C. Eric Lincoln, 75, author of the seminal book about the Nation of Islam, "Black Muslims In America," died May 14 in Durham, N.C.

The funeral of one of last century�s great contributors to arts and letters was held May 18 at Duke University�s Chapel. Survivors include his wife Lucy and four children.

At press time, the cause of death of the Duke University professor emeritus of Religion and Culture had not been disclosed.

The author of nearly two-dozen books and countless articles and papers in his final interview with The Final Call, last December, described the legacy of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, whose 40-year work established the Nation of Islam.

"The Honorable Elijah Muhammad was prophetic in his anticipation of the kind of world the new millennium would bring. As a matter of fact, he was 50 years ahead of his time!" said Mr. Lincoln.

Mr. Muhammad�s "contributions to the recovery of a significant element in the religious heritage of African Americans, and his successful laying of the groundwork for the re-establishment of that experience speaks convincingly for itself. Islam is one of the great religions of the world, and it will play an appropriate role in the spiritual life of the new millennium all over the globe," Mr. Lincoln said.

"We, in America, can thank Mr. Muhammad for the major role he played in helping us to understand and prepare for what lies ahead in the multi-culture where religion is so basic to human understanding and cooperation. Time may yet prove that Elijah Muhammad is one of the most important religious pioneers America has produced," he said in the interview.

Mr. Lincoln�s teaching career found him at home in both traditional Black colleges, like Fisk University, and during stints at major white institutions like Duke University. His resume also included jobs in private industry ranging from sales to management.

Among his major contributions to history, religion and culture is the publication of "A Pictorial History of African Americans," an update of the volume earlier released by legendary Langston Hughes and others. In 1974, he released "The Black Church Since Frazier," which included E. Franklin Frazier�s "The Negro Church in America" in the same volume. Another important contribution was his book "Race, Religion, and the Continuing American Dilemma."

In addition, his work, "The Black Church in the African American Experience" (1990), was a collaboration with former student Lawrence Mumiya and was hailed by the critics for its examination of the strengths and weaknesses of the Black church.

But, of all his laudatory achievements, his most memorable work will probably always be remembered as his dissertation prepared for his course work at Boston University, which eventually led to the publication in 1961 of "Black Muslims in America," one of the most important scholarly presentations of the subject.

Indeed, America�s most important religious leaders of the last century were among his close personal friends and colleagues from Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, to Malcolm X, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Imam W. Deen Mohammed, among others.

His appeal and achievements were well documented. In 1990, Pope John Paul II hailed Mr. Lincoln for his "scholarly service to the church." Mr. Lincoln was also founding president and a board member of the Black Academy of Arts and Letters.

Mr. Lincoln�s legacy also endures through Duke University Press� "C. Eric Lincoln Series on the Black Experience."

�Donald Muhammad