Farrakhan to expand Nation of Islam membership

As the message of “change” resonates throughout America, the African American Muslim community may be in line for a change of its own.

That’s when the Nation of Islam will reportedly extend its membership to whites, Hispanics, Asians and other ethnic groups under the leadership of Minister Louis Farrakhan. The announcement took place on Sunday when Farrakhan hosted a special dedication service at his South Side worship center, Mosque Maryam.

The move comes weeks after the Sept. 9 death of Imam Warith Deen Mohammad, who denounced the teachings of his famous father, Elijah Muhammad, when he took over the helm of the organization in 1975. The reforms, which included renaming it the World Community of Al Islam in the West (and later American Muslim Mission), relaxing its dress code, removing its paramilitary infrastructure and renouncing whites as “blue-eyed devils,” were replaced with efforts to move the faith toward orthodox Islam.

The measures angered some converts of the man they called The Messenger, and according to a 1996 NOI press release, “disoriented many of the followers and lead to the Nation’s financial ruin.”

In 1977, Farrakhan–the former national spokesman for Muhammad– reestablished the traditional NOI and begin reuniting disillusioned members. His passionate rhetoric of Black self-help and resistance to white supremacy enamored him in the eyes of many African Americans, including many who were not members of his group.

The Muslim leader’s rebuilding efforts flew under the radar of those who would become his staunchest critics–Jews and the American government–until he drew national media attention for comments made in reference to attacks against the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s 1984 presidential campaign.

Today, the man once known as The Charmer, will not talk about the race for the White House for fear his words will be distorted and used by Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain as a disruptor.

Using guarded language, he would only talk about his plans to expand the NOI’s vision, the loss of Mohammad and the legacy of his mentor. He did not indicate he would implement any other reforms or details about plans for wooing non-Blacks to his faith community.

When asked why make the announcement now, Farrakhan said, “Everything is done in the right time...This is the right time. It represents a new beginning.”

The Muslim orator, wearing white garments and looking the picture of health, made known his intentions to a small group of Black reporters inside the lavish confines of his sprawling estate on the city’s South Side, in advance of Sunday’s service. Located a block away from Obama's Hyde Park mansion, Farrakhan’s estate resembles a palace with its winding driveway, majestic fountain and expert landscaping, including hedges sculpted to resemble gigantic, green marshmallows.

The exterior’s burnished, golden color was accented by the multi-hued leaves falling to the grounds as Hispanic workers painted a stone carving in the front yard.

“We...invited a broad-cross section of people to this rededication ceremony,” Farrakhan explained.

“We (expected) a diverse representation from all three branches of the Abrahamic Faith (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). I hope people will see the growth of the Nation not as abandonment but as moving us toward our place as truly universal people.”

The organizer of the historic Million Man March that drew nearly two million Black men to the nation’s capitol, also expressed deeprooted sadness as the death of Mohammad, who once took great lengths to distance himself from Farrakhan. However, in 2000, marking the 70th anniversary of the NOI’s founding, the two held a public reconciliation.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a former NOI member said, “We don’t know what anyone’s intentions and what the true impact will be on the masses, if any. If this happens, then what the Minister is doing is exactly with the Imam attempted in ‘75,” he said referring to Mohammad, who drew tens of thousands of people to his funeral.

“I think the Imam worked hard to reverse the image of the Black Muslim in America. With what’s going on with Obama and how he’s changing the face of how we look at race, it’s probably the right move - politically and otherwise.”

In addition to unveiling his plans to open the doors of the NOI to all faiths, Farrakhan highlighted renovations to its flagship mosque. In February 1988, the mosque was rededicated and reestablished as the National Center of the Nation of Islam and renamed Mosque Maryam in honor of Mary, the mother of Jesus.  NNPA

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