What is Saviours’ Day?

By Final Call News | Last updated: Feb 20, 2018 - 10:52:07 PM

Women of the Nation of Islam M.G.T./G.C.C. enjoy Saviours’ Day celebration. (R) Men of The Nation of Islam F.O.I. (Fruit of Islam) promote Saviours’ Day in Chicago to members of the community.

Saviours’ Day is an annual Nation of Islam commemoration of the birth of Master Fard Muhammad, the Great Mahdi of the Muslims and the Messiah of the Christians who appeared in North America on July 4, 1930 and declared that the 400 years of bondage Blacks served in America had ended.

His coming and declaration fulfills many scriptures; however, perhaps most notable is the fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham that his descendants would endure bondage in a strange land among a strange people— before God Himself would deliver Abraham’s seed and judge the nation they served. Master Fard Muhammd was born February 26, 1877, in the Holy City of Mecca. He raised and taught the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, who dedicated over 40 years of his life to the resurrection of the mentally, morally, spiritually and economically dead so-called American Negro. Each year he would convene Saviour’s Day and deliver a major address and expound on the divine wisdom given to him by Master Fard Muhammad.

After the 1975 departure of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, in September of 1977, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan made the decision to rebuild the work of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and reestablish the Nation of Islam. Under Min. Farrakhan’s leadership, Saviour’s Day returned in 1981 in Chicago. In 1983, the Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan changed the spelling of the commemoration from Saviour’s Day, as it had been, to the plural Saviours’ Day. He explained during a message delivered in Gary, Ind., that the change meant that not only was Master Fard Muhammad the Saviour for the Black Man and Woman of America, but that the Muslims in the Nation of Islam had the mission of delivering the word and doing the work of resurrection as “little saviours” for the suffering masses of Blacks in America and suffering people around the world.

Thousands now attend the convention, which has grown to include workshops, plenary sessions, lively discussions, and entertainment, social and educational, activities for children and families, the Drill exhibition and closes with a major address delivered by Min. Farrakhan. It is a joyful and spirited occasion that is looked forward to by members of the Nation of Islam and the Black community.

Some of Black America’s leading political, social, business, sports and entertainment giants have participated in and supported Saviours’ Day conventions. International guests are featured and come to participate in its full schedule of activities. The advent of the Internet has provided another way for people around the globe to enjoy aspects of the convention and access information. Saviours’ Day has most often been held in Chicago, but previous gatherings have also been held in Gary, Ind., Detroit, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and an International Saviours’ Day was held in Accra, Ghana, in 1994, drawing thousands to the Motherland.

This year’s convention is back in the city of the Nation of Islam’s headquarters and will be held February 23-24 at McCormick Place (McCormick Convention Center), 2301 S King Dr., Chicago, IL 60616. Min. Farrakhan will deliver his traditional Saviours’ Day address, Sunday, February 25 at Wintrust Arena, 200 E. Cermak, in Chicago, IL. Doors open at noon and the program begins at 2 p.m. The message will be broadcast live via webcast at NOI.org.

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