Making history with Prison Reform Ministry in Pennsylvania

By Gregory X Moore | Last updated: Dec 30, 2013 - 12:07:42 PM

PHILADELPHIA - Student National Prison Reform Minister Abdullah Muhammad, who heads the Nation of Islam’s Prison Reform Ministry, visited Pennsylvania state prisons, touring seven institutions and delivering to inmate populations a message on “The Time And What Must Be Done,” which is taken from the 52-week lecture series of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Student Minister Abdullah also installed a number of Nation of Islam Muslim contracted chaplains to meet the daily needs of incarcerated Believers in Islam.

Left to right front row: Jessel X Alexander, Rita Muhammad, Catherine Muhammad. Second row: Gregory X Moore (middle), Alfred X Flowers (far right). Last row: Abdullah Muhammad, Saleem Muhammad.

This was history-making for our Nation in Pennsylvania.

As one who was formerly incarcerated, I can say it has been a long struggle of enduring persecution to get to this point. The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches us that “every knock is a boost.” We struggled to get the Prison Reform Ministry reestablished after the destruction of the Nation in 1975. As Minister Farrakhan rebuilt the Nation, the Prison Reform Ministry also had to be rebuilt. For three decades we fought for the right to worship and to establish study groups and other self-improvement programs to demonstrate the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and Minister Farrakhan reform inmate populations.

Student Minister Abdullah was hosted by the Nation of Islam Delaware Valley Regional Prison Reform Ministry and Muhammad Mosque No. 12, in Philadelphia. We spent the weekend sharing many discussions, dining and enjoying positive moments.

At Mosque No. 12 Student Minister Abdullah Muhammad delivered a powerful message on Sunday, Sept. 15, covering the “true identity” of the Minister. The reason why the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad said continue to listen to Minister Farrakhan is because the Messenger ascended and was given more power, said Brother Abdullah. “I’m saying to you that I not only believe but by my own life spiritual experiences, I know Elijah Muhammad is physically alive and in power,” he said. “I looked up Isaiah before I left Chicago, now, the scholars, the people who write about Isaiah, they called Isaiah a Messianic Prophet. Messianic, means he’s a sign of the Messiah’s work when he comes. Do you know where you are supposed to be at during the time of the presence of God and His Messiah? You’re supposed to be where Isaiah said he’s going to free you from. You supposed to be in prison. If you’re not in prison, you’re not the chosen people of God. You are not where the book said you are to be found,” he said. He referred to Isaiah 61:1-2: “The Sovereign Lord has filled me with his Spirit. He has chosen me and sent me to bring good news to the poor. To heal the broken-hearted, to announce release to captives and freedom to those in prison. …”

The audience was spiritually charged by the message. “Minister Abdullah brought life back into Mosque No. 12 with an overwhelming spirit, words of truth. … It was a pleasure to hear a man of God,” said Rita Muhammad.

“I loved how Student Minister Abdullah verified how the Honorable Elijah Muhammad is physically alive from the Hon. Elijah Muhammad’s Table Talks. … He did an excellent job explaining it to the believers, first time guests and our regular guests. Student Min. Abdullah Muhammad did a wonderful job representing the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan,” said Attilah Muhammad.

“As a student in the ministry, I really enjoyed Minister Abdullah’s message to the people during his recent visit to Muhammad’s Mosque No. 12 and the reason being that he used the scriptures to verify his points and he spoke with such a conviction of his faith in the Supreme Being Master Fard Muhammad, His Christ, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and the Son of Man in our midst, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan,” said Student Minister Lamond Muhammad of Mosque No. 12.

I received many letters from our captive brothers in the prisons toured by Student Minister Abdullah, expressing how “inspired and blessed” they were by hearing the message of Brother Abdullah.

Brother Melvin X, incarcerated at SCI-Houtzdale, said, “On September 18, 2013, We had the privilege of meeting the NOI National Prison Reform Minister, Student Minister Abdullah Muhammad. What a blessing to see and to hear from him. To us, it was like seeing and hearing directly from the Leader, The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.”

Brother Michael X Smith, incarcerated at SCI Rockview, said, “The visitation by Minister Abdullah Muhammad, Minister Rodney Muhammad, and Captain Anthony Muhammad has come and we were blessed and refreshed with the word of truth from upright men from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.”

The Nation of Islam has made history within the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections by the presence of Brother Abdullah Muhammad. Long live the Nation of Islam Prison Reform Ministry!

Reported by Gregory X Moore, Delaware Valley student regional prison reform minister.

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