A sad day for Islam in America: Imam W. Deen Mohammed, Muslim American Leader and visionary, dies at age 74.

“From Allah we come and to Him is our return.”

 

On behalf of myself, the Sabree Group and the Islam in America Movement, I express my deepest condolences to the family of Imam W. Deen Mohammad; may Allah, Highly Glorified and Exalted is He, have Mercy upon him and place light and space in his grave. Ameen.

 

That family includes the thousands of Muslims that supported his work and were part of his association, as well as the countless number of people throughout the world that he has impacted with his interfaith work, insights and commentary. His influence was immeasurable.

 

Although I was a 10, soon to be 11 year old child in the then-Nation of Islam, when Imam Mohammed assumed the leadership upon the death of his father on February 25, 1975, it didn’t take me long to figure out that he was a pivotal figure who would be recorded as a “legend” on the Islamic landscape in America. He brought us, By Allah’s Permission, from The Nation to the Sunnah. And although I did not always agree with his every thought and commentary (and perfection is the property of the Creator), time and expereince has increased his importance and relevance in my own development and evolution. And in terms of defining an American Islamic identity, he det the paradigm WAY before it was popular (pre-9/11, when everyone, even the hardest of the hardliners, picked up “the flag!”.

Speaking for those of us that he led through “the 2nd Ressurection”, We can never thank Allah enough for him and the only way we can “repay” that debt is by taking his work, his mission and legacy to the next level, what he worked tirelessly to urge us to; Ihsan. Excellence.

 

I’m certain that many have stories, thoughts and memories of the Imam, as we all affectionately referred to him as. My intent is to share some personal reflections on the man, the leader, the servant of Allah, Islam and our people, whom I was honored to have several private audiences and conversations with him in 1999 and 2000, particularly. These discussions helped to change my perspectives greatly, and have influenced and fueled my work since that time.

 

For now, I need to collect my thoughts, offer dua’ for our brother, leader, and servant of Allah, and try to get details on his janazah so that I can prepare to be there, by Allah’s Permission.

Again, may Allah give Imam W. Deen Mohammed his greatest Mercy during this greatest Month of Mercy and Forgiveness. And let us not collectively let Imam Mohammed down after his leaving us physically. He deserves better than that! In his own words “we can’t stop now”. Let’s comfort, strengthen and support one another in this time and in the days ahead, and lets work TOGETHER, in the name of Allah, to get it done! Let’s teach Islam!

 

Brother Imam, I’ll miss you, and I pray to see you on the other side……..