A final salute honoring five faithful soldiers of God

By Starla Muhammad -Managing Editor- | Last updated: Apr 22, 2020 - 2:49:04 PM

(L-R) Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, Student Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan, Student Assistant Supreme Captain Abdul Azziz Muhammad (left) and Central Region Student Captain Dwayne Muhammad (right).

CHICAGO—The Nation of Islam recently honored five of their own during a moving janazah service (Islamic funeral service) held at Mosque Maryam in Chicago. The ceremony was broadcast live via webcast and honored Sister Pamela Muhammad of Chicago; Brother Roy Edward Lawhorn Jr. of Detroit; Brother Kevin Muhammad of New Jersey; Brother Abdul Latif Muhammad of Jacksonville, Fla. and Student Minister Abdul Hafeez Muhammad of New York, all of whom passed from complications from the Covid-19 coronavirus which has claimed thousands of lives nationwide and over 166,250 lives globally.

Stay at home orders and social distancing requirements limits the number of people who can safely gather in efforts to reduce the chances of transmitting Covid-19 which makes holding funerals, burials, or memorial services for the departed, very difficult.

“This Covid-19 did not permit us to do the preparations that we customarily do for the dead. They’re washed, they are wrapped and that is not being permitted at this time with all of the restrictions. It seems so heartless, so cold. The stringent and rigid rules that you can’t even see your loved one in the hospital and even after they have passed you can’t even view them,” explained Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad.

“So we decided, let us have a national janazah prayer for all that we have lost in the Nation of Islam,” he added. “We want to lift those soldiers, those faithful followers of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad under the leadership of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.”

The service was held following Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad’s keynote message titled, “God is Our Refuge and Strength: A Very Present Help in Times of Trouble.”

A short biography about the life and contribution of each believer was read.

The Fruit of Islam salute in honor of those who have died due to the Covid-19 coronavirus.

Bro. Roy was described as a man of integrity with amazing work ethic and worked with his father Roy Sr. in their security business, Courtesy Crowd Control. “He was certainly one of the greatest encouragers you would ever want to meet. He believed in brotherhood, he was generous in attributes to help build his brothers up,” stated Student Min. Daniel 5X. Bro. Roy Jr. is survived by his wife and two sons and his parents.

Bro. Kevin (Jones) Muhammad attended Mosque No. 25 in Newark for over 30 years. “He soldiered all the way up to his returning to Allah (God) on April 3, 2020,” said Student Min. Daniel 5X. Bro. Kevin enjoyed going out into the community and interacting with his people. “He would talk about the Nation of Islam which he loved with all of his heart, mind, body and soul.” He is survived by his wife and their three children.

Brother Abdul Latif Muhammad was born in Jacksonville, Fla. and as a child was always pleasant with a happy disposition, said Student Min. Abel Muhammad reading from his biography. “He loved people and enjoyed making people laugh.” Bro. Latif began processing in the Nation of Islam in 1968 in Jacksonville, Fla. “He became a devout follower who was dedicated to his faith, loved Allah with all of his heart and he was a respected member of the FOI, the Fruit of Islam,” read Student Min. Abel. He is survived by his wife and three siblings.

Sister Pamela accepted the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad in 1968. She was spiritual as a child, loved the water and traveling. For years she worked in the travel industry. “Her journey lead her to reside many places such as Southern California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Phoenix, Ariz. and Memphis, Tenn. but ultimately she fell in love with St. Croix in the Virgin Islands,” Student Min. Abel added. She is survived by her children and grandchildren.

Abdul Hafeez Muhammad served as the East Coast regional minister of the Nation of Islam and student minister of the historic Mosque No. 7 in New York. As a young person he was always drawn to seeking knowledge and as a teenager became a member of the Five Percent Nation in Brooklyn. (See Final Call Vol. 39 No. 28)

“He was known throughout the city for his motivational speaking and work with youth and being of service to the community,” said Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad of his brother and friend. He was a relentless fighter for the rights of the poor, the oppressed and founder and CEO of the Center for Self-Improvement, Inc., a curriculum-based program founded in New York that provides education and self-improvement workshops in the New York City Public Schools, libraries and other agencies.

“Brother Abdul Hafeez was absolutely a wonderful, beautiful human being,” added Student Min. Ishmael. Min. Hafeez is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.

The moving tributes were followed by the janazah prayers, led by Student Min. Ishmael as he was flanked by the FOI honor guard led by Student Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan and Student Assistant Supreme Captain Abdul Azziz Muhammad. The ceremony ended with a final salute to the believers in the cause of Islam whose prayers, sacrifices, lives and deaths were all for Allah.

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