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IWDM Study Library
Tribute to Imam W. Deen Mohammed

By Imam W. Deen Mohammed
Joan Sabree:
As an official representative of Muslim Journal in this Western region, I'm proud to say because of you, our subscribers, distributors and advertisers, the Muslim Journal now enjoys international distribution. See the full picture. Experience reading the Muslim Journal as it brings humanity together in moral excellence, in truth and understanding. Be in touch with a fast growing Muslim population. You haven't seen the full picture until you've read Muslim Journal. I'm Joan Sabree, West Coast correspondent for the Muslim Journal. As-salamu alaykum.
Speaker 2:
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Speaker 3:
Spanning the nation for the latest in news and information, as it affects you. Welcome to another edition of Muslim News Magazine.
Speaker 4:
Recently Imam, I understand that you celebrated your 10th year anniversary of the Muslims in America. How do you evaluate that?
IWDM:
Well, I evaluate it as an experience and also a situation. Experience that allowed us to prove ourselves. We proved ourselves. Under the honorable Elijah Muhammad, we said that we were a people of good intent. That we intended good, that we meant well, and that we were sincere in our beliefs. When the right knowledge came, and most of us put aside that that was not right and in conflict with what is true Islam, our true religion, I think we proved something. We proved something importantly to ourselves.
Speaker 3:
For the past 18 years. Imam W.D. Mohammed has been a strong source of leadership for millions of Muslims throughout America. His unique and rational style of thinking has had a far reaching effect around the world, changing the overall perception of the African-American Muslim community. Imam Mohammed first came into leadership in 1975 after the death of his father, Elijah Muhammad. In 1976, he held one of his first major press conferences to announce major changes in the then called Nation of Islam.
Speaker 5:
What are the major changes you're talking about briefly?
IWDM:
Well, the major, I would say the most profound change that was made, was the change in the belief that G-d is black or manifests in black flesh, and that the devil is white, or manifests in Caucasian flesh. This was I believe the most disturbing change if I could put it that way, the most disturbing change that has taken place.
Speaker 3:
In keeping with this way of thinking, Imam Mohammed promptly set out for American Muslim recognition of the Islamic standards. He saw the importance of the sacred Mosque and urged strongly that local Muslims practiced the religion as it was taught in the Qur'an.
IWDM:
I'm looking in the future with a new mind, and I know that America needs leadership. And I'm going to make my contribution. And I believe that there are people who have enough sense left in them to see the promising direction that we are giving or offering in the community.
Speaker 3:
As the direction of Imam Mohammed became clear. He began to receive support from entire communities.
Peter Shapiro:
I Peter Shapiro, Essex County executive, do hereby proclaim Sunday, October 12th, 1986, that is this day as Imam W. Deen Mohammed Day in Essex County.
Speaker 3:
For the next decade, Imam Mohammed would carry on, traveling around the country sometimes at an exhausting pace, giving lectures, appearing on television and radio shows, at press conferences, and numerous community affairs and events, all the while representing an awareness of religious and belief in practice, never before seen in America.
IWDM:
We celebrate a change for the better in America. We recognize that we are living in a better situation today than we were living in 30 years ago. We are not going to close our eyes to that reality. We celebrate change for the better, but we realize there's still work to do. Not on them. That's the mistake that most of our leaders make. Time is out for asking for more change in them. On us.
Speaker 3:
Imam Mohammed's service for the promotion of universal human excellence is well documented. However, his keen insight into American life may be equally important.
IWDM:
We can't live in this highly literate society, highly technical society, where we are bombarded by messages coming off the television and coming from the movie industry and from records and from the public, bombarded with all these messages, reaching for our minds, reaching for our judgments and our rational abilities to actually over occupy us. In science, in physics, no two objects can occupy the same space at the same time.
IWDM:
This society, these fast-paced societies, these commercial societies, they work to over occupy you, where you ain't got no time for nothing else. They work to over occupy your moral thinking, your rational thinking, your social thinking, your religious thinking, whatever kind of thinking you have. They work to overly occupy you so that you don't have no time to really live your own self. You can't live your own mind. You can't live your own concerns. They are constantly over occupying you with other concerns.
Speaker 3:
When you examine the many extraordinary achievements of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, few rank higher than his efforts involving Sister Clara Muhammad Schools. Since changing its name and concept in 1975, Imam Mohammed has continually worked on Islamizing the curriculum in this 50 year old school system, which now offers Islamic education for a diverse range of children from around the country. Imam Mohammed's clear and appreciable representation of the religion of Islam and unparalleled contribution towards building respect for Islamic life in America has earned him countless awards and many unprecedented acknowledgements, both nationally and internationally.
Speaker 3:
His extensive travels abroad have been met with head of state treatment by kings and presidents of great countries, such as Morocco, where he has met with King Hassan II, and Egypt, meeting with their past leader, Anwar Sadat, and later with President Hosni Mubarak, who presented him with Egypt's highest and most distinguished honor, the Gold Medal of Recognition. In 1990, following the invasion of Kuwait, he was invited and led a delegation of Muslim leaders, scholars, and educators to Saudi Arabia, where he addressed the Islamic conference on the Persian Gulf conflict as the leader of Muslims in America.
Speaker 7:
The Saudis have been quite explicit in allowing in the in the infidel forces, quite explicit in saying that, "Yes, you can come in, but as soon as the job is done, get out." Now you're a Muslim, but you're also an American. How do you feel about that?
IWDM:
Well, I haven't read it that way. I think what the king is saying is that you're here and we appreciate you here, being here. We need you here. But this is a great problem for Islamic people of the world. This place is a place of sacred devotion, and great devotion to the sacred rights of our religion. And it causes a conflict here, and it is not good for the atmosphere here to have soldiers present here, whether they're from America or any place. I think they would feel the same, but you know, because of America having the image it has in the Muslim world, as being a country that's too liberal, permissive in many respects, that it presents the problem.
Speaker 3:
The international influence of Imam W. Deen Mohammed has changed the world's image of American Muslims. Since 1977, when 300 African-American Muslims made Hajj, the sacred city of Mecca has been the scene for thousands of Americans returning for the most inspiring and touching of all the pillars of Islam. The pilgrimage to the Kaaba, and the sacred precincts has brought worldwide regard for the leadership of Imam Mohammed. On a recent trip to the Jihad Conference in Saudi Arabia, he was asked about the significance of Mount Arafat.
IWDM:
The prophet salla lahu alaihi wa salam said that if we miss Arafat in the Hajj, we miss the Hajj. Arafat is where we gather on the ninth day to stay here in devotion and in salat, and to meet each other. We come from different countries but here we can meet each other, become better acquainted with each other, and be in devotion.
Speaker 3:
His trips to the Middle East have brought him audiences with some of the region's most prestigious people. Imam Mohammed, an avowed supporter of the Palestinian cause, the Afghan Mujahideen, the Muslims of Bosnia, the suffering people of Somalia, and all the world's oppressed, has achieved worldwide recognition and influence. Armed with the this genuine respect, on February 6th, 1992, he became the first Muslim representative to deliver an invocation on the floor of America's highest legislative body, the United States Senate.
IWDM:
Bless the parents, our troubled youth, our burdened inner cities to never be without hope or direction. Bless Americans to keep to the best of our ways, bless Americans to cherish more the pride of industry. Bless the efforts of the President and all other efforts in progress for more jobs and opportunity, to be in this great society for more of us. Bless matrimony and families here and all around the world. Increase for the President of the United States, for every member of the Senate and for every member of the House of Representatives, the excellence of man's spirit and the excellence of the intellect of the statesmen so that they may build a better America for us all. Amen.
Speaker 8:
Amen.
Senator Paul Simon:
Mr. President.
President of the Senate:
Chair recognizes Senator from Illinois.
Senator Paul Simon:
Mr. President, history was made in a small way, this morning. We had an invocation by Imam Mohammed, the first Muslim to offer an invocation here in the United States Senate.
Senator Alan Dixon:
Today is a historic day, Mr. President, in the life of the United States Senate and in the country at large. For the first time in the Senate's history, the invocation has been given by an individual of the Muslim faith. I am proud that one of my constituents, the leader of African-American Muslims in the United States, the Imam Wallace D. Mohammed, was the first Muslim leader to deliver the invocation in the United States Senate.
Enator Orrin Hatch:
This is a great day for the United States Senate and for our country, to have Imam Wallace Mohammed here with us today, the first Muslim to pray in the United States Senate. We couldn't have made a better choice. There isn't a better man in America, or a better religious leader who is trying to do what's right for his people.
Speaker 3:
The following month, in the state of Georgia, the place of his father's birth, Imam Mohammed delivered to a standing ovation of elected officials, the first address of a Muslim leader on the floor of the Georgia State legislature.
IWDM:
We are in a good situation here because America gives us the opportunity to compete. Everybody has the opportunity in this country to compete and you can compete for everything or in everything. Now if we stop competing with the fools and start competing with the wise, if we stop competing with the wasters of their resources and start competing with those who preserve their resources, I think we can get somewhere in America and get in a situation to share the power, shape America so that it pleases G-d more and serve our needs better.
Speaker 3:
The shaping of America meant changing its landscape forever. In 1975, there was 200 Temples of Mosques in operation. Since that time, more than 400 Islamic centers, Masjids or Islamic information centers are aligned with Imam Mohammed.
IWDM:
I'm saying that Muslims in America have plans, not just a thinking anymore. We have plans to contribute to the cultural life of America, to the business life of America, and certainly to the religious life of America. We have real plans to do that. We have plans to help make America more pluralistic and to make it richer, to make it more powerful, materially and to make it more decent, humanly and more G-d fearing. That's what we want to do. We have plans for it. We intend to have more Mosques with Islamic style in your cities.
IWDM:
In Chicago, on 47th Street near the lake front, there's a wonderful edifice there, an Islamic Mosque structure, built with the money of African-American people in our association. Most of it came from Herbert Mohammed, my brother and Muhammad Ali, the great champ that he used to manage. In Cleveland. We have an excellent Mosque structure there, built from the ground. It came because of the determination and efforts of Imam Clyde Rahman, from Cleveland, who is here. He's managing the financial end of this. We have that place there.
IWDM:
I can go on. We have some in the south. We have plans in Los Angeles for a great, great big one, huge facility that will accommodate a few thousand. Yes. And this Mosque and masallah and the other grounds accommodate a few thousand. We have plans for that.
Speaker 3:
In his seemingly tireless efforts to bring leadership and understanding, Imam Mohammed has entered the new age of electronic transmission. In February of '92, he was featured during a satellite teleconference up linked from the campus of USC in Los Angeles, California. The program was viewed by 73 colleges and universities across the country.
Speaker 9:
Is there any justification for anyone to even ...
Speaker 3:
During the telecast, Imam Mohammed delivered an unprecedented speech on Islam in America, that was broadcast throughout the western hemisphere. He then joined in as students around the country posed questions to him and other distinguished guests. Today, Imam Mohammed is still working hard for the advancement of Islam in America. He still faces many obstacles in a country that is yet to erase prejudice and racism. But as Imam Mohammed puts it, that's not a problem.
IWDM:
Let me tell you something. I'm not worried about racism. I'm not. I don't see racism as a problem anymore. I don't. All I hope for us, my father told me that one day we'll have our own and be free. We have our own and we are free. So those who want to be narrow and have their own and hate me, you're free too. I can live in a world where people hate me. I can live in a world where people can't stand me, you know? And my presence is an annoyance. I can live with that. And you can too, because if you couldn't, you wouldn't stay in your own house, most of you.
Speaker 3:
You can only have love and admiration when a man comes from your midst to tackle a problem that nobody else wants to deal with. You watch with envy as the mountains that Muslims in this country have to cross are reduced to molehills, with seemingly simple solutions. You see the tireless enthusiasm that this man uses in his approaches to world acceptance of his morals and values. You soon realize that work is the key to success. Then you ask yourself, am I working as hard in my quest for human excellence? The Appreciation Dinner Committee would like to acknowledge the efforts of Imam W. Deen Mohamed for the work he has done and give its commitment for what is yet to come. And for the millions of American Muslims who have supported him over the years, well, here's what they have to say.
Imam Plemon El Amin:
To you, Imam Mohammed and to the Muslims, we thank you. We appreciate you, and Almighty G-d has truly blessed you. And so we can at least give this tribute. We thank you. G-d's peace be upon you and us. As-salamu alaykum.
Imam Clyde Rahman:
Masjid Bilal and its believers are very honored to be a part in this tribute to our leader, Imam W. Deen Mohammed. Imam Mohammed had so much to do with the building of this Masjid, the first Masjid built on American soil by African-American people. So we are very grateful to Allah and Prophet Muhammad and Imam W. Deen Mohammed. Thank you very kindly.
Imam Ali Muslim:
We'd like to say at this tribute for the leadership of Imam W. D. Mohammed, brother Imam, may Allah continue to bless you, to lead us in the most excellent way that you have been doing for the last 17 years. And we'd like to say to you that we appreciate the opportunity that you have given us to identify within your leadership, and we'd also like to say that we are grateful to Allah, that he has blessed us to be a supporter behind the leadership of Wallace D. Mohammed. Thank you. As-salamu alaykum.
Imam Abdul Karim Hasan:
As-salamu alaykum, brother Imam. Every time I think of how far we have come in such a short time under your leadership, I am reminded of this verse from Quran: "Behold Luqman said to his son by way of instruction, "Oh my son, join not in worship others with Allah. For false worship is indeed the highest wrongdoing." I must admit, it took me about two years to get my head on right. But once I understood that verse, understanding you became easy. We thank Allah for blessing you, Imam Mohammed, with the knowledge, inspiration and courage to direct us, all of us, to the right concept of religion. Congratulations to you on this occasion, and may Allah continue to forever bless you. As-salamu alaykum.


