Farrakhan and Mohammed: Different paths, one goal

By Ashahed M. Muhammad
Assistant Editor | Last updated: Sep 21, 2008 - 9:12:00 AM

CHICAGO (FinalCall.com) - Though taking different paths, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Imam W. Deen Mohammed always worked parallel missions to spread Islam in North America and abroad in fulfillment of the vision and stated desire of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Min. Farrakhan and Imam Mohammed at a tribute dinner in honor of The Muhammad Family at Saviours� Day 2000. Photo: Kenneth Muhammad

Reflecting on the 53 years that he has known Imam Mohammed, Min. Farrakhan told The Final Call that he never thought the time would come when Imam Mohammed would not be present with him in the work of spreading Islam.

Min. Farrakhan reflected on the wise way The Honorable Elijah Muhammad would guide his laborers and his unique way of trying them by thoroughly testing their character. He recalled one memorable day in 1960 when he was tried, tested and given a directive by his teacher.

“One day when he (Elijah Muhammad) who had a habit of trying his laborers—this was my day to be tried,” said Min. Farrakhan. “Well, after the trial and passing it, on my way out of the house at 4847 South Woodlawn, he stopped me and said, ‘you and my son Wallace go and mop up the wilderness.’ That was always my hope that he (Imam Mohammed) and I would be together and do the work of Islam in America and even though he’s not physically present, his vision of a model Islamic community is present and his community and the members of the Nation of Islam will work insha-Allah together to promote and to build a model Islamic community,” said Min. Farrakhan.

Despite differences with regard to outreach methods and focus, the two prominent Muslim leaders appeared together publicly on numerous occasions and engaged in many private discussions throughout the years away from the prying eyes and ears of the media and others seeking to cause mischief.

In 1986, Nearly 9,000 people gathered at the Pavilion of the University of Illinois at Chicago on the 89th birthday of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad where they witnessed a surprise appearance by Imam W. Deen Mohammed. Minister Farrakhan and Imam Mohammed embraced and stood for a few moments at the center of the stage.

Minister Farrakhan said, “I am very grateful to Allah for sending the family of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad to the Pavilion to join in this tribute to their illustrious father, uncle, grandfather. I am grateful to Almighty God Allah for putting it in the heart of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed to come tonight, and Jabir Muhammad, to join in a tribute to this great and noble man,” Minister Farrakhan added.

In February of the year 2000 marking 70 years since the Nation of Islam was founded, and 25 years after the departure of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, Imam Mohammed and Minister Farrakhan again publicly embraced declaring unity before thousands in Chicago, Illinois to participate in “An Islamic Family Reunion” to mark Saviours’ Day 2000.

Addressing the Muslims, Imam Mohammed said, “Dear Muslim brothers and sisters, it is not difficult for Minister Farrakhan and Wallace D. Mohammed to embrace each other. That’s easy for us. When I first met him in the early ’50s, I liked him on first sight, and I became his friend and his brother. And I have not stopped being his friend and his brother. Maybe he has not understood the way that I have been his friend and his brother at certain times, but I have always been his friend and his brother,” said Imam Mohammed. “Whatever has troubled us in the past, I think we can bury it now and never look back at that grave,” he added.

In his Saviours’ Day 2000 keynote message titled “A Celebration of Family” Min. Farrakhan said, “The Imam (Mohammed) and I will be together until death overtakes us and we will work together for the cause of Islam. We will work together for the establishment of Islam; not only among our people, but to establish Islam in the Americas.”

Shortly after the Sept. 11th attack on the United States and the anti-Islam backlash that appeared in its wake, on October 29, 2001, Imam Mohammed, Min. Farrakhan and the Rev. Dr. Robert Schuller, founder of the Crystal Cathedral Church, met at the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park, Illinois for what was called “An Evening of Religious Solidarity” as they shared their experiences in working to break down artificial barriers of religion and race.

In February of 2002, the annual Saviours’ Day convention for the Nation of Islam was held in Los Angeles, California, but that wasn’t the only thing that made this year’s celebration special. Imam Mohammed delivered the khutbah (sermon) to more than 4,000 Muslims who had gathered for Jumah prayer and was also present for Min. Farrakhan’s keynote address titled “Healing the Wounds to Bring About a Universal Family.”

“We are very happy to be here today,” said Imam Mohammed during his remarks. “It is made truly beautiful by the coming together of the Nation of Islam under the great leader Minister Farrakhan and his brother and friend, Wallace D. Mohammed. We embrace him, and we’re going with Min. Farrakhan all the way to the Promised Land,” he added.

On April 17, 2002, Minister Farrakhan welcomed Imam W. Deen Mohammed to Mosque Maryam to speak from the very same pulpit where his father, The Hon. Elijah Muhammad taught and trained members of the Nation of Islam.

On September 1, 2002, Imam Mohammed welcomed the Hon. Min. Farrakhan to the University of Illinois at Chicago Pavilion for the closing of the Muslim American Society’s annual convention. Min. Farrakhan delivered brief remarks saying that the parallel paths of unity and brotherhood demonstrated by he and Imam Mohammed are examples for the rest of the world.

“Today, we must say that Allah (God) is uniting our hearts, and even though we have taken different paths to the One God, it is wonderful to see that two tracks are becoming a monorail,” said Min. Farrakhan to the crowd which also included spiritual leaders from the Christian community. “Our brotherhood must be so magnificent that when they see us, they would admire the brotherhood of Islam—all the hues, all the nationalities bowing together in one divine brotherhood. That is what America needs; that is what the world needs,” Min. Farrakhan added.

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