Do not make the mistake of thinking that because my conclusion is the same as another person's that my reasoning is the same
Why not just "Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, leader of the American Society of Muslims"?
Imam W. Deen Mohammed, the black Muslim spiritual leader who over three decades transformed how American blacks practice the religion, has resigned as head of the American Society of Muslims.
Mohammed said he will continue to represent and guide black Muslims and direct his ministry, The Mosque Cares, but would no longer lead the society, the main organization representing his movement.
"I'm getting ready ... to do more, to be more productive and to contribute to the good life of the believers," Mohammed said Sunday at the start of his keynote speech at the society's annual convention.
Mohammed, who will turn 70 in October, on Saturday privately informed his movement's imams, or prayer leaders, that he would step down
I admittedly don't know anything about this particular person, but is this yet another instance on the media confusing the Nation if Islam's black muslims with regular muslims who happen to be black?
I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised.
Actually Plucky, Imam Deen Muihammeds group is the orginal "Black Muslims" of Elijah Muhammed and Malcolm X fame. Farrakhan's Nation of Islam started as a splinter group when Imam Muhammed began to adopt more of the traditional Muslim customs and changed the groups name in the 1970's. So technically the media's report is correct, but I too hate the term "black muslims".
"American born Black Muslims" at that.
You saved me a post, Walter. Thanks.
That's my understanding as well. That term should be put away; it's out of date now.
I don't have any idea what the meaning of this is or what he'll be doing next.
I've met both Imam W. Deen Mohammed and Minister Louis Farrakhan several times at mosques in Detroit and nearby Dearborn. Both were very intelligent and spoke highly of each other after they work out their past differences. Unlike some folks, you won't see me praising W. Deen as a real Muslim and Farrakhan as a fake one. Both are well-versed and learned in Islam. I wish they wouldn't have splintered.
A great number of people joined the original NOI because they were moved by Malcolm X's precise indictment of white supremacy. Once the Imam decided to refocus the organization on the orthodox teaching, changing its name to reflect its new direction, many members felt they'd lost the reason they joined in the first place.
Min. Farrakhan took the old NOI name for his new organization. Another minister (maybe he was a high ranking functionary, I'm not sure) named Solomon took another splinter group and formed the United Nation of Islam, which runs kinda communally out of Kansas City, MO. And I know there's at least two other groups that claim to be the true successors to Elijah Muhammed.
On top of that I had a recruiter from the Nuwaubian Nation of Moors claim that Dwight/Malachai/Michael Z. York was the true inheritor of Elijah Muhammad, but that was just because I know enough of the history that he thought I was interested in the old NOI as a philosophy instead of as a social institution. Plus he was a hustler.
I agree with S-Train and P6. I too, wish the Imam and the Minister had been able to work together. It is possible that the community would have struck the proper balance between our "nationalism" (i.e. identifying and meeting the psychological, spiritual, moral, economic, political and social needs of Black people in America) and our grounding in the purity of al-Islam. As far as the Solomon you mentioned, to my knowledge he was never a minister under the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, but rather a truck driver for the original Nation of Islam. Nowadays he claims to be God Himself and has been known to travel around with a man he attempts to pass off as Elijah Muhammad returned.
Mubashshir:
our "nationalism" (i.e. identifying and meeting the psychological, spiritual, moral, economic, political and social needs of Black people in America
Apropos of nothing in the post, I just want to say that if this is the definition of nationalism I and a Black Nationalist…but few will understand nationalism as fitting this definition. I had to invent a term for it: aggregationist.
Onward…
I too, wish the Imam and the Minister had been able to work together.
It would only have been possible if ther had been a more orthodox teaching from the beginning. The NOI was primarily a reaction to and rejection of the racist position of the mainstream. When the Imam took the orthodox stance, even to the point of changing the name of the organization, too many NOI members saw this as de-emphasizing that which drew them to it. That they couldn't work together wasn't the fault of either man.
As far as the Solomon you mentioned, to my knowledge he was never a minister under the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, but rather a truck driver for the original Nation of Islam. Nowadays he claims to be God Himself and has been known to travel around with a man he attempts to pass off as Elijah Muhammad returned.
I'll admit I don't know enough to be sure of Solomon's position in the original NOI. I know he has a loyal following and that they've gained some acceptance and had some successes in the KC area. I don't see them growing beyond being considered a cult by most.
I do not feel it is necessarily a tragedy that Imam WD Mohammed and Brother Farrakhan never united their organizations. I feel this is the result of living in a society that favors different views and beliefs. If all black leaders were united under the same umbrella, this would make for an easy target for those who would seek to destroy us. As far as the effect on black progress that is a subjective interpretation at best. The spread of Islam and the upliftment of God's people is in His plan, not ours and He is the best of Planners!
As it seems to me, discussions of Black nationalism and the purity of Al-Islam are unnecessary. All things good are addressed in Al-Islam, the final religion that corrects flaws in all religious matters. One beautiful thing (there are so many) about this religion is that, as one examines it, it addresses all aspects of living in the most beautiful way. So living together (Prophet MuhammadSAW said the most excellent person was the most pious one, and it was not an issue of race, sex or nationalism) in a peaceful society is completely addressed. Those who represent Al-Islam as a fractious religion that supports acts of violence under any circumstances are misguided, to be charitable. The examples of the Holy ProphetSAW show the greatest examples of a human being in control of himself and exemplify the character of charity and respectful treatment of others, no matter what they believe and practice. I am reminded of his saluting the funeral of a Jew, and his statement that this was a man. While I don't see Al-Islam as directing anyone to stand silent and witness abuse on any level, there is nothing in Qur'an, Sunnah or Hadith (that I know of) that indicates we can behave in any fashion if someone else is doing something objectionable; there is no justification that I can see.
Imam Warith Deen Muhammad strikes me as a person who was trying to do what he thought was right. It is my hope that he is still of that mindset. Insha'Allah, he will continue to grow and become an example of a man practicing this faith on a high level.
In comments, I find two tendancies: one is to debate the topic of the post and the other is to wander to another topic altogether.
Folks who want to dispute my positions frankly don't hang out too long, nor do they tend to leave happy with the outcome. I'm satisfied with the wanderers, because I sometimes get new information or insights.
When the topic wanders into religion or spirituality, though, I have to tread carefully. I respect most religions and can justify most practices from my perspective (which is not orthodox bay anyone's teachings). Sometimes people will reject my support because it doesn't invoke the concepts of their religion. And sometimes it seems I am partisan one way or another when I tend to discuss religions as social institutions and forces.
A long, but I feel necessary, preamble.
brothaclarence:
All Black people can't fit under a single umbrella any more than all anyone elses can. But there can, and in my opinion should, be lines of communication and respect between all the groups because there are common experiences and issues to address, even though each group may need to address them in different ways.
AShakir:
Discussions of Black Nationalism are necessary. It may not be necessary to view it through the lens of Al-Islam or vice versa.
But I think, because the American Society of Muslims had its origins in the original Nation of Islam, Al-Islam is connected with Black folks in the mainstream mind (hence the "Black Muslim" references). I don't know the proportion of Black to other folk in American Islam as a whole so I don't know that the connection is reasonable. Since it is the fastest growing religion in the world and has many believers, Al-Islam would have been established in the USofA inevitably. I do, though, think it reasonable to reflect on Black Nationalism in light of Al-Islam and Al-Islam in light of Black Nationalism; because in the USofA their histories are intimately connected, and because of the belief in a connection I feel the mainstream holds will intimately connect both their futures.
Peace Mercy and Blessings to all
I am a follower of Imam W D Mohammed and would like to higlight some areas of your concern. People have said the bases he is the son of the Honorable Elijah Mohammed, he has led his group to a more mainsteam ideal of Islam and that he is a promoter of the human essence.
What was not covered is his role in reviving the Muslim world, reviving the religious world as a whole and reviving the world as a whole. NO he is not by his self you have the Dali Lama and this current Pope championing tghe same goals.
G'd is doing something very speical with this group of Africans in America.
To listen to balanced lectures by Imam W D Mohammed visit www.newafricaradio.com
The term black is out dated the current language is African America.
Brother Faheem:
As much as I respect all the world traditions, I suspect there's not one that would be unwilling to burn me at the stake for my lack of orthodoxy. For this reason I really only speak of the social institutions that support the world religions.
Also, I respectfully remain outdated, and Black.
Hooray! I'm an aberration!
There is one thing that P6 and I seem to agree on (even if we don't get there the same way.) African-American is as useless a euphemism for black as "Welsh-American" is for me. The only thing Welsh about me is my name; the only thing African about 95% of the black people I know goes further back than my Welsh.
(As to the rest of this thread, I'm staying far away from any of it.)
imam w.d. muhammad is the man he has been blessed by G-d and is and has done alot for islam here in america and around the world.
Just as his father affected black america
every africa american was affected one way or another by the honorable Elijah Muhammad....
Imam W.D.Muhammad have an is helping us better understand Islam an our role .
he has hepled with so many things education
busniess whole new way of seeing our role
I for one am thankful to G-d for his insight
and directions islam is for all people.......
G-d is god we as african american need to do for self education jobs ect. we need a new community life,Imam W.D. muhammad is directing us and showing the importance of seeings ourselves as a new people based on our pass history. Al-Islam is here to help trusting G-d and following his prophets. we are a new people with a new vision establishing G-ds' directions and purpose for mankind in the world...