Articles About the Community of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, Volume Ii

By Q. Daawud Grey

In his last book, Mr. Grey sheds considerable light on a community that had a particular impact on African-Americans in the 20th century. No doubt, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and Elijah Muhammad, who were members of that community, contributed profoundly to the African-American struggle for human rights.


With the second book, the author treads down the same path with reports about the transformed community of Imam W. Deen Mohammed that the media has basically overlooked. These articles reflect part of the community's business, social, religious and of course, mental growth from the days of the Nation of Islam.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796056501

Q. Daawud Grey

Shortly before publication, Donald J. Trump became the first citizen in American history to be criminally charged, after serving as President of the United States. His one term in office sparked the collapse of the nation's two–party system wherein one political party, essentially, morphed into a cult of personality worshipers. Also, at the time of publication, America was leading twenty of the highest–income nations in gun related deaths. According to the 2023 available data, the USA's death rate by citizen–held firearms was 4.12 individuals for every 100,000 in the population which was twice the death rate in second place Chile; eight times the rate for third place Canada, and 10 times the rate for fourth place Portugal. It was also well–documented that the U.S. has the largest percentage of civilian–held guns—an estimated 393 million (also based on data at the time), out of a total of 857 million worldwide. This means that a little under five percent of the world's population possessed 45 percent of the world's civilian firearms. This social mindset can not sustain itself. The author contends that a careful study of the evolution of the community of Imam W. Deen Mohammed will help brake America's social and civil decline.

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Copyright © 2019 by Q. Daawud Grey.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2019913041

ISBN:       Hardcover                     978-1-7960-5652-5

                 Softcover                       978-1-7960-5651-8

                 eBook                             978-1-7960-5650-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 10/08/2019

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CONTENTS

Preface

SECTION A: BUSINESS EFFORTS

Article 1     Philadelphia’s M.E.C.C.A. and Its Founding Couple

Article 2     Philadelphia’s 2017 Halal Business Conference

Article 3     Muslim Journal Editors Disagree On Industry’s Future

Article 4     Muslim Security Company Holds National Meeting In Newark

Article 5     Budding Entrepreneurs Finish Muslim-Designed Course in Queens, NYC

SECTION B: SOCIAL CONCERNS

Article 6     Domestic Relations Forum Held in Philadelphia

Article 7     Interfaith Banquet Held in Charlotte, NC

Article 8     Useful Information Given at Ramadan Session in Philadelphia

Article 9     Georgian Imam Fields Questions on Marriage in Mt. Vernon, NY

Article 10   Oakland Imam Identifies Disposition Needed for Human Growth

SECTION C: DEPARTURES

Article 11   The Soul of Haleemah Shakir Departs

Article 12   The Soul of Abdul Baqi Hamed Meets His Maker

Article 13   Wali L. Waheed Passes

Article 14   Mohammed Hassan Transitions

Article 15   Rauf Abdus-Shakir Returns to Allah

Article 16   M.A.L.I.’s 2019 Banquet Honors the Qur’anic Warrior–Qasim Ahmed

SECTION D: RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE

Article 17   Newark’s 2016 Fitr Message: Back to the Mission

Article 18   Newark’s 2016 Adha Message: Step-Up the Sacrifice

Article 19   A Religious-Studies Weekend in Philadelphia

Article 20   Aneesah Dawan Spanks Washington, D.C. Audience

Article 21   The 2018 A-Day-with-the-Prophets Program in Lawnside, NJ

Article 22   Unprecedented Lecture Series on the Ascension Ends

SECTION E: LEGACIES

Article 23   Philadelphia Museum Observes Malcolm X’s Birthday

Article 24   Muslim Scholars Discuss Malcolm X’s Limitations

Article 25   Academic Panel of Females Reflects on Imam W. Deen Mohammed

Article 26   Imam W. Deen Mohammed Remembered In Newark

Article 27   Philadelphia Masjid Unveils Initial Redesign Plans At Banquet

Article 28   Philadelphia Masjid Continues to Rebuild, Despite Spotted Past

PREFACE

Articles about the Community of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, Vol. II is a continuation of my first book, about Imam Mohammed’s community. In that compilation, the aim was to present articles about the community for documental and informational purposes.

The purpose of this volume is the same—to document and inform.

But, after publishing the first book, a distinct possibility emerged that a mixed message may have been conveyed by the term, community.

A community is generally defined as a group of people living in a particular location, place or geography, and having a common interest.

Imam Mohammed’s community, for the most part, is not defined by geography, although the membership definitely intends to establish geographical locations.

What tied the community of Imam Mohammed together for the 33 years of his leadership (1975-2008) was a common interest. In this case, it was, and still is the religion of al-Islam.

However, the difference between other Muslim communities and Imam Mohammed’s, is rooted in the deceased leader’s perception and application of Islamic principles. And, it is precisely his interpretation and implementation of al-Islam that has fueled the vigorous study, research and religious practice of not only my generation, but the succeeding generation of followers.

Imam Mohammed’s vision of the religion has resulted in a number of unprecedented achievements that Western media and academia have, up to this present publication, basically ignored.

For instance, on February 5, 1992, Imam Mohammed was the first Muslim leader to be honored by the U. S. Department of Defense with a luncheon at the Pentagon. And on the following day, February 6, he became the first Muslim to open a session of the U. S. Senate with an invocation.

Another example is on October 3, 1996, Imam Mohammed became the first American-Muslim leader to meet with a Catholic pope, Pope John Paul II. Then, on October 28, 1999, he became the first Muslim in the world to address an audience at the Vatican in Rome, Italy.

There is a reason for such high-level recognition. Simply put, Imam Mohammed was a leader who understood and practiced religion in a sensible and level-headed way, and therefore had a universal appeal.

But, it was this same reasonable approach to religion that also posed a threat to the corrupt world order of his day. Consequently, it is no surprise, he was routinely denied media exposure.

The reader may notice, in almost every article, certain, seemingly-unrelated words are connected, forming new ideas that are seldom associated with the words. For the followers of Imam Mohammed, these new word-associations have become the language of Imam Mohammed.

This language and its resulting logic, actually formed a communal framework. Therefore, his community is identified by people who have accepted the language and logic of Imam Mohammed. For that reason, geography and location don’t have much to do with it.

This book is divided into five sections. The sections include: (1) Business Efforts; (2) Social Concerns; (3) Departures; (4) Religious Knowledge; and (5) Legacies. Of course, many reports fit into more than one section.

I would like to thank Almighty Allah (Highly Glorified is He) for the gifts of al-Islam, my Bilalian identity, my journalistic training, Imam Mohammed and his community.

With that said, may Allah and the reader forgive me for any errors and/or misinformation.

Q. Daawud Grey

September 2, 2019

SECTION A:

BUSINESS EFFORTS

ARTICLE 1

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M.E.C.C.A. at Masjidullah in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA’S M.E.C.C.A. AND ITS FOUNDING COUPLE

AUGUST 1, 2017 — Should an electrical engineer run a child care center?

For Medina Rashid, director of an early childhood center in Philadelphia PA and a trained electrical engineer, the question was a no-brainer.

I always loved math, and I always loved science. But what I love most is education, explained the co-founder of Masjidullah Early Child Care Academy (MECCA) in the summer of 2017.

MECCA is advertised as a facility committed to educational excellence and the teaching of Islamic principles and seeks to provide high quality early learning experiences for children from six weeks through five years of age, according to its website, www.masjidullahchildcare.com.

In addition, MECCA provides a before- and after-school service during the regular school year, and a day camp service in the summer. These auxiliary services have an educational focus, and accept only students from kindergarten to the sixth grade.

Sis. Medina and her husband, Michael Rashid, co-founded the academy in the summer of 2014. In its two successive years, MECCA’s child enrollment has at least doubled from the year before.

In the academic year of 2014-15, enrollment was 20. For the following year, 2015-16, enrollment increased to 75; while, for the third year 2016-17, the figure was 150, according to Bro. Michael, who is also treasurer of MECCA.

Though electrical engineering was a natural for Sis. Medina, who spent much of her time as a youth in the library and whose father was an electrician, Sis. Medina maintained that her greatest love is education.

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Medina Rashid, director of operations

I’m an educator at heart, stated MECCA’s director of operations in a small, on-site office during a hot, August 1st, afternoon.

Born and raised in a Muslim family in Baltimore, Sis. Medina attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, a high school which specializes in math and the technical sciences. She went on to earn a degree in electrical engineering from Howard University in 1992.

That same year, the Bilalian (African-American) couple were married. However, the closest she would come, admitted the director, to working in the field was employment at her husband’s now-defunct, electrical company.

By 1995, when the first of three offspring was born, the Rashids became absolutely concerned about their children’s education, said Sis. Medina.

Around this time, the Villanova Academy for Honor Studies in Villanova, Pennsylvania, 18 miles west of Philadelphia, was founded. The Rashids decided to enroll their children in the new, Islamic school.

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Michael Rashid, treasurer

But, Villanova needed much support in its formative years and so, related Sis. Medina, she volunteered most of her time and talents, eventually becoming a math teacher and co-administrator at the school.

With no formal training for either position except, the director explained, her love for education and her studies in electrical engineering, she apparently satisfied the founder of the new school.

MECCA is housed in, and owned by, one of the largest masjids in the city, Masjidullah. The members of Masjidullah subscribe to the Qur’anic interpretation and insight of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, who spearheaded the evolution of his father’s (Elijah Muhammad) community, the Nation of Islam, from 1975 until his own death in 2008.

When Masjidullah purchased the $1.2 million complex in 2013, the plan was to open up an elementary school; but a school is very, very expensive to operate, advised Resident Imam (at the time) Mikal Shabazz. In an August 8, 2017 interview, Imam Mikal said that a pre-school learning facility was certainly on our list, as an option for providing education for our children and generating funds.

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Mikal Shabazz, resident imam (2017) of Masjidullah

But the masjid was not in a position, financially or otherwise, to make such an investment. Consequently, Naml, the non-profit self-help foundation of the Rashids, was contracted.

They had the finances, human resources and political connections to make it happen; the masjid didn’t have that, explained Imam Mikal. Naml has total control of the academy’s operation, he added, including the hiring and firing of staff, programmatic decisions, and hours of operation.

Naml, an Arabic word for ant, was selected, Br. Michael said in a follow-up interview, because of its insignificance as a solitary insect, yet can achieve great things through its social and organizational skills.

"(And though) the license for the day care service is in Naml’s name; Naml operates the day care on behalf of the masjid," said Br. Michael, who graduated from Harvard University with a master of business administration (MBA) degree in finance.

Furthermore, "Naml is licensed to operate the service o-n-l-y (reporter’s emphasis) at the masjid," noted the treasurer who was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama.

Yes, the masjid owns the child care center, responded Imam Mikal to the question about its relationship to MECCA. Naml loaned the masjid the money, in order to establish the academy.

Once the renovation and start-up loans are fully paid, noted Br. Michael, then all profits from operating MECCA will go to Masjidullah’s educational programs.

According to the treasurer, who joined the NOI in 1970, the masjid charged $60,000 a year for renting six-classrooms and two administrative offices in its main building

Meanwhile, Imam Mikal shared that, neither Sis. Medina, as director, nor Br. Michael, as treasurer, receive a salary.

The mission of MECCA is to provide an early learning experience that meets the intellectual, moral, social, emotional and physical needs of each child within a loving and safe, Islamic-centered environment, according to its website.

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The pre-K class at the Summer Camp taking a nap

Infants are given appropriately challenging experiences which promote their growth and development; while one and two-year-old children learn to develop communication and self-help skills, according to a brochure about the facility.

The emphasis for three and four-year-olds is on building the foundation for cognitive growth in areas such as literacy, science, math, social studies, creative arts and technology, the brochure continued.

The first talking point in the interview with Sis. Medina was MECCA’s Summer Camp. The camp is divided into three age groups: "(1) Small Feet, consisting of five to seven-year-olds (2) Explorers consisting of eight to nine-year-olds (3) Trailblazers which are the ten to 12-year-olds the director said.

According to the website, the camp’s capacity is 60 participants and "is tailored around