Teen Muslims come together for dialogue at Youth Summit

By Anisah Muhammad -Contributing Writer- | Last updated: Feb 20, 2019 - 12:27:24 PM

Participants and presenters during Youth Summit during Saviours’ Day in group photo. Photos: Lens of Ansar

CHICAGO—The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan teaches that a movement without youth is a dead movement. In that respect, the Nation of Islam is alive and well as demonstrated by youth who took part in a Feb. 15 opening day “Youth Summit” during Saviours’ Day 2019.

Panelists included Leonard Muhammad, Student Minister Nuri Muhammad and actor Erica Lashae. The panel was moderated by Salih Muhammad, director of Muhammad University of Islam in Los Angeles.

Part of the conversation included being Muslim and proud in the Nation of Islam.

“There’s no other religion, organization or belief system on the planet that presents you with a goal that when you join it, the finished product, the final product is you become a male or female god,” Student Minister Nuri Muhammad said.

Final Call contributing writer Anisah Muhammad (right) interviews participant.

Erica Lashae, who is part of the NFA Studios’ original show “The Loft,” initially wanted to fit in at school, but today she realizes that people who move and shake things often don’t fit in.

“How do you fit into a world that wasn’t made for us? How do you fit into a world that doesn’t like who and what you are?” she asked the audience of youth.

The Youth Summit was interactive and included audience participation. Youth were called on to respond to some of the panelists’ questions, and they were also quizzed about Nation of Islam history.

The reason for historical-based questions, Salih Muhammad said, is because, quoting Marcus Garvey, a people that don’t know their history are like a tree without roots.

Halfway through the Summit, Salih Muhammad asked youth to join certain circles based on age and gender.

Khabir Muhammad and Kalib Muhammad spoke to Jr. Fruit of Islam (FOI), male members ages 13-15.

“We have to find a wife that loves God more than she loves you,” a young brother from Atlanta said, summarizing the conversation.

Mothyna Muhammad and Kalidah Muhammad talked with Jr. Muslim Girls Training & Civilization Class (MGT), female members ages 13-15. The group discussed self-care, positivity, eliminating stress and seeing your reflection in your sister or brother.

Nuri Muhammad and Leonard Muhammad conversed with young men ages 16-18.

“If you challenge yourself and if you discipline yourself, you can become a better man and have a better mindset,” participant Saeed Muhammad said.

Jazmin Muhammad and Erica Lashae talked with young women ages 16-18. The group talked about having an open relationship with one’s parents and the importance of finding comfort in covering.

Khadirah Muhammad, a 23-year-old from Washington, D.C., sat in on the 16-18-year-old group.

DJ at Youth Summit Feb. 15.

“It was really nice to see them be able to come together and be open enough to speak about things that maybe they wouldn’t be comfortable speaking to,” she said.

Destiny Muhammad, 20, also listened in on the 16-18 group.

“You were able to see that growing up in the Nation, you had youth who also had the same problems that you did, and we were able to talk about it and discuss it in an open, safe environment,” the Houston resident said.

One last circle consisted of mothers talking about how to best serve their children and the children of the Nation.

Youth cheered as Salih Muhammad introduced Marquis Henri and rapper Neelam Hakim, a young married couple in the Nation who made a special guest appearance at the summit.

Ms. Hakim talked about her experience as a female rapper who went from 1,000 followers to about a half a million across all of her social media in one year.

“This all started with me making the decision to cover my hair and go towards modest fashion, and I’ve always struggled with that,” she said.

She recently bumped into Beyoncé and met Jay-Z, who told her that she had an amazing energy. She is now signed to Roc Nation.

Nuri Muhammad gave the closing remarks of the summit.

“This generation that you all are a part of, you’re not like the generations before,” he said. He quoted Minister Farrakhan in saying that the youth are not a generation of hope or faith but a generation of fulfillment.

“Activate your power by being right early in your life,” he said.

The summit had a positive impact on the youth. Ayinde Muhammad, a 20-year-old from Rochester, N.Y., commented on the youth’s ability to discipline themselves in order to bring out the power inside.

“The more that that gets taught to this generation and to the generations that continue to follow, I think we would be as powerful as ever,” he said.

Many of the organizers and panelists felt that the Youth Summit was needed for various reasons.

Nuri Muhammad talked about the educational strategy of separate group learning and how it is one of the most successful types of educational programs.

“Wouldn’t it make sense that we would follow the best kind of educational structure where we could separate the young from the adults and find out how we can take the same message that we would give to the adults and give it in a user-friendly way? That 12-15 and 16-18 can learn, males and females separate and bring everybody back together?” he asked.

Student Minister Nuri Mhammad

“I think that setting up this teen summit in the way that it is (will) help the young learn the teachings, the goals and the program better and make them more successful when they leave Saviours’ Day,” he continued.

Salih Muhammad said the summit was needed because organizations that don’t have a mind for the youth are destined for failure.

“If we don’t make intentional efforts to secure our future by providing our young people with information, knowledge, love and culture, then we won’t have a future that we’re proud of,” he said.

Coordinator Jennifer Muhammad talked about expanding the summit.

“We would like to be able to see a day-long or a two-day summit opportunity next year,” she said.

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