An Exclusive New Year's Interview with
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

[Editor's note: The Final Call submitted the following questions to the
Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan in writing.  We present his responses.]

In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

Final Call News (FCN): We thank Allah (God) that he has preserved your life through a severe illness and that you appear to be regaining your health. Could you give us an update of your health status? How are you feeling?

Minister Louis Farrakhan (MLF): Sometimes I feel pretty well and sometimes I do not. It appears that we have beaten the cancer, but, the extremely high dose of radiation that I was given because the cancer had begun to travel beyond the prostrate gland has had side effects that my last operation was intended to fix. However, the operation, though very excellently and skillfully done, unfortunately did not fix the problem. So, my quality of life has been substantially impaired, but, I thank Allah (God) to be alive and to be able to continue the Mission of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

MLF: Since I planned to perform the Beethoven Violin Concerto in Los Angeles, on February 2nd, however, we were not able to get that date, so we settled for the 13th. It was suggested to me that since the concert would be on the 13th, why not have the convention in Los Angeles? We accepted that suggestion, and, I am very glad that I did because the year 2002 will be the 25th anniversary of my work in rebuilding the Nation of Islam on the basis of the Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and, since I started in Los Angeles 25 years ago, I thought that it would be wonderful that the second cycle of 25 years should start from where I first began the rebuilding effort, in Los Angeles, California.

MLF: Not necessarily so.

MLF: To get the Nation of Islam completely out of debt and to build on the structure laid down by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad that would ensure that the believers will have avenues to give their skills, gifts and talents to the building of the Nation of Islam, and, also to set the Nation up in such a way that it will not depend on the charismatic personality of any individual, but, on its high degree of organization. The Nation of Islam must survive my departure or death lest it be labeled as a work of vanity.

MLF: The body of knowledge given by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad is a medicine designed by Master Fard Muhammad to heal a sickness in Black people produced by White supremacy. It was also designed to begin the process of healing the mind of White supremacy for both minds; Black inferiority and White supremacy cannot exist in a world based on justice, freedom and equity. If we take the patient off of the medicine before it has accomplished the balancing of the system, then, the disease or affliction can come back and overtake the system, and, if you take the medicine beyond the time that it produces the balance or beyond the date of its effectiveness, then, this will have an adverse or negative affect on the patient. I felt that the Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad were absolutely necessary to restore a balance that would allow us to genuinely love and respect Allah (God), self, and give us a genuine respect for others.

MLF: The worker�s assessment of his work is not what counts. The assessment is done by the one who put the worker on the job or by the architect. The disciples of Jesus had to work, but it was for the Master to say, "Well done." None of the disciples could say, "I did well." That had to come from their Sender. So it is with me. I hope and pray that my Sender will say when my work is done, "Well done thou good and faithful servant."

MLF: I have accepted the Mission of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad as my life�s work. That Mission is to give life to the mentally dead Black people of America and the World. My part in this work will be completed when my life is ended, yet, leaving work for others to continue until the resurrection of the Black man and woman in America and the world has been completed. This means that every Black man and woman will be raised to a high degree of civilization respecting the Laws of Allah (God) and the Laws of man. The completion of this Mission of the resurrection of the dead is with Allah (God) alone. The Qur�an teaches that the work of the Messenger is a clear delivery of the Message. He is not responsible for the belief or disbelief of the people. He will only be judged by what he taught and how he delivered the Message that he was given.

MLF: The Honorable Elijah Muhammad while He was among us said things to me that I later understood to be my role or part in His Mission. He said, "Brother, find a way to unite with the Muslim World�" He did not tell me how. He left that to me. So, I have worked using the best that I know of Him and His Guidance to build a bridge to the Muslim World that would be strong enough for us to go over to them and for them to come over to us. I do not know anything that I have done that I would do differently, particularly if I were told by my Teacher, "Do as you see me do and go as you see me go." Much, if not all, that I have done in these last 25 years has been by following the Guidance that He gave me while He was yet among us, and that He communicated to me personally 16 years ago in my very brief visit with Him on the wheel in my vision-like experience. All that I have done since then has been based on instructions that He gave me so that there is nothing that I know to do any differently than what I have done.

MLF: The Bible teaches that where there is life there is hope. Yes, America can be spared, but, she must do that which allows her to escape the Judgment that befell those nations that have gone before her. She must give justice to the poor suffering Black man and woman of America as well as the Native Americans. This will absolutely save her. She is in a position that no former nation has ever been in because she rules the entire world by Allah�s (God�s) permission. She is now under a great trial. If she acts well (does justice), she will gain what none of her sister nations have gained, that is longevity and perpetuity, however, if she does not act well, and, by well I mean to give justice, then, Allah (God) will do to America what He has done to Great Nations in the past and bring another people in her place.

MLF: I have already said that the President and top members of his administration (Joint Chiefs of Staff) have planned a wider war than what we are seeing in Afghanistan. I have labored for nearly two months to put together a proper letter of counsel and warning to President Bush. I do not wish to disclose the elements of that counsel and warning at this time.

MLF: I do not believe that Allah (God) or International Law has given the Government of the United States permission to set down leaders of Nations with whom America has some disagreement. There are many in the United States who disagree with the Government, however, no outside force or Nation has the right by International Law to give money and weapons to arm such a group to overthrow its Government. America would not stand for this, but, this is what America is doing in violation of International Law. If she proceeds to seek to overthrow Saddam Hussein and other leaders, under the guise of fighting terrorism, then, she will be acting outside of International Law making the Government of the United States a criminal enterprise, which will bring upon her dire consequences.

MLF: One of the best ways for President Bush to rid the world of terrorism is not to be a terrorist himself, and to examine America�s policies, particularly those that ill-effect the Middle East and other Nations of the World, and make sure that these policies are not driven by corporate greed, and, if America does this, she absolutely can end terrorism in the World.

MLF: To silence my voice and the voices of dissent that would give the American people another view other than the view that is being spread by a corporate controlled media.

FCN: During some of your lectures, you have used the phrase, "every knock is a boost."  What is the boost that Islam is experiencing while it is being knocked during this time of war?
MLF: There is nothing that anyone can do to frustrate the Will of Allah (God). Allah (God) said that they will try to put out the Light of Islam or Truth with their mouths, but, He will perfect His Truth or Light though the polytheists may be averse. So, no matter what is said or done that appears to be against the good of Islam, Allah (God) has already promised that He would make the Truth that He revealed to the World through the mouth of His Servant, Prophet Muhammad to prevail (Peace Be Upon Him).

MLF: I believe there is a greater concern in America for family, and the events of September 11th has driven home the point that good family relations is vitally necessary for the well being of the Nation. In order for me to answer this question specifically there would have to be some scientific method formulated for me to assess the effect of the Million Family March. I am just a worker. Somebody else would have to be the one to develop the mechanism by which we could assess truthfully the effect of the Million Family March or the Million Man March.

MLF: Unfortunately, two weeks after we launched the fund, I underwent this horrific operation that sidelined me for many, many months, and, the Director of the Million Family March Economic Development Fund (MFM Economic Development Fund) took on another assignment. We have not yet appointed a replacement for him. Hopefully this year (2002), we will find an adequate replacement and continue to work toward the goals of the MFM Economic Development Fund. Without leadership it has generated nearly $200,000.

MLF: The African Union is an idea whose time has come. However, no good idea that will benefit Africa will be without severe opposition. The conflicts that are going on in Africa are definitely an impediment to the work of the African Union. So, the energy of the mobilizers of the African Union has been diverted to bring about a resolution to these conflicts.The resolution of these conflicts will allow us to get on with the serious work of building the African Union toward the United States of Africa.

MLF: There is no solution that exists now that would bring the Israeli Government and the Palestinian authorities to the negotiating table. If such existed you would see both President Yassar Arafat and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon sitting together to discuss a solution that would ultimately bring peace to this troubled area. Peace can be established, but, the two would have to agree on what is the principle of justice that will bring peace to that area. Until and unless both can feel satisfaction under the principle of justice, then, unfortunately there will be no peace in that area and the conflict will escalate and engulf the whole area, which will ultimately engulf the whole world.

MLF: Most of the Black leaders are now embracing some of the Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad to do for self, self-reliance, self-determination, self-respect, the protection of our women and independent education for our children. We are hearing much of these principles which He taught coming out of the mouths of most of the Black leadership. However, they do not necessarily give credit to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Some Black leaders and organizations will not embrace the Nation of Islam fully, unfortunately, until White people say it is all right to do so.There is, however, a prophecy in the Qur�an that says that the Elders of Israel bowed to the God of Aaron and Moses before Pharaoh gave them permission to do so. You may be seeing the beginning of the fulfillment of that prophecy even as we write.

MLF: We are entering a very dark period in our history, in America�s history and in world history. It behooves us to settle our differences and begin the process of healing the wounds that are self-inflicted or that have been inflicted by others so that as a people we can present to the world a united front. It is only a united front of Black leadership and Black people that will take us through this very dark period with minimum loss. This is why I have chosen the theme for our World Convention, "Healing the Wounds to Bring About a Universal Family."

May Allah (God) bless all of the believers, our people, and the good people of America to have a safe, successful and prosperous New Year, and, may this New Year turn us aside from war and make us an instrument of peace, for it is written, "Blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called the children of God."