So here we are, right in the thick of it – that time the scripture refers to as “the end times.” No clearer sign of this is when men and women alike are being attacked for encouraging women to be respectful, decent and modest in their dress; but, those who encourage women to dress provocatively and embrace the feminist ‘SlutWalk’ movement are lauded. Hmm?
Brother Kwame Rose, you did get one thing right in your article, On Louis Farrakhan and Rape, you referred to him as The HONORABLE Minister Louis Farrakhan and honorable he is and always has been. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has no record of misogyny, disrespect or victim-blaming of any female, ever. His record is open and available for all, to thoroughly research and parse both his written words and his thousands upon thousands of hours of speeches given over the past six decades. You will find he is consistent in his effort to teach both men and women about the sacredness and immeasurable value of the woman.
During his interview with The Breakfast Club, the Minister opened his remarks when asked about the dress of women by saying to our sisters, “I’m in-love with you. I love you like I love life itself.” I am puzzled at the fact that you find the Minister calling women “sacred vessels” contradictory to stating that they should be covered in the presence of men.
Anything that you value or consider priceless should not be shown off and displayed in the presence of someone who might find that item enticing. Yes, of course there are some men who are so sick that they will disrespect, abuse and even rape a modestly dressed woman; but the fact is that a woman significantly decreases her chances of even being harassed, when she is dressed modestly – just ask the sisters in the Nation of Islam.
You also recklessly stated in your article that Minister Farrakhan was “undermining beauty and independence of Black women, and celebrating her predators,” – Whoa…did we listen to the same interview? Did you not hear Minister Farrakhan say, “In our world (of Islam) the penalty for abusing women and children is death. And unless we are willing at some point to kill those who rape our women; to kill those who destroy our children – that’s going to come. Not now, because you have to be taught first and given a chance to reform your life. But you are not going to live among us and carry out that crap and not pay for it…I hope we never will have to do that.” Those words certainly do not sound like a man blaming the rape victim.
Dear Brother, your disagreement is really not with Minister Farrakhan, it is with God, Himself. In both Bible and Holy Qur’an women are admonished to cover so that they may be known and not given trouble. Modest attire distinguished righteous, chaste women and protected them from the insults and ill-treatment of men inclined to evil. The same is true today.
So, whenever you attempt to critique or interpret the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s intentions, you must do so from the perspective of God because he is a man of God. The Minister is only reminding and warning us of what God has already told us. Prophets and messengers do not come when everything is good. No, they are sent by God to offer guidance to a nation or people who have gone off the right path and need to get back to being pleasing in the sight of God. This is what Minister Farrakhan offers to us. He is the Black woman’s present-day Zacharias.
In the Holy Qur’an, we learn that Zacharias “was a righteous caretaker of a righteous girl (Mary) who grew up in the Mosque.” Mary, the mother of Jesus, grew up under the care of Zacharias and lived in the temple under the law of God. Mary had a goodly growing up because God “needed a good woman, uncontaminated by the world, through whom He could bring the Messiah.”
Mary is only a sign of the Black woman in America. We need righteous women who may be in the world, but are willing not to be of the world, and will gladly accept the guidance being offered by a righteous man whose only desire is to see our people completely free from the clutches of our open enemy.
I do believe that we can all agree with the ultimate goal, which is to stop the disrespect and all acts of violence against women. However, simply because you disagree with Minister Farrakhan and those of us who follow him on how we choose to achieve that goal, does not give you the right to misrepresent and mischaracterize his words. He does not deserve that. At best, you misunderstood him and at worst, you purposely intended to turn people away from the Minister. I choose to believe the former.
I recently watched you (via video) lead a chant at a Bernie Sanders rally, “The People United, Will Never Be Defeated.” You are right, brother. So let us unite under the banner that we all have in common, “Justice.” The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam want justice. Equal justice under the law. We want justice applied equally to all, regardless of creed or class or color. Do you agree with that? Then, let’s unite!
We invite and encourage all readers to watch and listen to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s full interview with the Breakfast Club at https://www.noi.org/breakfastclub2016/.
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Sister Fudia Muhammad has been a member of the Nation of Islam at Muhammad Mosque No. 64 in Austin, Texas for 21 years. She has been happily married to Student Minister Robert L. Muhammad for 19 years and they have been blessed with four beautiful children. Sister Fudia holds a Master’s degree in Advanced Literacy Instruction and is currently the M.U.I. Saturday School instructress at Muhammad Mosque No. 64.
