May 30th 1998

Individuals Promoting Our Worlds
Imam Warith Deen Mohammed


Part 1b

00:03 W. Deen Mohammed: Caring about family, having faith in family. The unity of Mankind, the family of Man. And devoting ourselves to improvement of our own family life at home, in the apartment, in the room, or in the nice home that we have, home accommodation. This is what we preach, this is what we try live, and I am sure you feel that in the air tonight. You feel that in the air tonight. Our youngsters are here. They're beautiful, they're respectful, and they have a great future because they have a big, big, big influence in their lives. And that influence is our recognition, that we were held back, now we're free, and we have awakened to see that though we are free, the world is far ahead of us, leaving us politically. We have some terrific political guys around, [chuckle] and in office, women too.

01:27 IWDM: But economically, financially, in terms of businesses, we are too far behind everybody else. Our neighborhoods tell us that when we come out of the house and come into our neighborhood, and we look to see who is responsible for the industry here in this neighborhood. Who is responsible for the big business in this neighborhood. Who is responsible for the big traffic of money and wealth in this neighborhood. We have to admit it's not us, somebody else is responsible for that. And that make us more determined to do something really unheard of before and you know what that is? Take charge of our own future. Take charge of our own financial future. And the vision of CPC is a vision to do just that. To help us get in position where we will be in charge of our own future.

02:41 IWDM: If you understand the religion of Islam as given in the holy book of the Muslim, the Quran, and in the right habits and practices and teachings, or example of Muhammad to whom the Quran was revealed. That man, that great man, that deft man in Creation that G-d gave the Quran to for all people, really for all people. If we study him, study the Quran, study him, we will agree that G-d wants us to take charge of the future. Prepare for the future, that's what the desire for heaven is all about.

03:38 IWDM: Heaven is a hope that works within us to influence us in many ways positively to take charge of the future. Not to live just for the day, but live for the destiny, live for the meeting with your G-d, that's the future. So even the idea of heaven is an idea that get into us, to condition us to work for the future. Heaven is the long distance future, the longest journey, I would say destination, is the longest destination, is the destination after all other destinations have been met or reached or we failed to. It is the last one in death, and we hope that we have done enough on this side to earn Heaven. A future reality, not present, but future. Our future goal that the soul needs and the soul wants to reach or to have.

05:08 IWDM: So, if I'm understanding the teachings of G-d correctly and the practice of Muhammad correctly, then I think this obligation means to care about myself, care about my children, care about my loved ones, and I won't just have them see a tomorrow better than today or next year better than this year. Our future better than this present. So we have to apply that in every area of our lives, not just morally, spiritually, but in terms of education. If we applied this in every area of our lives, we'd be working for improved schools, improved conditions for our schools, and improved education. Improved schools! Improved environment for the schools. We'll be working for all around improvement for our schools, our effort in education.

06:19 IWDM: If we apply the same philosophy, the same interests, if we have that same interest in our business appetite, we'll be very, very successful as business people. The business people have no more than a plan to feed their physical appetite or physical needs. They don't stay in business, they can't stay in business. They have to be motivated by something bigger than just physical appetite. The one who just want a fine car, a wardrobe he can show off, and a big bunch of dollars, a big fistful of dollars, in his pocket, as soon as the money accumulates in the cash register, he's gonna take it out because that's all he's working for.

07:16 IWDM: But the one who's working for bigger goals will take that money out of that cash register and put it in the bank and invest almost all that money back into his business. And you'll see him going all like he's not making any money at all. He might look poor two years from now than he did when he started, but he's richer. He's richer. His money is going where it counts. His money is going to things that will assure him a better future and this is what we want. And G-d has given it to us. Thank you. Pray to G-d for forgiveness and for success as Muslims. We are on the way.

[background conversation]

07:57 IWDM: Assalamu Alaikum.

[applause]

08:01 S?: For more on the Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, Muslim American spokesman, call 1-708-201-9692 or write Ministry Ministry of W. Deen Mohammed, Post Office Box 1061, Calumet City, Illinois, 60409. For WDM Publications, call 1-708-862-7733 or write Post Office Box 1944, Calumet City, Illinois, 60409. For Muslim Jones see local distributor. And, thanks for listening.


