02/06/2005
IWDM Study Library
We are Seeing the Conclusion of our Growth
(Parts 1-3)
By Imam W. Deen Mohammed

Imam WD Mohammed: That is G’d is greater. We greet our audience, our live radio listening audience, also, with the greetings of peace. Our greetings of peace be unto you, As-Salaam-’alaykum.
We praise G’d, the Lord, creator of everything. We thank him for our presence here, and we thank him for our life. We thank him for our faith, and we pray that he forgive us always, forgive us our sins and shortcomings and grant us his mercy; for without his mercy we will never find guidance. This is a time in the history of man prophesied of long ago---long ago. It is described in different ways, but it is a time when things that have been moving human life and supporting human life, are bringing human life to a conclusion.
Not to death, as you would perhaps think---not that kind of conclusion but a conclusion like we see in living things that began as a seed, or as a life germ, and continued to grow and progress until a life form is completed. We are seeing now the conclusion of our growth as human beings. Science will tell us that there was a time in the history of our life form when we didn't have civilization; we didn't have city life; we didn't even have education; we didn't have even language and we were just living like other animals not much evolved above apes or monkeys and other animals. But life came from that very low life level, on the scale of life, to become the human life that we know today.
[NOTE: Approximately 56 minutes of the Imam’s address that he delivered over the radio are missing. The break came at the end of the previous paragraph and resume with the word “Now” seen below. The recording of his words as transcribed here in the first page was just over 2 minutes whereas this section picks up at the very end of the one hour long public portion of the address---the Sunday address was delivered in two parts; the first part was 1 hour long and went out over the radio as a public address, and the second part was delivered off radio to the local audience and often extend for another one hour or more.]
Now it's not all the people ever that bring about good change for all people, there’s always a few that bring about the change for all people. I said that to tell you don't be discouraged, when you go outside you don't feel this and you don't see this, you see more ugliness than you see beauty; more mistreatment than you see kindness, don’t be discouraged by because there is always the few that bring the good life back for the many. And believe me the few were like a grain of mustard seed, each one produces so many times more than his personal value or weight.
So have faith, my brothers and sisters, as we conclude this hour of address to our radio audience, have faith, let us situate ourselves to survive better and to progress as G’d intended for us to do. He created us for life and life abundantly, and G’d says to Muhammad and the Qur’aan and to us who follow him, he has made for you abundance. He invites us to abundance, he invites us to paradise and the devil---he says of the Satan---he invites you to poverty, he frightens you with poverty. We used to live a life of poverty and raised good children and loved one another.
But today it is so difficult, all of us are frighten by poverty, just running trying to make yourself look rich if you are not---you are under the influence of Satan's scheme. We thank our radio audience and we greet them with peace, as salaam ‘alaykum.
What a time it is, when everything that was predicted that will come out of human life to help and hurt human life has happened. You don't have to look back anymore to see prophecy, for prophecy, is not behind us anymore, it is here. The issues that will be raised because of the devotion to superficial things, the material interest, material lifestyle, et cetera; issues that will be raised and how life human being will be eliminated, they will lose their human life, they will lose the quality of life and be living worse than animals. Families would be lost; the members will have no willpower to suffer with one another.
The good human strength and the good human life would all be gone but both books say there will be a small number always surviving and G’d will always be with them and he will give them in full their reward, for their faith and their endurance, their patience for staying with the good life. That day is here now, the time is here now. I said this long time ago and will still need to say today---well I said in different words maybe but the same thing---I’m speaking to you that, this is somewhat true but I'm speaking directly to these brothers. Brothers, we lose the manhood spirit, when we know how to stay in touch with the guidance of G’d for our life, he has given us guidance for our life.
We lose the manhood muscles, you lose those muscles that you should have in manhood or that we call manhood, you lose the strength to do the things that your dignity calls for, you do lose the strength to do the things that your good sentiments call for, you lose the strength to do these things and pretty soon you’re miserable, your life is just one virtual hell, you are not happy with yourself, you are not happy with other people, you’re happy with nobody. That is hell.
I think that for a man---it is a little different from the woman---I think that we solve our problem the women will oh, they will brighten up like a sun bursting out like a sunshine coming out after the storm, if we can just do some with our lives, the sisters would perk up, oh Brother.. They will start sprouting out like roses and beautiful flowers and stuff they start popping up. You see a beautiful flower garden all of a sudden, where you saw snakes and moss, centipedes and rats, yes. All of those images will go and all of a sudden you see nothing but a rose garden, a beautiful rose garden and we will just get where we’re supposed to go, get our own life back.
You might not know brothers the nature of your soul that they confuse sometimes with psyche but they are similar; your brain, your intelligence, it also has a moral nature every part of you have a moral nature and when you are not using it correctly it gets sick. Yes, your psyche can get sick; your brain can get sick because you're not using it in a morally correct way. The soul, the ego also can get sick and the ego according to “Fraud”- [Chuckles] Sigmund “Fraud”, sic-em-fido, Sigmund “Fraud”. [Laughs] I am saying this because he is a fraud he stole the principles of human life composition from scripture and then sold it to the world as his discoveries. They are not his discoveries, he got it from scripture and adulterated it, sex made it all sex. Well anyway, getting back to my point here: The ego, the ego is supposed to be that part of you, that feels that you are important, that you have value, that you are somebody that that makes you feel that way or where that comes from is called ego. You can exaggerate your importance then ego becomes a bad word but if you’re a humble person of great statue and great life or great character, your ego is beautiful always.
But if somebody treats you like you are nothing and you become weak, you cannot resist it; you cannot prove them wrong and it happens for so long a time that you are conditioned to conform to their evaluation of you. Now you have an ego that have lost its value, it have lost its honor, it have lost its dignity---a crushed ego. Does that mean you're going to walk around necessarily with your head hung down? And somebody has to say, "What's the matter, what's the matter my friend?" No. There are a lot of crushed egos out there. "Oh, hey baby, come here Will", "Hey man, come here man before I bust you down, come over here man." Outwardly, he is an ape; inwardly, he is a sick little mouse---a sick little mouse on the inside. And there is a remedy---the African American need this more than any other people that I know on the planet Earth.
That remedy is, you have to use your muscles for something other than monkey business, monkey antics. You have to use your muscles as a human being, as an intelligent human being. And not just your physical muscle---it is going to start right there with the physical muscles. Well, no it will not because to accept my remedy you are going to have to start with a soul decision. You are going to have to make a decision in your soul that this is good for you and you should do it. Man was created for work, every male, you were created for work. Now, if you cannot work, you don't have a work, it punishes your soul. It taxes your soul. Your soul is burdened your soul is tormented because you do not have work; you are not producing anything. You are not accomplishing anything as a worker. So it taxes your soul, it punishes your soul.
And you think that all this pain and ugliness that you got in you come from the white man. “White man---made, he made my life, and he messed my life up like this.” Or it came from that neighbor that you do not like; or that member of your family that you are always fighting. “If they were not in my life I would not be like this, I would not be miserable you know.” Yes you would. In fact you might be more miserable. Because right now they are taking the attention off of the real problem. You are looking at them; you are blaming them so the attention is coming off the real problem that is you. You are not doing any work to better your life and the life of your loved ones. Though people get so sick sometimes physically, they have to go to hospital layup for weeks and months maybe to get well. I have a program for you that is going to tie you up for maybe a couple of weeks. After a couple weeks, you are going to start feeling good.
Say to yourself "I'm a man. I'm a male. When I look at other life, the male stands out as the one that has the strength to lead the others. Right? Yes, you look at the male lives, male, male bird, whatever it is; he is walking about with the female and just his picture that we see just his image that reaches our eyes says, "Oh, he is in charge." The lion is so cool he does not let anything bother him. But he has got a beard so big; you know he has got some special recognition. He doing something he has got a big beard, yes, a big old beard.
And the female, the lioness does not have a beard, you know. His head look like twice the size of her head. He can walk pushing it out like a chicken; see the chicken walk like that (imitating the walk of a chicken) pushing it out there every step. The chicken walk not only with its feet; pigeons and certain other birds, they walk with their feet and their head. Now, if we could move without feet and with our head, oh, buddy, we could change our life, couldn't we brothers? [Laughs] 
Say to yourself, "G’d created me male. G’d created me for work. I don't have work, that's why I'm down. Not only down financially, but down humanly, I need work." Then say, "There is a way for me to have work, but I have to change the way I think and the way I put value on things. I need work for my psyche. I'm going out and going to get work. I'm going to barter what I have to offer also. I'm going to offer to a neighbor who is all tied up, time squeezed do not have any time, working two jobs; don't have time to cut his lawn. He does not have time to wash his windows. I'm going to tell that neighbor, "May I treat you, give you a treat." Neighbor said, "What, I want to give you my muscles and my time for no monetary gain. I don't want a dollar, not even a penny. I'm going to give it to you, may I wash your windows. You're too busy. You're poor trying to make ends meet and you are working all the time. I need help. My psyche is sick, he is sick. My ego is disappointed. I need work." So you give me the value of doing this, you pay me by letting me do this work so that my soul will be enriched; so that my ego will rise and be healthy. I want to wash your windows. I want to cut your grass. I see you got a nice, big Cadillac---brand new and pretty---but it is all dusty, you hardly ever wash it anytime. Oh, I'm going to make you feel good next time you get into that Cadillac. May I wash your “hog” (a slang term for Cadillac automobiles) for you? I see your dog looking all pitiful, tied up in the yard, may I walk your dog. [Laughs] I will not give you any sass; may I cut your grass? My soul needs a dime. My ego's gone blind. My heart needs my brain inside my mind. I'm busy at running out of time. May I help you for free? That'll do a lot for me.”
Yes we can heal; we can heal ourselves. Now, let me tell you what could possibly happen now. When people learn you are doing that, you have a job. In fact, the person you do that for, they going to try, give you some money as soon as they possibly cans. Yes? That's the way out. Our condition is so bad that we need to take that drastic step of extending goodness from ourselves to others for the benefit of our soul and psyche. So the next time you feel all those pains, say “I feel good, inside my soul, where it used to hurt I didn't know, all I needed was work.” (Laughs as he recited the previous words and those following here in quotes in the cadence heard in many Black Baptist churches) “Work is hard in here for manhood, work is more than money, and work is good.” We are going to get there. We are going to get there. 
Now “from where” you say "where does he come from with all these stuff?" From my book Al Qur-aan kitabi, the Qur’aan is my book. It is a book that has in it guidance for sure, but also it is healing for what is in the heart or what is in the breast. It is medicine. It can heal our souls, it can heal our psyche. It can make us a strong and healthy people. Have faith. Thank you very much and we conclude. Asking Allah to always Allahu Akbar, asking Allah to always guide us and show us mercy for had he not shown us mercy we would have never found guidance. Amen.
We're going to take time and receive a few questions and I'll sit down and until you get situated; if anybody has questions or comments or anything. There was a sister she communicated, reached us with communication that she wanted to see me on this first Sunday. I came here prepared to see her but I guess she maybe she didn't make it I don't know. I sent her a letter I don't know if the letter arrived to her in time but the letter said that she should take the letter to the security people here on security and show the letter to them, so they would bring her to me so I could hear what is her concern, or what is it that she wanted to bring to my attention. If she is not here today then we will not be able to do that but I was hoping that I would be able to respond to her because her words that reached me seemed to be sincere words that deserve my response, so insha Allah, we will be able to take care of that at another time.
I will not have any opportunity to meet with anybody or I have not accepted any appointments or anything for this day for this occasion, so after the question and answer period is over which will be about 20 minutes insha Allah, we will have about 20 minutes for questions and answers. I will have to move quickly and go to my next business that I have to take care after this and that business might be going to bed. That is another thing you all have to learn. You take care of first things first. If you keep neglecting your sleep in your life you won't be around to take care of those other things. Take care of yourselves.
We want to thank Allah for Brother Imam Fareed and other Imams that are being invited to come into the focus. When the government bodies or persons like the president invite one of us, a member, to perform on such a very special occasion like that they say that they are recognizing us as persons of importance in the life of America. So we thank Allah.
And we have many… and Imam Yusuf Salim is here. Imam Yusuf Salim is here and he has been invited to the White House on more than one occasion. We are very proud of our brothers and we have some sisters too who have received great recognition from the White House, and we're receiving this recognition from the states where we live, and this tells us that we are reaching people with our good words. We thank Allah. Okay [unintelligible 00:25:51] again.
Questioner: As-salaamu ‘alaykum Imam Mohamed.
IWDM: Wa ‘alaykum salaam.
Questioner: My name is Nadirah Aziz and I'm from Masjid Mohamed, Washington DC. In keeping with the theme of this month’s life history, a group of us have organized an event to reflect on our human history. This event will be for the community to come together for a presentation of the living history to be shared by those who can highlight a time with real visualizations and first-hand storytelling. We will like to ask you at this time to share with us one of your stories of your coming up Muslim and if we can record it so that we may in-cooperate your living story into our program on February the 26th at Masjid Mohamed/
IWDM: That I was not a Muslim. I was never anything but a Muslim. I was born a Muslim according to the teachings of our prophet Mohamed, and I am a witness myself and G’d is my witness and I have many other witnesses from my family and from my neighborhood friends who are Christians that Wallace D of Wallace W. D. I was called WD when I was a little boy--- never left his good human nature that G’d gave him at birth. I'm a Muslim now and I've always been a Muslim. I will die a Muslim, I know unless G’d take it from me. And I know that G’d will not take that from me.
I know what you meant. I can't tell you how I became a Muslim; I could tell you how I became a learned Muslim---but not a Muslim. I was born a Muslim; I never came out of the Muslim nature, not in my life. I've never drank, I never smoked. I never lied, I never did any of those things and I have got friends and people who will tell you that I didn't. Muslims and non-Muslims will tell you I didn't. Never drank, never smoked, and never abused myself. I obeyed the good teachings my mother gave me whether I was in the Nation or out’ they put me out---my father put me out, you think I went out to drink? No, I went out to be a better Muslim.
No, I never gave in to sins or weaknesses, never. So I can't tell you how I became a Muslim, I can tell you how I became an informed Muslim, a learned Muslim. And that was no easy thing. After you learn Yacoob’s history and a few other things that the Nation of Islam taught me as a child, it was no easy feat coming to the right Islam, or the right nature. We were taught to be good, were taught to be kind and everything, but what we were given in our minds was really a big challenge, hard.
Some of them they cannot pull away from that, they are still out there despite all of this light in the new world now, you know. With all this light that is in the world now from us---I have to say from us---with all this light in the world now from us there are many of them that just cannot turn away from what they were taught that is in the way of them embracing human life and humanity, and working positively as human persons for the good of everybody. And rejecting our prophet---how can we say we are Muslims and the very book we claim came from a man that we reject? Some of them cannot pull away from that. Okay.
New Questioner: I'm Michael Hameen from Selma, Alabama.
IWDM: Yes, I know you and I'm happy to see you.
Questioner: Yes sir, good to see you I bring you the greetings of peace from brother Ali Khan, I was in communication. He has a question about the package that he gave you and he doesn't really know whether he should take it to the next step. I'm sure you're familiar with the package that he submitted to you and your office. Ali Khan, he is sick. I don't know if I should speak any further of that…
IWDM: Yes. I think I replied to him already. What he was asking for was my approval-that I approve of him initiating effort that would celebrate my---it has been almost 40 years now---my years in the leadership since 1975, and I didn't accept; I didn’t accept. Someone else had asked and I accepted. But I do not want a lot of attention to myself, and what they are going to do is going to really not be celebrating the years of my leadership it is going to be celebrating the accomplishments of the community.
Questioner: I discussed that with him that he might still -- and my question, well, my comment is that I'm working with representative Yusuf Salaam in Selma, he's a state representative and he has interviews I wanted to share with you because he's a student of yours and he entered into politics in order to have a platform to share your commentary with the public, the greater public.
IWDM: That is Yusuf who?
Questioner: Yusuf Abdus Salaam in Selma Alabama. He's a state representative there he ran for mayor there…
IWDM: Ok, yes, yes, I do know him.
Questioner: He sent you the greetings and he wants you to know that he has introduced a bill supporting the sanctity of marriage and he has gotten great response from it coming out of the committee and it is going to go to the house and it looks like there is going to be no opposition. And he introduced it in the spirit of your leadership in terms of---not in terms of the negative but as a positive for all of humanity.
IWDM: We congratulate him and we look forward to the bill being passed.
Questioner: He would like to invite you to March 3rd invocation at the state house there, I just wanted to give you a heads up on that. Some information for that will be coming forthwith to your office.
IWDM: Can you have that invitation sent to my office? I think the third is taken but we'll see. If it is something that was less important we could get them to put it somewhere else and I am thinking of another date we will move it.
Questioner: Yes, we would really appreciate it, as-salaamu ‘alaykum.
IWDM: wa?’alaykum as-salaam. 
New Questioner: As-salaamu ?’alaykum.,,,from five lectors. To let the community know what we're doing at First Bakari Princess George. The invitation that was sent to you by Cardinal George about a joint meeting, an evening with you and him at the Holy Day Cathedral auditorium.
IWDM: I missed his name who is “him”?
Questioner: Cardinal Francis George.
IWDM: Yes. I did get that. The office brought it to my attention and I believe, if you haven't gotten a reply.
Questioner: I have gotten the reply.
IWDM: It should have because it has been long enough it should have gotten replied and it was affirmed.
Questioner: I was wondering if I could address it, let the people know what is going on with that.
IWDM: At this time?
Questioner: Yes.
IWDM: Why don't you give it to sister editor Ayesha and to increase circulation they're going to read it be sure to get the Muslim journal, they will put it all in the paper.
Questioner: I worked on it for five years.
IWDM: I know, they told me. You'll be surprised how long I've been working on this.
Questioner: I understand what you're saying Brother Imam, I've been following you since I was 21, I just turned 49. I think of you as a father, I've told you that on many occasions and this is going to be a historic occasion. Just to test the water Imam Mohammed and I’ll close on this. I asked one of the religious leaders in this city will he be coming because we're going to invite other religious leaders, and the Executive Director of the World Popular Religions said that there's no way he's going to miss that event. It's going to be religious leaders from all over America and after that event the people of Chicago know who the man is.
IWDM: I hope you're reaching somebody but not me---your support for the idea is this always this strong but-
[Recording skipped. New questioner begins next]
Questioner: I have a letter in my pocket that I would like to give to you if possible for your review-
IWDM: Yes, if you don't have fist….in there or a ring-bring it straight forward
[Laughter]
Questioner: No, sir I do not.
IWDM: Yes, next, please.
Questioner: As-sal?mu ?’alaykum brother Imam.
IWDM: wa?’alaykumu as-sal?m my friend.
Questioner: I have two questions. The importance of establishing Amir and how do we establish Amir and the importance of it from the prophet.
IWDM: The importance of…?
Questioner: Establishing or appointing an Amir.
IWDM: Amir---a leader?
Questioner: Yes.
IWDM: Well, I think what is better to establish than an Amir is an Imam. Once you establish an Imam you have got better than an Amir. In the Qur’aan, the prophet prayed---Abraham prayed for an Imam. That G’d blessed him with an Imam from his descendants. Blessed the people with an Imam an able leader; Muhammad the prophet was our first Imam for the ummah of Al Islam under our prophets. They can have these titles, Amir and all that, I like the title Imam.
Questioner: The next question. About three Sundays ago, Imams-
IWDM: About the?
Questioner: About three Sundays ago, you asked the Imams to come together---three first Sundays ago. Were you just selecting a few? Were you talking about all the Imams in the city of Chicago or were you just talking about a few Imams getting together?
IWDM: I was referring to at that time in the Chicago area. Imams in Chicago and the Chicago suburbs like Markham and Harvey and all these places around Chicago but the need is everywhere throughout the United States.
Questioner: Does anyone have the right to say who should be the Imam or who can be an Imam or cannot be an Imam? That's the end of my question.
IWDM: No. No one person has that right. It should be by the consensus of the honorable and knowledgeable persons in the community. 
Questioner: As Salaam ‘alaykum, my name is Philistine Muhammad. Allah's mercies and blessings ever be upon you protecting and increasing your goodness to protect it. I had committed myself to bringing this question to you for which I believe you truly answered already on the work ethic. In regards to the brothers being able to activate the spirit that your beloved father (may Allah have mercy on, giving peace and on your mother have mercy and give us the peace) many of us in our souls are really dying to make the connection of the wisdom we've been given with the activation of our muscles. And I settled what you said this afternoon and I do it with humbling much but that is the methodology that I have to submit to leadership going to work in the night and day. You told us to, just this afternoon and I believe we will pass the mark of the work that we were doing with your father.
IWDM: Thank you. Allah be with you and continue to be with you and strengthen you in all your good works our brother. He's a good help to us and the Mosque Cares and to all of us. Thank you
Questioner: As-salaamu ‘alaykum brother Imam. This question is a question that I wanted to ask in Jersey. You were in Jersey just on Thursday but we ran out of time. I believe you answered that question but I'm going to tell you what it was. I asked you, I wanted you to speak more about the importance of a social healing and the support to do that work but I believe today you answered that question because the work is the healing.
IWDM: Yes, it is.
Questioner: I'm a social worker and I see a lot of broken people. What I came to find out and follow you and your teachings in the Qur’aan, is that when a person is---their soul is broken, wounded, you can't get much work out of that person.
IWDM: That's right.
Questioner: You've given me the answer to go back in my work and to continue to work as you instruct us.
IWDM: Yes, Ma'am.
Questioner: It's the work that heals the soul and soul, heals the work.
IWDM: Yes. 
Questioner: Let's pray Allah to continue to bless you.
IWDM: Allah, bless you. Thank you very much. 
Questioner: As salaamu ‘alaykum.
IWDM: Wa ‘alaykum salaam, wa rahmatullah, wa barakatuhu
Questioner: I am Mohammad Jihad from Indianapolis. I have a couple of very quick comments and a couple of questions. I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that Allah has blessed you which has allowed us to have dignity on the world scene.
IWDM: Thank you.
Questioner: Also I want to-- I was very delighted, last first Sunday when you shared with us that your office was open to send money to the victims of the Tsunami.
IWDM: Yes.
Questioner: It was on my heart to share something and I didn't know who to trust. When you came, I'm doing that.
IWDM: Thank you. Yes, the office-- I hope it could come at least by the end of this quarter-- tax quarter, the report on just how much have been received and how---it was sent to the victims.
Questioner: In the Qur’aan, it mentions rivers flowing beneath. Can you tell us what those rivers are referring to?
IWDM: The rivers?
Questioner: Rivers flowing.
IWDM: Rivers flowing.
Questioner: Rivers flowing.
IWDM: Yes. I don't know if you can comprehend, received it all and understand it clearly within a few words I can answer your question. Rivers flowing underneath, waters mean life and waters, the life of human sentiments and faith---F-A-I-T-H, faith. Life begins with trust. If the infant comes here not trusting his mother, the infant may die. So faith is the beginning of life and humans feelings, sentiments, that's the beginning of life. G’d said He begin creation out of water. So that is the beginning of life for us, is that our feelings now become innocent good and our sentiments are alive and good. That's the beginning of life for us. The waters underneath this river's flow means you don't have to have it revealed to you from the sky. It is already in your life that G’d creates. 
Questioner: How did you too become a learned believer-- you just-
IWDM: Obey…
Questioner: As salaamu ‘alaykum. Here's what I think I'd like to say but my question is, in the case of a woman's divorce, is there a waiting period and can you briefly talk about the importance of the waiting period or Iddah period.
IWDM: When you divorced, is that what you were saying? Yes, when a woman wants a divorce, is there a waiting period? That depends on when the household finds out. The household finds out right away-
[Laughing]
Yes, there is a waiting period. There is a waiting period. Yes. The waiting period for someone who wants to get divorced, I mean want to remarry is four months; four months. The waiting period to-- pardon me, it is three months. The waiting period is three months, yes. After three months, you can have a divorce. Normally, the woman's shows if she's pregnant with the life from the husband, she shows within three months at the end of the month should be showing. That's the case. Life is in you. Yes. The sister has life from her husband. And sometimes the knowledge that you have life, new life in you, changes the husband and changes the wife. And you might decide not to get a divorce. That's to give you a chance to know if you're carrying life. That's the main reason.
Questioner: Okay. You can just say that maybe there's another reason, some people just think it's just the way if you could see if their pregnancy, can talk about a little bit about the importance of the waiting period and how that's a time of healing-
IWDM: Yes. The most important thing about the waiting period is that you do not get involved with any other male during the three months. Not even sweet talk or sweet looks.
Questioner: Okay, thank you.
IWDM: Thank you.
IWDM: Thank G’d I'm praying hard and I'm getting good results.
Questioner: My name is Ibrahim, I mean Mohammad. I'm from…Michigan.
IWDM: Yes.
Ibrahim: My story is similar to yours-- when I was a kid like in the 70s, I didn't know anything about Islam but--
IWDM: Yes.
Questioner: I saw in the community -- arrived, we met your mother and your father. Later on, I heard the message in my line. That was a Muslim family…again. What actually-- Like I said, I was a … and I didn't know about you personally.... There's other things you say-- I said when I tell you something, I just don't hit you right on. I'm not saying this to show respond, to make me special or anything like that. I would never do that. I heard your name but for the first time when they said it, something inside of me it went, "Boom." I just wanted to—come to this meeting you Imam. I propagate religion because I have obligation on this. I just-- I listen to a lot of things that you were saying helps me out in my life. I'm the only Muslim in my family-- I live in St. Louis now. I just want to converse with you Brother Imam.
IWDM: I appreciate you sharing with me.
Questioner: I want just want to say, I'm in tune with you. I'm following you brother and may Allah…. as long as…. Well, just the main thing I want to say is I'm in tune with you-- About the things, you say I listen to. We cannot stop now. I love you talking about it too, your mother or your father. as salaamu ‘alaykum brother.
IWDM: Thank you, brother. Thank you all ….
New Questioner: Takbir, Takbir, Takbir. To my beloved brother, Imam Warith Deen Mohammad, to his distinguished guests, to all of you brothers and sisters from my teacher and the community of Sheikh Nasir Tijani …sufi order. As salaam ‘alaykum. 
IWDM: Wa ‘alaykum salaam
Questioner: Brother Imam, it's always a pleasure and honor to hear you or read your words of wisdom. Today, I feel very good in what you have said. It was on my way here. I was going across the street to get some sheetrock. You see, to begin to do some work.
IWDM: Yes.
Questioner: I feel good in that matter. I also wanted to speak with you because the last time you and I were together, it was at a Janaza.
IWDM: Yes.
Questioner: We had spoken with a few brothers and sisters---I'm from Philadelphia as well as from here in Chicago. Brother Imam you asked me to get in touch to Brother Luqman for you to journey to Philadelphia, which I did. He's giving a green light. I've been trying to get in touch with you. You gave me the phone number but I never could get through. I know you're very busy so I took this moment to let you know that he's giving the green light whenever you choose to go. He's waiting for you.
IWDM: Yes. Please return greetings to him. Give him my greetings and my love and tell him that- I think I have your phone number I believe-
Questioner: I would like to give it to somebody if you would direct me to whom to give it to that way you can get in touch with each other.
IWDM: Yes. Please do and I will call-- give me your number and I will call and inform him in advance.
Questioner: Alhamdulillah. As salaam ‘alaykum.
IWDM: Wa'‘alaykumu salaam wa rahmatullahi.
New Questioner: As salaam ‘alaykum. I wanted to clear up on…
IWDM: Wa '‘alaykum salaam my sister.
Questioner: I wanted to clear up one item and ask a question.
IWDM: My sight is not as good as it has been but I recognize you.
Questioner: Before when I came [crosstalk] Yes, that's right. Before when I came to you-- it's been about three months ago I think it was-- there was a little girl in front of me and in front of her was her brother and you thought the little girl was mean, the brother thought the little girl was mean, I thought the little girl was with the brother but she was acting from another masjid from someone else behind me. I wanted to tell you, I was not going to ask you a question, I was going to say thank you for what you told the brother because it answered my question.
That's why I laughed and went on because it didn't matter. I wanted to ask you, is it possible for us sometimes to hear some updates concerning the shopping malls, the Mosque Cares, things that are going on that we don't very often hear in the places where we like to `sit and relax and stuff like that. Every now and then it would be good to hear some of the good things that we're doing are from-- I know that the-- Olay and Shea Butter-- it's in St. Louis now and the Shea Butter is in St. Louis now. Things like that that we don't often hear about. I'd like to hear about the shopping center.
IWDM: About the shop?
Questioner: Shopping center. The mall and things like that.
IWDM: Yes. It's coming fine. We have a developer in the community. It's the Mosque, the companies, the big developers and they are building properties. They've built a lot of beautiful properties in New York area but they're building all over. They're building one now in Nashville and several other places. They are very big and they have a lot of help from outside the community with them. They told me that they think that they will start it even earlier than we expected them to start it. We hope-we're looking to see it completed mid-June or earlier, this year---mid-June or earlier this year. Allah blessed us to pay the taxes off. It takes a lot of money just to exist. Just to hold on, and we are managing to hold on, we're going to hold on; I am never giving up, never give up. We are going to see this through. We are going to see it produce to satisfy all of us.
Questioner: My last comment was. I want you to know that every prayer I say, not just regularly, every prayer I say I put you in it. I ask Allah to bless you with your efforts and endeavors [Crosstalk]
IWDM: Thank you, thank you very much and I remember you and I will remember you more in my prayers. Allah, be with you always.
New Questioner: As salaam ‘alaykum.
IWDM: Wa'‘alaykum salaam, my brother.
Questioner: I spoke with Sister Verna Rasul, a Muslim sister that has cancer.
IWDM: Yes. We know her very well. She used to work over at the school and I was over at that school, on Stoney Island. They all love her; she's a very beloved person in the community.
Questioner: Well, I spoke with her this morning a little after fajr and she asked me to thank those of us that are going to support a fundraiser that we put together after the election. We've invited everyone here to come to the Chicago Park Hotel. We secured that facility-and when I say we principally I did-I took resources that Allah blessed me with and we secured that facility and we invited Wali Ali and he invited Sister Saoud Alameen. I've spoken to Brother Mohammed Sadiq, Brother Samuel Bilal and Mohammed, the pioneer rep team, myself, I've met Bilal at the port-
IWDM: Sister Muslima and I, we've got a voice. Sister Muslima she works in the prisons. Samuel, Mohamed's partner for a long time-
Questioner: Sister Muslima.
IWDM: Yes, Muslima. I said Mumina
Questioner: We anticipated that she might have made it here today. She normally comes.
IWDM: She's not in the area is she?
Questioner: No, she's in Michigan. She got married. She's in Michigan.
IWDM: Okay. We miss her; let her know we miss her.
Questioner: Yes sir, we have and she told us to let you know that she will be coming to participate with us more.
IWDM: We hope you will be there too.
Questioner: Yes, sir.
IWDM: I don't think you that you or most of us really know that you have a beautiful voice. You have a beautiful voice. I could listen to you sing for hours.
Questioner: What we've done-- we plan to have an evening of social enjoyment, we've-- for those that have an attachment to the super bowl we have made accommodations for you. We've got---for those that want to dance we've made accommodations for you. For those that want to see a live show with good performance, we made accommodation for you. We hope that you will donate so that the sister can receive the treatments that she needs on a consistent basis. We will be there---we've secured that facility up to two o'clock in the morning. If you can stay you say, if you've got to go, you've got to go but we've secured that facility so at whatever point you leave you're welcome to come over there. At first, we were going to put a cost on it. We didn't do that, we figured that we can support each other and I was told that it wasn't going to work and I knew better.
IWDM: Just give what you can.
Questioner: Yes sir. Just give what you can.
IWDM: I like that. I like that. Thank you.
New Questioner: It's good to see you again brother Imam.
IWDM: Good to see you, my brother.
Questioner: My question has to do with working in the community, and that's on a spiritual level. I am struggling to come back to what I say, "as I was." I'm a first-generation Muslim and I've been working in the community at one of the local churches involved in-we're dealing with the Christians. My foundation as a Muslim is stern and I know I have many thoughts that I would like to clean to be that 100% or as close to that as possible.
IWDM: Do you know G’d will accept you if you're just 50 and one?
Questioner: Alhamdulillah yes.
IWDM: 50 and one fraction of a percent. One fraction over 50% G’d will accept you.
Questioner: Yes sir. I've always used the …ways and know that if I'm at least 51% then I am on the right track. But my question pertains to-I have not informed the leaders of the church directly that I am Muslim. I am not embarrassed but because of the world today and because of how they attack and because I have learned to see that the mentality of men is so deluded and confused, I want to know as I do-I'm part of a breakthrough committee and several things-- I'm very active in this church. For one it's convenient because it's one block away and my situation-
IWDM: Yes. You don't have to tell me all that stuff. Muslim is nature.
Questioner: Alhamdulillah.
IWDM: You're a good Christian, that's good.
Questioner: What I wanted to know is should I bring-- as an ambassador of Islam-- should I try to bring more light to the eyes of some of these members of the committee without being offensive. You know what I mean. Do you understand what I'm trying to ask I believe?
IWDM: I believe I do. Well, I have to change the percentage. You need 71% at least.
Thank you, brother. Allah, be with you.
New Questioner: As salaam ‘alaykum.
IWDM: Wa'‘alaykum salaam, my brother.
Questioner: First of all Brother Imam, I come here to tell you that working in the state of Wisconsin is no longer a challenge to me. It's to me-- I've outgrown that area. It's no challenge to me. Now I listened to you when you were saying how to get out and work. I am a working, Brother Imam. I love you and I believe in you but I got to keep moving. I believe I can help you in other places. That door in Wisconsin is open. It's wide open there, it is established. Islam for the sake of W. Deen Mohammed leadership it has been established in the state of Wisconsin which was the point of what I can do as an individual, I've outgrown that. There's no challenge for me. I need something bigger. I need more and I need to go where you send me where you think is good for me. I'm not-- education is one my top areas. I'm interested in education and I'm working on something that I made a promise to you-- we had a talk during the summer. I made a promise to you about something-
IWDM: Yes, what we need to do is have a meeting. You need to contact the office and let them know when it's convenient for you to be in town. When I'm here then we sit down and let us meet together, all right.
Questioner: Yes sir. Thank you. Wa'‘alaykum salaam.
IWDM: Thank you, you're welcome wa'‘alaykum salaam.
New Questioner: As salaam ‘alaykum.
IWDM: Wa ’alaykum salaam, my sister.
Questioner: Alhamdulillah. May Allah continue to bless you and your works and good deeds and those of the community. I attend a school that's predominantly Catholic. It is predominantly white, let's see--- I'm just giving you the settings of the demographics of the school. Thursday, they had an Eid dinner, belated Eid dinner they had an Eid dinner sponsored by the Muslim Association of Students at the school. It was about 150 Muslims there and I was the only African-American woman. I think there were maybe four African-American men and I don't know if they knew that we African-Americans. We have been doing a lot of work with those-- of Muslims of other communities and people of the Abrahamic Faith and the Focolare, and the Inter-Faith Works.
IWDM: I didn't know you're actually doing as much as this in the situation that you're in, with Catholics that you're in-- I'm happy to hear that. That's very important.
Questioner: However, I guess that just really brought to my attention the fact that there needs to be an association of students, I think that has the-- where African-Americans especially this community can identify with. They are some on campus but my problem is, how do I go about doing that?
[NOTE: The recording was interrupted and the Questioner’s comments may not have been fully recorded nor do we believe was the beginning of IWDM’s reply to her question recorded in full. The Imam’s words that follow here were in response to the Sister’s question.]
Imam: To support the Muslim association that is already there, and to try to influence more African-Americans to join.
Questioner: There's one time, I left out, I’ve omitted---in the past, even since I've started, I and some of the other African-American students to get more involved have been, I want to say---I think you feel some patronizing or something like that. We try to find when is the next meeting, the next general vital meeting and, "Oh, it's not until some other time." There's like a set group of people who are in charge and they're not really open to receiving-
Imam: Including?
Speaker 1: -Including. Yes, exactly. They've been in existence for some time. They were interested in getting other demographics and they would have. They're not really interested in changing things. That was the only reason because I also do not believe reinventing the wheel but--
IWDM: I understand. It's clear to me. Most of time when you have a situation like that and for the sake of not being misunderstood, it's best to sacrifice your desire until some better situation presents itself.
Questioner: Thank you.
IWDM: You're welcome.
New Questioner: ’alaykum-salaam. I'm Elijah Mohammed from Minneapolis, Minnesota and I got your book here, Islam's Climate for Business Success. How many have read this book?
Imam: Good. I have one, too.
Questioner: All right great. I'm just wondering, brother Imam, when are we going to rise up here in Islam America system. We've been here 400 years and we are still in pitiful condition all over America. Some of the Mexicans in certain areas that I see are doing great works, they're moving forward. Puerto Ricans, Spanish, Italian, French, German, why can't we come together with you? Why can't we come together and move ourselves to the forefront? It's said in the last days that the black man shall rise up, we should take control. when are we going to take control?
IWDM: He is waiting on an answer and I am, too.
IWDM: Thank you, brother. Thank you very much.
Questioner: May G’d bless you.
New Questioner: As-salaam’alaykum, Brother Imam.
Imam: ‘alaykum as-salaam my brother.
Questioner: I'm Hanif Khalil from Kansas City.
IWDM: Yes. My friend, we haven't had any involvement except he invited me and gave me opportunities to address other people by way of radio and by way of other media also. He has been a spiritual support to my spirit.
Questioner: I'm really thankful for this opportunity to be here on the first Sunday. As many of the masajids and centers across the country are trying to move forward, many of them are taking the option of organizing through a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit status trying to meet a lot of the strict requirements to developing boards of directors, presidents and instruction to masjids and centers to meet those requirements.
I'm seeing some friction as some of these communities go forward, between the Imam and the previous administration, in trying to move forward to meet the requirements of the 501(C)(3).
Can you help us and guide us, and suggest to us how we can best organize as we try to meet those not-for-profit requirements? Also, I have a concern at least in my particular masjid we're not requiring a membership fee to ratify the Imam. One of the requirements is that you have to pay a fee to exercise your vote. And one of the requirements is that you had to pay a fee to ratify the Imam. I felt that was not going to pay it. Because this is a trust that Allah gives us to select our leaders and there should not be a financial commitment to it. So please help us as we try to move forward, thank you.
IWDM: Yes. Honesty and fair dealings, that's the teachings of the Qur’aan and the teachings of our prophet, and I can't offer you more than that. 
Yes, next one please, next brother please.
New Questioner: I have a national in my house.
Imam: A national?
Questioner: A national; a flag---a national.
IWDM: A flag? A national?
Questioner: Yes. Yes, sir.
IWDM: Oh, okay. My hearing is not the best, though but-
Questioner: Mine is not either
IWDM: -I'm starting to hear you.
Questioner: I hope I can make you hear it. But I have guest come and many times people in the community; they always want to know how can they get that. I know at one time there was brother that was hanging them and I would see him, reminding me, well, I'd like to back to take that project up and make a donation back to the community and get them out there if you can… 
IWDM: That is the reproduction of the flag of our symbol of our national symbol?
Questioner: Yes, sir.
IWDM: Yes. The following…since the beginning of my leadership. My father inspired-- the words of my father before he died the concept that we have of the flag. I think if you have the loyalty to what we are doing and to what we stand for, that I have, you wouldn't be happy not having one of those flags. I think every sincere supporter of what we represent and that is the continuation of G’d's blessing in our lives.
As Muslims, you would want one of those flags, so brother I encourage you to continue until you get it done and you can contact the office and tell them that I fully support you in your desire to do that.
Questioner: I appreciate it. How do you-- how do I-- speak with, Abdul?
IWDM: If he is not there whoever is there, just tell them. We have got all terrific workers in our office, we owe it to them.
Questioner: Thank you Brother Imam.
IWDM: Yes, thank you.
New Questioner: In answering his question, I'm from Cincinnati, Ohio. We do have some of the flags for sale right now.
IWDM: All right.
Questioner: Over there in the bazaar over there, from the brothers who performed the show yesterday.
IWDM: They do? The same flag we saw?
Questioner: Yes.
IWDM: They are beautiful.
Questioner: If you want it, he can go over there and get in touch with them also.
IWDM: Yes. The flag is over there for sale-
Speaker 7: Thank you, as-salaam’alaykum.
Imam: And really, a dollar value cannot be put on it.
Voice out of the audience: That is right.
IWDM: But I'm sure you can afford the price. She would not invite you if you could not afford the price.
Same voice from audience: That's right, that's right.
IWDM: So I'd get that nap later on.
Imam: G’d be with you ….
[END OF AUDIO]


