The Final Call

Holy Day of Atonement comes to Newark!

By Tariqah Shakir-Muhammad -The Final Call- | Last updated: Oct 4, 2017 - 8:39:55 PM

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The 22nd Anniversary Commemoration of the Million Man March and Holy Day of Atonement is coming to Newark, New Jersey. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan will deliver the keynote address “Separation or Death!” It is a subject many residents of the city and throughout the country deem timely and appropriate. The Minister will deliver his message October 15 at Symphony Hall in Newark at 1020 Broad Street. Doors open at 12:00 noon (EST) and the program begins at 2:00 p.m. The program will also be streamed live in Nation of Islam mosques and Study Groups around the country via NOI.org. Momentum is building as Muslims in the city and surrounding areas are busy making preparations for the momentous event.

Student Minister Abdul Haqq Muhammad of Mosque No. 25 in Newark, said people are very excited and welcoming of Min. Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam to New Jersey.

“They are expecting the Nation of Islam. In the last two years, he has been here quite often and many people were asking when we’re coming back,” said Student Min. Haqq Muhammad. 

Student Minister Abdul Haqq Muhammad, far right, of Muhammad Mosque No. 25 in Newark.

Black residents accounted for over 40 percent of the city’s population in 2015 according to Data USA. Min. Farrakhan recently visited the Newark, New York and Philadelphia area where the largest concentration of Blacks in the country are located.

Newark is a “very Islamic city,” Haqq Muhammad stated. The Nation of Islam, in particular, has a weighty influence, he added.

When asked about the timeliness of the Minister’s message and subject matter Haqq Muhammad said the chain of events concerning police brutality and obstruction of justice within Black and Brown communities brought understanding to the meaning of “separation.”

“We can see that the Caucasian in particular has become infuriated with Black people in general,” he said. 

“The people are very familiar and aware of the theme of separation. With many of our people coming to the realization of separation, it’s a subject that they are now considering.”

To help promote this year’s Holy Day of Atonement and the Minister’s critical message the Muslims of Mosque No. 25 distributed 50,000 promotional cards and posted over 20 large-size banners and 800 posters across the city.

Commissioners, organizations, activists and community leaders helped in these efforts and are looking forward to Min. Farrakhan’s upcoming address. The New Black Panther Party (NBPP), local Muslim communities and the chairman of People’s Organization for Progress, Larry Hamm are also promoting the event.

“The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is very loved in Newark. They are anxiously waiting and expecting his arrival,” said Haqq Muhammad.

Abdul Hafeez Muhammad serves as Eastern Regional Representative of the Nation of Islam and Student Minister of Mosque No. 7 in New York.

F.O.I. with flyer promoting the upcoming Holy Day of Atonement message by Min. Farrakhan.

“This is the 40th anniversary of Minister Farrakhan working in the absence of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the 32nd anniversary of his vision experience on the wheel, and the 31st anniversary of the Study Guides improving our lives,” said Hafeez Muhammad. 

“When you add those numbers up, it comes to 103; the 103rd Surah is ‘The Time’; [this is] the ‘Time and What Must be Done’ and the time of separation or death,” he said, referring to a Chapter in the Holy Qur’an, the Islamic book of scripture.

Call-outs, door-to-door visits and poster campaigns are constantly and consistently continuing   to inform as many people as possible about the Minister’s address.

WBLS, an urban-adult radio station in New York City, Open Mind talk show and other media outlets are helping to spread the word.

“We’re going to create a ‘blitz’ on social media and everywhere. We are not afraid of his subject; this is a serious subject for him to give,” Hafeez Muhammad continued. He strongly believes this year’s Holy Day of Atonement will be highly successful.

 “Our goal is to score the touchdown and we don’t need to bend the knee because we’re already bending it in prayer.”

For tickets and more information see the back page of The Final Call or visit www.noi.org.