Awards ceremony highlights Saviours’ Day 2019 FOI class

By Brian E. Muhammad -Contributing Writer- | Last updated: Feb 26, 2019 - 4:09:19 PM

National Student Asst. Min. Ishmael Muhammad addresses the FOI during class

(l) Group photo of FOI captains from various cities (r) Supreme Captain Mustapha Muhammad

CHICAGO—Enthusiastic chants of “Long live Muhammad” and “Allah-U-Akbar” (God is great) thundered through the air Feb. 16 at a national FOI class during Saviours’ Day 2019. FOI means Fruit of Islam, the name given to the military training of the men who belong to Islam in North America and now worldwide with the global growth of the Nation of Islam (NOI).

It was a gathering of saviours, soldiers, and redeemers often called the “class for Gods,” where men of the Nation of Islam come together from eight regions of the United States, the Caribbean and Europe.

The class was moderated by Student Minister Nuri Muhammad of Indianapolis, and the men heard from Student National Assistant Minister Ishmael Muhammad, Student Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan and the regional captains of the NOI.

The Student Supreme Captain expressed words of gratitude for the “unwavering commitment” of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan to raise the spiritually dead in the mission given to him by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

He thanked the men for their efforts in the cause and exhorted the brothers to be unified in mind and spirit and to remember people who paid a price for the liberation and salvation of Black people. He stressed becoming unified and not just having the semblance of unity.

(l) Delaware Valley Regional Captain Anthony Muhammad and awardee Lt. Darren X | (r) Mid-Atlantic Regional Captain Aaron Muhammad and awardee Isaiah Muhammad

(l) Western Regional Captain Halim Muhammad (left) with awardee Durrell X (right) (r) Seventh Regional awardee Tony Muhammad

(left photo) Central Regional Captain Dwayne Muhammad (left) and awardee W.J. Muhammad (right) (right photo) Eastern Regional Captain Majied Muhammad (right) and Captain Tarik Muhammad (left) holding plaque of his award.

(l) Southern Regional Captain Oliver Muhammad (right) with awardee Cedrick X (left) (r) European Regional Captain Jeffrey Muhammad (right) with awardee Wayne Muhammad (left)

Brother Mustapha Farrakhan emphasized that to be successful the men must align themselves with the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

“We are blessed beyond your wildest imagination … and I thank Allah for each and every one of you who are true Believers in this cause,” he told the men.

The men sat in unified ranks clad in sharp, brown uniforms. “We are in the army of God and we, today, look beautiful in repping who we are,” said Mustapha Farrakhan.

Moses had followers, Jesus had disciples, Prophet Muhammad had companions, and Elijah Muhammad and Minister Farrakhan has the Fruit of Islam in their mission to give light, life and power to a spiritually dead humanity. The FOI are “little messengers” who delivers the truth to a wayward world in need of right guidance.

FOI of the year awards were given to a brother from each of the regions for outstanding service in the distribution of The Final Call newspaper, bringing first time guests to the mosque and overall striving in the work. A highlight of the awards was the Khalil Muhammad Outstanding Service Award that went to Eastern Regional Captain Majied Muhammad; Meeko Muhammad of Atlanta; Lt. Sherwood Muhammad of New York and Eric Muhammad of Newark, NJ.

The award is named in honor of the late Bro. Khalil Muhammad, who was legendary for his consistent distribution of The Final Call newspaper and spreading of the truth.

Meeko Muhammad, Lt. Sherwood Muhammad, Capt. Majied Muhammad and Eric Muhammad (not shown) with Asst. Supreme Captain Anthony Muhammad (right) presented each with The Khalil Muhammad Outstanding Service Award.

The year 2019 marks 89 years of the Nation of Islam and the work of salvation that the FOI exemplifies.

The Great Mahdi and founder of the Nation of Islam, Master Fard Muhammad, instituted the class to restore Black men to their original nature.

The class celebrated progress made and further guidance was shared for advancing the Nation of Islam forward. The major objective for the FOI this year is to increase the ranks of the Nation of Islam.

This year “we want to be the best that we have ever been,” said Student Assistant Supreme Captain Anthony Muhammad in an interview with The Final Call.

“This year is a year that is absolutely going to be remembered,” Brother Anthony Muhammad predicted. “The Minister is constantly doing things that enables us to be better Muslims,” he added.

The Final Call