Coming home! Saviours’ Day 2017 returns to Detroit

By Starla Muhammad -Managing Editor- | Last updated: Feb 7, 2017 - 1:03:24 PM

Saviours’ Day 2017, the Crowning Event of Black History Month is returning to where it all started, Detroit, Mich. The annual Nation of Islam convention will be held in the “Motor City” Feb. 17-19 to commemorate the 140th birth anniversary of the Great Mahdi Master W. Fard Muhammad, teacher of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Themed, “The Ultimate Challenge: Survival of the Black Nation,” a full weekend of activities and events is scheduled and will take place at the Cobo Convention Center, located downtown on 1 Washington Blvd. The culmination of Saviours’ Day will be the highly anticipated keynote message of instruction and divine guidance by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, titled, “Have No Fear For The Future: The Future is Ours!” at the Joe Louis Arena on 19 Steve Yzerman Dr., Sunday, Feb. 19.

It is the third straight year and the fourth time in a decade, Saviours’ Day has been held in the city where the Nation of Islam in North America was founded in the early 1930s. It’s where Master W. Fard Muhammad began going door to door in an area of the city known as “Black Bottom” teaching Islam and the knowledge of self to Black men and women who are described in scriptures as a despised and rejected people to whom a saviour and redeemer would come to resurrect.

The Believers of Muhammad Mosque No. 1 under the direction of Student Minister Troy Muhammad and the Laboring Staff are working diligently in preparation and anticipation of the thousands of Muslims, supporters, visitors and guests traveling from cities near and far to participate. It is an honor and privilege to host Saviours’ Day 2017, said Student Minister Troy Muhammad.

“Just knowing the significance of being able to host the man of God is something very special and it is very important and the Believers are taking it very seriously. The city of Detroit of course is anxious based upon the election results, based upon some of the things that we’re seeing with the new administration in the White House. People are anxious to hear what the Minister will say, what his words will be,” said Student Minister Troy Muhammad.

The Muslims are hard at work spreading the word about Saviours’ Day, distributing and posting fliers and several huge billboards promoting Min. Farrakhan’s keynote address are on prominent display throughout the city. The Fruit of Islam from the Central Region have traveled to Detroit over the past several weeks to assist in these efforts. Student Minister Troy Muhammad is busy conducting media interviews to spread the word and excitement is building.

“It’s a lot going on. A lot of support from the community in this aspect, a lot of the radio stations and TV stations are supporting us 100 percent in helping us get this message out. We’re hitting the colleges and universities, the youth groups are going out to talk to youth about coming so it’s been a very good response.”

Local leaders including those in city and state government have been welcoming and supportive, he added.

“All our needs are met. The city has rolled out the red carpet. Outside the city officials even political figures throughout the state have been very helpful as well as the Detroit Police Department and Sherriff’s office have all been helpful in making sure the event goes over well.”

On Fri., Feb. 17 and Sat., Feb. 18, a variety of informative plenary sessions and interactive workshops structured around the theme and work of nation building in the Black community will take place. The opening plenary, “9 Ministries: Survival of the Black Nation” will be followed by several workshops over two days including: Disaster and Emergency Preparedness, Housing and Community Development, Bridging the Families, the Nation of Islam Student Association, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Defense, Marriage and Family Life, Civic Participation, International Affairs and much more.

The second plenary, “The War on Islam: 9/11 Revisited, Uncovered & Exposed,” will explore and delve into the myriad of unanswered questions concerning the 2001 attack on U.S. soil. Was 9/11 really carried out by Islamic terrorists or was it an inside job of forces within the U.S. in collusion with intelligence agencies of the Israeli Mossad?

Savoiurs' Day Website

It is critical that we take part in the convention workshops, said Student Minister Dr. Ava Muhammad, student national spokesperson for Min. Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam during a broadcast of her Elevated Places blog talk radio program.

“When we say workshops, we’re not talking about seminars where you lecture the people. We want people engaged in activity that is empowering to the individual because no nation as the Minister has said, a nation can’t be better than people in it,” she said.

Salat al-Jumu’ah, the Islamic Friday congressional prayer service will take place after the morning workshop sessions on Feb. 17.

Friday evening, Mahdi Theatre Company (MTC) will present, “The Rise of The Great Ones: A Musical Journey of Our People Migrating From The South to Detroit,” an adaptation of the hit production, “Chicago’s Bronzeville, The Musical.”

This special Saviours’ Day musical extravaganza is something the entire family can enjoy, said Margaret Mahdi, CEO and artistic director of MTC. The production chronicles the history of the Great Migration when thousands of Blacks left the South during the early and mid-1900s with hopes of finding better opportunities and jobs in northern cities like Chicago and Detroit.

“As assigned by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, he has commissioned artists through Allah’s permission to tell our stories and help raise the conscious levels of our people and humanity. We look at this as a ministry more so than anything and we are pleased that Allah is pleased with what we do and that we are connecting the dots with the community,” said Margaret Mahdi.

The unique Saviours’ Day 2017 performance will feature a special tribute honoring Mother Tynnetta Muhammad, a scholar, writer, musician, world traveler and the late wife of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad.

“I personally was blessed to work under her tutelage for over 10 years and learned and be as humbled as I possibly could be to just nurse from her experiences and her words of guidance and wisdom and with that, it’s so appropriate,” said Margaret Mahdi.

“She is a Detroit native, so what better way to conclude the musical portion of a production, a production about the Great Migration and celebrate a Detroit trailblazer and one of our scholars in that of Mother Tynnetta Muhammad.”

A highlight of Saviours’ Day is the Drill competition. This year is no exception as teams from Nation of Islam mosques engage in righteous competition demonstrating with pristine precision and accuracy, the skills associated with the “exercise of the gods.” Will there be repeat champions this year, or will new winners be crowned in the categories of F.O.I., M.G.T., Jr. F.O.I., Jr. MGT and Jr. Vangard and M.G.T. Vanguard? Find out Saturday, Feb. 18.

Mother Khadijah Farrakhan’s Children’s Village is always popular among young people, as well as adults. Mother Farrakhan has a deep love for children and works tirelessly along with her staff to ensure children enjoy their Saviours’ Day experience. This year’s children’s village will highlight activities in S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) and will include hip-hop performances, carnival rides, face painting, games, crafts, flight simulation, gifts and prizes.

A huge vending area will provide the opportunity for attendees to support Black and Muslim-owned businesses by purchasing a variety of items such as books, clothing, toys, jewelry and much more.

Student Minister Ishmael R. Muhammad, national assistant to Min. Farrakhan

This Saviours’ Day is very important for another reason, said Student Minister Ishmael R. Muhammad, national assistant to Min. Farrakhan and son of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad.

“This represents the 40th year of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s rebuilding work absent the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and that is very significant and it has prophetic implications because it is all in the scriptures if we understand. It’s very, very big, this 40 years of the Minister’s work,” he said.

Saviours’ Day is not restricted to just members of the Nation of Islam and the public is encouraged to attend.

“This is not a Nation of Islam event. It is the crowning event of Black history month so we’re inviting educators and health professionals and those in the field of agriculture, science, technology to sit and to talk about the development of these ministries that the Minister put before us because our survival depends on us creating independent systems that are not dependent upon the White man’s system that has resulted in the death and destruction of the Black community,” explained Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad.

“The city of Detroit’s reception of us, their welcoming of us, the support from the office of the mayor (Mike Duggan) and the city council that embrace our convention are doing whatever they can to make our stay in Detroit a very rewarding experience as they really, welcome us home.”

For more information about Saviours’ Day including registration, schedule of events and tickets, visit https://www.noi.org/savioursday or pages 4 and 5 of this week’s Final Call and the ad on the back page.

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