‘The faith of one man’ - A special Saviours’ Day FOI class

By J.A. Salaam -Contributing Writer- | Last updated: Mar 4, 2020 - 9:03:14 AM

(L-R) Student Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan, Student Assistant Supreme Captain Abdul Azziz Muhammad, FOI of the Year Wayne Muhammad, European Region FOI class., FOI of the Year Jamal Muhammad, Atlanta, GA.

Student Supreme Captain addresses FOI class during Saviours’ Day.

DETROIT—Early Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m. on February 22, an army of Black men gathered in the main auditorium of the TCF Convention Center in Detroit to give recognition to men of the FOI (Fruit of Islam)— the name given to the military training of men who belong to Islam in North America.

They entered the room like an army displaying discipline and order as they lined up in ranks and walked into different sections throughout the open space. Some had on neatly pressed brown uniforms trimmed in gold with bow ties and others wore Navy blue ones trimmed with white stripes. Their shoes were shined, and their faces were clean shaved with a glow in anticipation and excitement for being there. They greeted each other with hugs and pleasant smiles. The feeling of love filled the atmosphere among the hundreds of men present.

Every year during the Nation of Islam’s annual Saviours’ Day weekend men of the FOI that have excelled in their duty to go into the streets to seek and to find those who are still lost are recognized. They are rewarded for their good works. There were 10 recipients from seven regions of America and Europe that received awards for their service. The student Supreme Captain of the mens class, Mustapha Farrakhan electrified the men with words of guidance and encouragement.

“He (Master Fard Muhammad) came to North America by Himself, and the purpose for His coming was to seek and to save that which was lost and He did that … we have to pay attention for when that nation fell. We’re standing on the shoulders of those men, because there were no shoulders for us to stand on. But one man’s faith, one man’s belief, in a mighty God is the rock that we the Nation of Islam on this side of ’75 is standing on,” he said. That mighty man he was speaking about, is the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, who stood to resurrect the teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

FOI were awarded for their excellent work in the streets.

(L-R) FOI of the Year Ibrahim Muhammad, Delaware Region, Mosque 35., Bro. Rashad Muhammad receives award on behalf of Harold Muhammad, Austin, TX., FOI of the year Bridge Muhammad, Memphis, TN., FOI of the Year Cyril Muhammad, Oakland, CA.

(L-R) FOI of the Year Lonnie Muhammad, Plainsville, NJ., FOI of the Year Hannibal Hasan, Richmond, VA, FOI of the Year Daniel X, Tampa, FL .

“As I look out into this beautiful audience and see the soldiers of God, the enemy of you and I are poised to destroy this. But they cannot do their work in the presence of God. So if we are a nation of God, then they won’t be able to do their work,” Bro. Mustapha added.

The recipients for this year’s FOI of the year recognition awards include: Daniel X, Seventh Region from Tampa, Fla.; Ibrahim Muhammad, Delaware Valley Region from Mosque No. 35;

Hannibal Hasan, Mid-Atlantic Region from Richman, Va.; Bridge Muhammad, Central Region from Memphis, Tenn.; Wayne Muhammad, from the European Region in London, England;

Cyril Muhammad, Western Region from Oakland, Calif.; Harold Muhammad, Southwest Region from Austin, Texas; Jamal Muhammad, Southern Region from Atlanta and Lonnie Muhammad, Eastern Region from Plainville, New Jersey.

There was a special presentation recognizing Abdul Malik Muhammad (formerly Warren 2X) of Chicago’s Mosque Maryam. Bro. Abdul Malik organized teams of men to accomplish the goal of fishing (inviting new people) to the mosque.

“This brother didn’t choose to get all the credit himself, so he and a few men wake up every day early in the morning at 5:00 a.m., say their prayers and hit the street as a unit. Under his guidance and leadership, they had 207 first timers,” said assistant Student Supreme Captain Abdul Azziz Muhammad. A check was presented to Bro. Abdul Malik for his dedication and example of being a servant leader.

The Final Call