Friends, comrades pay homage to Akbar Muhammad

By J.A. Salaam -Contributing Writer- | Last updated: Jul 30, 2019 - 9:40:09 AM

The banquet hall was full for a July 27 evening devoted to honoring Min. Akbar Muhammad for his leadership and life’s work.

O’FALLON, Ill.—The Regency banquet center in O’Fallon Illinois was packed to celebrate the life, love, dedication and sacrifice of Brother Abdul Akbar Muhammad, a committed friend to the Honorable Minister Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam.

A lifetime of work brought out friends family and admirers of Min. Akbar Muhammad July 27 for a celebratory banquet.

For nearly 60 years, Min. Akbar Muhammad has worked tirelessly, dedicating his life as a helper in the cause of truth under the leadership of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Imam W.D. Mohammed and with his longtime brother and dear friend, Minister Farrakhan. Several hundred friends, family and students of Min. Akbar Muhammad gathered July 27 to recognize the tremendous impact he has had in their lives for five decades. Thousands more were able to view the evening program as it streamed live on the internet.

Min. Akbar Muhammad, center, with supporters and friends, including longtime comrade Michael V. Roberts, far right.

“God always has a way of bringing people together. The people that gathered to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Minister Akbar Muhammad were indicative of the life he lives and the mission that he continues to pursue for the Nation of Islam,” said Denise Thimes. “As an entertainer, as a sister, and as a woman I was honored to be asked to sing for Minister Akbar, and most honored that the Honorable Minister Farrakhan and Sister Khadijah Farrakhan were also present. My thanks to Minister Ralph and Pamela Muhammad, Minister Donald and Helen Muhammad. Again I am grateful,” she said.

Min. Akbar Muhammad, left, was honored for longtime service to Black people and the Nation of Islam.

One of Min. Akbar Muhammad’s comrades from Mosque No. 7 in New York, where he started his journey in Islam, came to honor him. George Khaldun, a man in his 70s, ran up on the stage with the energy and youthfulness of a 20-year-old. “What hit me most was the fact that there was so many people who talked about his love and his dedication and his concern for people—his ability to uplift people, and move people from one level to another. The dedication that he has shown to the work of the Nation of Islam and his desire to see that Islam rules supreme in the land, that’s what impacted me the most. The fact that he’s able to motivate so many other people with that same spirit,” said Mr. Khaldun.

Michael V. Roberts, multi-millionaire, businessman and friend of Min. Akbar Muhammad and Min. Farrakhan shared words about his relationship and support of the Nation of Islam and the evening’s honoree. “I’ve been friends of Akbar for over 35 years as well as the Minister and as I reflect back to our time together, I donated space to the Million Man March. He (Min. Akbar Muhammad) came to me and asked for help. The mosque used to be in my building, the Victor Roberts building in St. Louis. My relationship goes even deeper. We had an event with Kwame Ture when he was in town. We co-chaired two fundraisers for him. So he’s always been a good friend. We’ve been together in Ghana. We’ve been together in the Bahamas. When the Minister was going to Cuba, he and the whole entourage stayed in the Robert’s Castle in the Bahamas for about three or four days,” said Mr. Roberts.

St. Louis city councilman John Muhammad, left, and Carlos Muhammad show off proclamation honoring Akbar Muhammad.

“I’m a businessman, I’m a capitalist in the sense of being able to make money, build companies, employ people, and give back to the community. That’s what we have to be about. That’s what the Honorable Elijah Muhammad talked about, economic development. Economic freedom is how I would put it. We look at the connection, back to Africa, that Akbar’s so involved with and we look at where we are today. Those of us in the Diaspora must do exactly what Akbar has been involved with and that is reconnect with our families, with our friends, look at the business opportunities, take our knowledge and wisdom to the richest of countries in the world and that’s Africa. And let’s take the next hundred years forward and do something with it. That’s what he stands for and that’s what we all should stand for,” Mr. Roberts said.

Another longtime friend of Min. Akbar Muhammad was St. Louis-based nationalist leader and community activist Zaki Baruti. “First of all, it was an honor and a humble experience to salute a giant among our community, that being Akbar Muhammad, who stands in support of the great giant of our community Minister Louis Farrakhan,” he said.

Min Farrakhan speaks at July 27 dinner honoring Abdul Akbar Muhammad.

“Having had the experience of knowing Minister Akbar since the mid-70’s when I first met him as an educator and from that relationship onward we have had a great brotherhood. I just want to salute Akbar from one man to another because he has helped enrich me,” said Mr. Baruti.

“He taught brotherhood. He is the example of brotherhood. No matter where we have been, no matter what country, no matter what environment, he always sought out the masses of the people in that country,” recalled Brian Muhammad, who served with Min. Akbar Muhammad in Ghana. Min. Akbar Muhammad was assigned to Ghana by Min. Farrakhan and lived there for several years with his family and he taught Islam, built a Nation of Islam Information Center, and connected with the country’s leaders and its ordinary people. He also organized visits and tours to Ghana and other parts of Africa to build relations on both sides of the Atlantic.

“If he was there for some Islamic or political conference representing the Minister among other dignitaries, he would always make his way in the street and talk to the people, to the taxi drivers, just the people on the street. He always tried to learn something about the people’s culture. I learned that from him and learned the importance of integrity. When I moved to Ghana and we were on the ground and the college students wanted to do an Islamic conference and Brother Akbar said do it at the Islamic conference center, because the Muslims are used to doing things on a very small level. But, he said, make sure that whatever you do afterwards, make sure it’s the Ghanaian students that get the credit—not us. Now, we put up the money, so what did I learn from Brother Akbar overall is his true sense of brotherhood and compassion for the people and integrity. He didn’t waste the Minister’s resources and money. It was integrity. That’s what I walked away with as a mentor from Brother Akbar,” Brian Muhammad said.

The evening inspired people who were experiencing a Nation of Islam event for the very first time and some said that it was life changing.

Henrietta Taylor of St. Louis didn’t know Minister Akbar Muhammad but wanted to come and support the event. To her surprise Minister Farrakhan was there and she expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the experience. “It was the most intriguing experience that I have ever had, and this is the first time just experiencing Elijah Muhammad, Farrakhan and Akbar. It was an experience just to be here especially for the first time and a lot was learned and I enjoyed it. I really enjoyed it, a very unforgettable moment,” she said.

Dr. Dan Drach, an oral surgeon, drove 300 miles to witness the love given to Min. Akbar Muhammad. “I drove down from Chicago, very emotional, spiritual event. I really got a deeper look at the Nation of Islam. I had no idea of the amount of love and the experiences people had gone through. It was like a very intimate affair with the Minister, with Akbar. I couldn’t ask for a better event than what was held tonight,” he said.

Samimah Aziz shares memories of her father and his work.

The event was organized by the Believers of Muhammad Mosque 28B of East St. Louis, Illinois, with Student Minister Earl and Kiva Muhammad and Student Minister Ralph and Pamela Muhammad, Min. Donald Muhammad and his wife of the Nation of Islam mosque in St. Louis, taking the lead.

While Min. Akbar Muhammad came into Islam in New York and often worked in Chicago, he built a lasting legacy and relationships while serving as the Nation of Islam minister in St. Louis, in addition to attending to other duties. The evening tribute was held in a St. Louis suburb.

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