders to the stage for the closing ceremony of the Muslim American Society�s (MAS) annual convention.

The Muslims had come from across the country to hear Imam Mohammed�s keynote address titled, "The Life Blood of Islam and Christianity is Peace."

Those on the dais included Marko DeSalvo, co-director of the Focolare Movement, Dr. Abdul Hameed Dogar, director of the Islamic Foundation of Villa Park, Rev. Dr. Abu Akel, moderator of the Presbyterian Church General Assembly, and Dr. William Vendley, secretary general of the World Conference for Religions and for Peace.

During brief remarks, Min. Farrakhan noted the budding unity among members of the Nation of Islam and the Muslim American Society as an example for the Muslim world and the progress that could be made with such unity.

"Today we must say that Allah (God) is uniting our hearts and even though we have taken different paths to the One God, it is wonderful to see that two tracks are becoming a monorail," Min. Farrakhan said to rousing applause. "America is in deep trouble, and the only thing that will bring America out of the trouble that she is in is Islam. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said once, �Islam comes after everything else has failed.� It�s clear that everything has failed to produce a genuine brotherhood in America.

"Our brotherhood must be so magnificent that when they see us they would admire the brotherhood of Islam�all the hues, all the races, all the nationalities bowing together in one divine brotherhood. That is what America needs; that is what the world needs," Min. Farrakhan said. (See page 20 for text of Min. Farrakhan�s statement.)

Almost immediately into his talk, Imam Mohammed denounced the use of the military power often used by countries to try to solve problems. "There is no peace for those who represent military power and might. There is no hope that they will achieve peace. The way to achieve peace is to not respond to a situation until you yourself in your soul are at peace with your decisions," said Imam Mohammed.

"And I can�t believe that President Bush, our president that I respect, is at peace with what he is doing. I can�t believe that the general (Ariel) Sharon is at peace in what he is doing, and (Yasser) Arafat, the little guy that�s being beat up on�I include him, too�I don�t believe he should use any material weapons."

Throughout his presentation, which included a question and answer session, Imam Mohammed encouraged humanity to stop ignoring the world�s suffering. "If we will all be true to what we are invited to�Judaism invites to righteousness, Christianity invites to righteousness, Islam invites to righteousness�we (cannot) see the misery all over the world and not do something to change this ugly picture. Even animals come to the rescue of other animals, even if it�s of another species.

"A human being could be suffering and a dog will come and moan and try to get some (one) to come and help this poor human being; a dog. I say to the world of civilization, you should stop calling people dogs and monkeys. They are better than us; they are better than the world I live in. This world is doing too much wrong to expect God�s help. We must repent. We�re losing our humanity, we�re losing our nature, we�re losing our excellence," he added.

"Good Christians and good Muslims can work together to bring in a much better world than the world we live in now. I wish for a new heaven and a new earth and I hope our leaders will not be in there for long," he said.

Pointing the audience�s attention to the Middle East, Imam Mohammed encouraged the American people to consider the plight of the Palestinians as they look at the plight of the Israelis and encouraged unity between Christians and Muslims.

Imam Mohammed voiced solidarity with the remarks made by Min. Farrakhan, vowing to work with the Nation of Islam for economic development and calling for a united Muslim community in America that would show the true brotherhood of Islam regardless to race or ethnicity.

"We can do something in a short amount of time to increase our finances. That certainly needs to happen," said Imam Mohammed, encouraging business and spiritual collaboration among the Nation of Islam and the Muslim American Society, the country�s prominent Black American Muslim organizations.

"America has achieved more for mankind since the Black man stood up to demand dignity. America has achieved more dignity, more humanity since we stood up than all the centuries before," he said.

After his talk, Imam Mohammed responded to questions, which included a question about his thoughts on how to bring peace in the Middle East, the war on terrorism and the impending war on Iraq.

"President Bush (should) go to church for 10 days and keep the Bible open (and read), then after he has had a change of heart, go to Sharon and Arafat and see if they can have a change of heart," said Imam Mohammed.

"The main appreciation I have is that the Imam and Min. Farrakhan have come together and shown unity," said Imam Dr. Alauddin Shabazz, author and owner of Books Ink. "Imam Mohammed to answer one of the questions as to whether the Nation and his organization would work together for business adventures; he said �enthusiastically, yes.� If they work together, then our people cannot help but benefit from it."

"It�s great that the (Minister and the Imam) are coming together. We need to regroup. It would help us go out and do greater things. It�s an improvement," said Shahidah El-Amin, who traveled from Rochester, N.Y., for the weekend events.