W.D. Muhammad

IIt was an intensely cold afternoon in Chicago on 26 February, 1975, whensome 20,000 members of the Nation of Islam, from across the U.S.A., filledChicago’s Amphitheatre to capacity. It was their Saviour’s Day, for them themost significant, and one might even say, the holiest day of the year. On thisday every year they gathered to celebrate the birthday of Fard Muhammad,whom they considered to be “God-in-Person,” the one for whom “praise isdue forever.” Although Saviour’s Day was observed across the U.S.A., itscelebration in Chicago had a special significance for members of the “Nationof Islam.” For in Chicago the guest of honour used to be none other than ElijahMuhammad himself, the “Messenger of Allah,n who addressed his followerswith marathon speeches that electrified them. Saviour’s Day was always aday of solemn rejoicing and celebration. This year, however, the membersof the Nation appeared tense and grim; their faces drawn, darkened withanguish. For only the day before, their leader, Elijah Mubarnmad, who hadled them for over forty years had breathed his last in Chicago’s Mercy Hospitalafter a prolonged struggle against numerous aliments.The news had left the members of the “Nation of Islam,” popularly knownas “Black Muslims," baffled, bewildered, speechless. They had immense loveand devotion for their leader, believing him to be the Messenger of Allah.They had witnessed many healthy changes in their own lives and in the livesof a very large number of fellow Blacks as a result of the teachings of ElijahMuhammad and of their association with his movement, the Nation of Islam.The wholesome influence of Elijah Muhammad was evident in their improvedeconomic conditions, the stability of their family life, their enhanced prestigein society, and even in their robust and elegant demeanour. Because of suchimprovements in their lives, some Blacks had begun to venerate Elijah Muipmmadalmost to the point of worshipping him. Moreover, there had developeda feeling among many followers of Elijah Muhammad that he was immortal.This feeling had perhaps received support in the past from the fact that onmany an occasion Elijah Muhammad had, almost miraculously, quicklyfecovered from very serious illnesses ...