Warith Deen Mohammed (born Wallace D. Muhammad; October 30, 1933 – September 9, 2008), also known as W. Deen Mohammed,

Imam Imam (; ar, إمام '; plural: ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a worship leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic worship services, lead prayers, se ...

W. Deen Muhammad and Imam Warith Deen, was an African-American Muslim leader,

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing th ...

, philosopher, Muslim revivalist, and Islamic thinker (1975–2008) who disbanded the original

Nation of Islam The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930. A black nationalist organization, the NOI focuses its attention on the African diaspora, especially on African ...

(NOI) in 1976 and transformed it into an orthodox mainstream Islamic movement, the Bilalians (1975), World Community of Al-Islam in the West (1976–77), American Muslim Mission (1978–85,) which later became the American Society of Muslims.''

Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese. The ''Journal'', along with its Asian editions, is published ...

'', Vol. CIV, NO. 6, Friday, July 9, 1999 He was a son of

Elijah Muhammad Elijah Muhammad (born Elijah Robert Poole; October 7, 1897 – February 25, 1975) was an African American religious leader, black separatist, and self-proclaimed Messenger of Allah, who led the Nation of Islam (NOI) from 1934 until his deat ...

, the leader of the Nation of Islam from 1933 to 1975."Warith Deen Mohammed"
''This Far By Faith'',

Public Broadcasting Service The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educa ...

. He became the national leader (''Supreme Minister'') of the Nation of Islam in 1975 after his father's death.Lincoln, C. Eric. (1994) ''The Black Muslims in America'', Third Edition, William B. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing Company) page 263 He rejected the previous deification of

Wallace Fard Muhammad Wallace Dodd Fard, also known as Wallace Fard Muhammad or Master Fard Muhammad (; reportedly born February 26, – disappeared ), was the founder of the Nation of Islam. He arrived in Detroit in 1930 with an obscure background and several alia ...

, accepted

whites White is a racialized classification of people and a skin color specifier, generally used for people of European origin, although the definition can vary depending on context, nationality, and point of view. Description of populations as ...

as fellow-worshippers, forged closer ties with mainstream Muslim communities, and introduced the

Five Pillars of Islam The Five Pillars of Islam (' ; also ' "pillars of the religion") are fundamental practices in Islam, considered to be obligatory acts of worship for all Muslims. They are summarized in the famous hadith of Gabriel. The Sunni and Shia agree ...

into his group's

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing th ...

. Splinter groups resisting these changes formed after Elijah Muhammad's death, particularly under

Louis Farrakhan Louis Farrakhan (; born Louis Eugene Walcott, May 11, 1933) is an American religious leader, black supremacist, anti-white and antisemitic conspiracy theorist, and former singer who heads the Nation of Islam (NOI). Prior to joining the NOI ...

, who in 1978 would revive the name Nation of Islam (from Final Call) for his organization. Farrakhan's NOI and the previous Final Call claim direct continuity from the pre-1975 NOI.

Biography

Early life and education

Mohammed was born Wallace D. Muhammad on Yemans Street in

Hamtramck, Michigan Hamtramck ( ) is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the United States 2020 Census, 2020 census, the city population was 28,433. Hamtramck is surrounded by the city of Detroit except for a small portion that borders the ...

in 1933. In 1992 he officially changed his name to Warithuddin Muhammad, Warith Deen Muhammad, which translates to 'Inheritor of the Religion of Muhammad'. His parents were

Clara Clara may refer to: Organizations * CLARA, Latin American academic computer network organization * Clara.Net, a European ISP * Consolidated Land and Rail Australia, a property development consortium People * Clara (given name), a feminine giv ...

and

, both highly active in the

(NOI), the organization that preached a form of

Black nationalism Black nationalism is a type of racial nationalism or pan-nationalism which espouses the belief that black people are a race, and which seeks to develop and maintain a black racial and national identity. Black nationalist activism revolves a ...

and its own version of Islam. From 1934 until his death in 1975, Elijah Muhammad led the Nation under the title, "the Messenger of Allah." Named to honor

(Fard), the founder of the Nation of Islam, Mohammed grew up in Chicago, one of seven siblings. His elementary education came from the Muhammad University of Islam school system later known as the Clara Muhammad Schools, or Muhammad Schools. He briefly studied Arabic as a youth under Jamal Shakir Diab, a Palestinian who was later hired by his father to teach at the M.U.I. in Chicago. Mohammed became a minister under his father in late 1958 and served in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

during the late 1950s and early 1960s. While serving as Philadelphia minister, W.D. Mohammed commenced extensive study of

Ahmadiyya Ahmadiyya (, ), officially the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community or the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at (AMJ, ar, الجماعة الإسلامية الأحمدية, al-Jamāʿah al-Islāmīyah al-Aḥmadīyah; ur, , translit=Jamā'at Aḥmadiyyah Musl ...

doctrines under Philadelphia-based Ahmadi missionary Muhammad Abdullah. On October 29, 1961, Mohammed was arrested for failure to report to

Elgin State Hospital The Elgin Mental Health Center (formerly Elgin State Hospital & the Northern Illinois Hospital and Asylum for the Insane) is a mental health facility operated by the State of Illinois in Elgin, Illinois. Throughout its history, Elgin's mission has ...

. The following day, on his 28th birthday, Mohammed was transferred to Federal Correctional Institution, Sandstone to begin a term for having refused induction into the

United States military The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is ...

. He could have performed community service, but his father pressed him to accept the jail time. He spent most of that time studying the ''

Quran The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , sing.: ...

'', the main Islamic holy book and the Bible. He became convinced that the Nation of Islam had to change. In 1963 he was released from prison and resumed studies under Muhammad Abdullah. Close also to

Malcolm X Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little, later Malik el-Shabazz; May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965) was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a prominent figure during the civil rights movement. A spokesman for the Nation of ...

, who the NOI had expelled, he found that by this time his viewpoints deviated significantly from those of his father, whom he no longer believed to be a prophet. Because of this conclusion, he was excommunicated five different times, yet by 1974, he was returned permanently to the NOI.

Religious leadership and ministry

Reforming the Nation of Islam

Upon the death of his father on February 25, 1975, Mohammed was unanimously chosen as the leader of the Nation of Islam and introduced to the NOI membership as such at the annual Saviours' Day convention on February 26, 1975."Warith Deen Mohammed"
''This Far By Faith'',

''Evolution of a Community'', WDM Publications 1995 Among the first changes Mohammed instituted, he dropped the title Supreme Minister and took the titles

Mujaddid A ''mujaddid'' ( ar, مجدد), is an Islamic term for one who brings "renewal" ( ar, تجديد, translit= tajdid, label=none) to the religion. According to the popular Muslim tradition, it refers to a person who appears at the turn of every ...

, Chief Imam, or simply Imam, in 1976. The same year, he unveiled a new flag for the NOI community.Gardell, Mattias. ''In the Name of Elijah Muhammad: Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam''. Duke University Press, 1996 page 112 These were just two of the many reforms Mohammed introduced. Among others, he eliminated the NOI dress code, disbanded the military branch of the NOI, clarified the concept of the devil, and, through his '' Muhammad Speaks'' newspaper and public speeches, introduced and explained Islam's Five Pillars. He stated that Fard was not divine and that his father was not a prophet. All of the over 400 temples were converted into traditional Islamic

mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a Place of worship, place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers (sujud) ...

s. He also renamed the community several times before finally settling on the American Society of Muslims to reflect the new thinking.Lincoln, C. Eric. (1994) ''The Black Muslims in America'', Third Edition, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), p. 265.''Evolution of a Community'', WDM Publications, 1995 Mohammed was frank about his intentions to evolve the movement. On November 19, 1978 he spoke on the "Evolution of the Nation of Islam" at the

American Academy of Religion The American Academy of Religion (AAR) is the world's largest association of scholars in the field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association, serving as a professional and learned society for scholars involv ...

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

Black-separatist views and on the basis of his intensive independent study,

history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...

, and

, he accepted whites as fellow worshipers. However, he also encouraged

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

s (Bilalians) to separate themselves from their pasts, in 1976 calling upon them to change their surnames which were often given to their ancestors by slave masters.Gardell, Mattias. ''In the Name of Elijah Muhammad: Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam''. Duke University Press, 1996 page 111 He forged closer ties with mainstream Muslim communities, including

Latinos Hispanic and Latino Americans ( es, Estadounidenses hispanos y latinos; pt, Estadunidenses hispânicos e latinos) are Americans of Spaniards, Spanish and/or Latin Americans, Latin American ancestry. More broadly, these demographics include a ...

.Essien-Udom, E. U. (1962) ''Black Nationalism: A Search for an Identity in America'', New York City: Dell Publishing Company, p. 93, He also decentralized power. On September 10, 1978 in an address in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,71 ...

he resigned as Chief Imam and appointed a six-member council to lead the Community. Mohammed felt quite keenly his role in reform. In an interview published in the ''Muhammad Speaks'' newspaper and conducted by his brother

Jabir Herbert Muhammad Jabir Herbert Muhammad (April 16, 1929 – August 25, 2008) was an American businessman and co-founder of Top Rank, Inc. He was the longtime manager of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. Early life Muhammad was born in Detroit, Michigan, as the t ...

, Mohammed described his role as successor to their father as that of a Mujeddid, one who would watch over the new Islam or community. In 1979 he used the title Mujeddid (Mujaddid) on his byline in his weekly articles for the ''

Bilalian News ''Muhammad Speaks'' was one of the most widely read newspapers ever produced by an African-American organization. It was the official newspaper of the Nation of Islam from 1960 to 1975, founded by a group of Elijah Muhammad's ministers, inclu ...

'' (the new title of ''Muhammad Speaks''). Warith Deen Mohammed gained widespread support among the international Muslim community, but his changes to the Nation of Islam were not universally accepted.Farrakhan berated by W. Deen Mohammed – Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
''The Christian Century'', Vol. 112, No. 34 A number of dissident groups resisted, most notably those who followed Louis Farrakhan in breaking ranks with Mohammed. This group revived the name 'Nation of Islam' in 1977. In 1995 Mohammed released a statement expressing concern about Farrakhan's motivations and the racial divisiveness of his ministry.''In The Name of Elijah Muhammad: Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam'', Mattias Gardell, Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina 1996. The pair embraced publicly and declared reconciliation at the annual Saviours' Day convention on February 25, 2000, but on August 10, 2007, Mohammed repeated his frustration with the separatist stance of the current Nation of Islam, stating that its leaders had, "for the last 10 years or more,...just been selling wolf tickets to the white race and having fun while they collect money and have fancy lifestyles." He predicted a quiet evolution in the NOI towards unity with the mainstream American Muslim community.

Building ties within the Muslim community

Mohammed was intent on strengthening bonds between his movement and the wider American Muslim faith community as well as with followers of Islam abroad. It was his goal to align American Muslims with Sunni Islam. In 1976, he took a delegation to Guyana on an official state visit to meet with Prime Minister

Forbes Burnham Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (20 February 1923 – 6 August 1985) was a Guyanese politician and the leader of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana from 1964 until his death in 1985. He served as Prime Minister from 1964 to 1980 and then as its ...

, and the then President of Guyana

Arthur Chung Arthur Raymond Chung (10 January 1918 – 23 June 2008) was the 1st President of Guyana from 1970 to 1980.

, during which he forged ties with the

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Ahmadiyya (, ), officially the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community or the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at (AMJ, ar, الجماعة الإسلامية الأحمدية, al-Jamāʿah al-Islāmīyah al-Aḥmadīyah; ur, , translit=Jamā'at Aḥmadiyyah Musl ...

in the region. In 1985, he met in

Geneva Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Situ ...

, Switzerland with Dr. Muhammad Ahmad Al-Sharif, Secretary General of the World Islamic Call Society of

Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Su ...

and Dr. Abdul Hakim Tabibi, an Afghan mujahid, to discuss areas of future cooperation with the World Islamic Call Society and the Muslim Community of America. He hosted

Grand Mufti The Grand Mufti (also called Chief Mufti, State Mufti and Supreme Mufti) is the head of regional muftis, Islamic jurisconsults, of a state. The office originated in the early modern era in the Ottoman empire and has been later adopted in a num ...

Abdullah Mukhtar, the leader of an estimated 60 million Muslims at

Masjid Bilal A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers (sujud) are performed, in ...

, during his first visit to the United States in 1994. In 1999, he was elected to the

Islamic Society of North America The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is a nonprofit organization based in Plainfield, Indiana. It provides a number of programs and services to the Muslim community and broader society. ISNA holds an annual convention which is generally re ...

's ''

shura Shura ( ar, شُورَىٰ, translit=shūrā, lit=consultation) can for example take the form of a council or a referendum. The Quran encourages Muslims to decide their affairs in consultation with each other. Shura is mentioned as a praisewor ...

'' board. That same year, during Ramadan, he pledged to work with the then Grand Mufti of Syria, Shaikh Ahmed Kuftaro an-Naqshbandi for the advancement of Al-Islam during a meeting with Kuftaro and Shaikh Nazim al-Haqqanian-

Naqshbandi The Naqshbandi ( fa, نقشبندی)), Neqshebendi ( ku, نه‌قشه‌به‌ندی), and Nakşibendi (in Turkish) is a major Sunni order of Sufism. Its name is derived from Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari. Naqshbandi masters trace their ...

. He was the special invited guest and keynote speaker at the "Inaugural Conference on the Growth and Development of Islam in America", held at

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...

on March 3–4, 2000.

Interfaith cooperation

Just as Mohammed sought to be racially inclusive, he also focused on cooperation between multiple faiths. On May 23, 1976, he conducted a massive interfaith Spiritual Life Jubilee with the Peoples Temple in Los Angeles, California and spoke with

Jim Jones James Warren Jones (May 13, 1931 – November 18, 1978) was an American preacher, political activist and mass murderer. He led the Peoples Temple, a new religious movement, between 1955 and 1978. In what he called "revolutionary suicide", ...

on the subject "A New Heaven and a New Earth". In 1977 he participated in a Muslim-Christian dialogue in

Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is the List of cities in Texas by population, fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the List of United States cities by population, 13th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, T ...

with Dr. Jack Evans, then President of Southwestern Christian College in

Terrell, Texas Terrell is a city in Kaufman County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 17,465. Terrell is located about east of Dallas. History Terrell developed as a railroad town, beginning in 1873 with construction here ...

. In February 1978, he gave a historic address before more than 1,000

Jews Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""T ...

and Muslims at the

Washington Hebrew Congregation Washington Hebrew Congregation (WHC) is a Reform Jewish synagogue in Washington, D.C. Washington Hebrew Congregation is currently a member of the Union for Reform Judaism. It is one of the largest Reform congregations in the United States, with 2, ...

in Washington, D.C., then under the leadership of

Rabbi A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of ...

Joshua O. Haberman. This was a focus that would persist throughout his career. In 1993 he spoke at the Interfaith Roundtable National Conference of Christians, Jews and Muslims in Detroit, Michigan.''Evolution of a Community'', WDM Publications, Chicago, 1995. "If we look at the broad definition for Muslim, we have to say that even though a Christian may be worshipping Jesus the Christ Prophet more than he is worshipping Allah, he or she may be Muslim in their spirit. They may still be Muslim, though the orientation has now dominated their Muslim urge. The person carrying a heavy cross may be a Muslim inwardly. So it is for a Jew, or Communist, or a Buddhist, or a Hindu." In March 1995 he gave the keynote address at the Muslim-Jewish Convocation in

Glencoe, Illinois Glencoe () is a lakefront village in northeastern Cook County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,849. Glencoe is part of Chicago's North Shore and is located within the New Trier High School District. Glenco ...

. From October 1–6, 1996 he met with

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...

and Cardinal

Francis Arinze Francis Arinze (born 1 November 1932) is a Nigerian cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments from 2002 to 2008 and before that led the Secretariat for Non-Chris ...

at the

Holy See The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of R ...

in Rome. On August 17, 1997 he was presented the Luminosa Award for Unity from the Focolare Movement. On September 9, 1997 he addressed the

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

Jewish Council speaking on themes of worldwide justice and fairness. On May 18–20, 1998, he attended the Conference on Religion and Peace sponsored by the Center for Christian, Jewish Understanding of

Sacred Heart University Sacred Heart University (SHU) is a private, Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was founded in 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sacred Heart was the first Catholic uni ...

in Auschwitz, Poland. In June 1998 he addressed the Muslim Friends of the Focolare conference in Rome, Italy,W. Deen Mohammed Speaks, biography.
in October of the following year, along with a 92-member delegation, he spoke before a gathering of 100,000 people in the

Vatican Vatican may refer to: Vatican City, the city-state ruled by the pope in Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum The Holy See * The Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church and sovereign entity recognized ...

. Pope John Paul II and the

Dalai Lama Dalai Lama (, ; ) is a title given by the Tibetan people to the foremost spiritual leader of the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism, the newest and most dominant of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The 14th and current Dal ...

were both in attendance. On October 29, 2001, Mohammed participated in an "Evening of Religious Solidarity" joined by Minister Louis Farrakhan,

Pastor A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...

Robert H. Schuller, and members of the

Parliament of the World's Religions There have been several meetings referred to as a Parliament of the World's Religions, the first being the World's Parliament of Religions of 1893, which was an attempt to create a global dialogue of faiths. The event was celebrated by another c ...

at the

Islamic Foundation Islamic Foundation is a mosque located in Villa Park, Illinois. It was built in 1974 and was one of the largest mosques in the United States upon its completion. The mosque is connected to Islamic Foundation School, with which it is affiliated. ...

Villa Park, Illinois Villa Park is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States, within the Chicago metropolitan area. The population as of the 2020 Census is 21,113. Villa Park is a western suburb of Chicago. History When Ovaltine established its facto ...

Political and social activities

Throughout his ministry, Mohammed remained politically active, domestically and internationally. Early meetings with prominent political figures included Egyptian President

Anwar Sadat Muhammad Anwar el-Sadat, (25 December 1918 – 6 October 1981) was an Egyptian politician and military officer who served as the third president of Egypt, from 15 October 1970 until his assassination by fundamentalist army officers on 6 ...

in 1975,

Sharjah Sharjah (; ar, ٱلشَّارقَة ', Gulf Arabic: ''aš-Šārja'') is the third-most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi, forming part of the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area. Sharjah is the capital ...

ruler Sheik

Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi ( ar, سلطان بن محمد القاسمي; born 2 July 1939) is the sovereign ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah and a member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates. He has ruled Sharjah cont ...

in 1976, and United States President

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 19 ...

in 1977. But Mohammed would attend many events around the world focused on the advancement of Islam, racial unity and world peace. He was the only American invited and the only American to attend the 10th Annual Islamic Conference of Ministers in May, 1979, in

Fes Fez or Fes (; ar, فاس, fās; zgh, ⴼⵉⵣⴰⵣ, fizaz; french: Fès) is a city in northern inland Morocco and the capital of the Fès-Meknès administrative region. It is the second largest city in Morocco, with a population of 1.11 mi ...

, Morocco.Gardell, Mattias. ''In the Name of Elijah Muhammad: Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam''. Duke University Press, 1996 page 108 In April, 1988, he participated as the representative of Muslim Americans in the "Political and Religious Leaders Campaign for Planetary Survivor" in Oxford Town Hall. Later that year he was among 100 leaders in religion, government, business, law and philanthropy who gathered in

Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 15,425. Located on the Virginia Peninsula, Williamsburg is in the northern part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. It is b ...

during the Williamsburg Charter Foundations "First Liberty Summit". In 1995, he participated in the ''

Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also r ...

'' Forum on Management in

Naples, Florida Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the historical city (i.e. in the immediate vicinity of downtown Naples) was 19,115. Naples is a principal city of the Naples-Marco Island, Flo ...

. In 1996, he participated in the "National Discussion on Race & Reconciliation" sponsored by the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. In late 1997, he attended the

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation An organization or organisation (Commonwealth English; see spelling differences), is an entity—such as a company, an institution, or an association—comprising one or more people and having a particular purpose. The word is derived fr ...

(OIC) in

Teheran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popu ...

, Iran, and he participated in ''The Religious Community and Moral Challenge of Poverty Round Table Discussion'' convened by former U. S. Senator Paul Simon in 1998 in

Carbondale, Illinois Carbondale is a city in Jackson and Williamson Counties, Illinois, United States, within the Southern Illinois region informally known as "Little Egypt". The city developed from 1853 because of the stimulation of railroad construction into the ...

. In November 1999 he attended consecutive World Peace Conferences. The first conference, ''Jubilenium Interfaith Conference for World Peace'', was an invitation-only event held in

Tiberias Tiberias ( ; he, טְבֶרְיָה, ; ar, طبريا, Ṭabariyyā) is an Israeli city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. A major Jewish center during Late Antiquity, it has been considered since the 16th century one of Judaism's F ...

, Israel. The second was the ''7th World Assembly of the World Conference on Religion and Peace'', held in Amman, Jordan. He was a prominent political speaker. Mohammed gave the first invocation in the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and ...

ever by a Muslim in 1992''The Black Muslims in America'', Third Edition, C. Eric Lincoln, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, page 265, 1994. That same year, he became the first Muslim to deliver an address on the floor of the

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to t ...

State Legislature A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...

. In 1993, he gave an Islamic prayer during the first Inaugural Interfaith Prayer Service of President

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton (Birth name, né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 ...

, and again in 1997 at the second

Interfaith Interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative, constructive, and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions (i.e. "faiths") and/or spiritual or humanistic beliefs, at both the individual and institutional levels. It is ...

Prayer Service. In 1996 he was invited to Egypt by Egyptian President

Hosni Mubarak Muhammad Hosni El Sayed Mubarak, (; 4 May 1928 – 25 February 2020) was an Egyptian politician and military officer who served as the fourth president of Egypt from 1981 to 2011. Before he entered politics, Mubarak was a career officer in ...

to address the Supreme Council of Affairs in

Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo met ...

on the theme "Islam and the Future of Dialogue between Civilizations". He sat on a number of councils and committees, domestically and abroad. In 1986, he was selected to serve on the World Supreme Council of Masajid (mosques) as one of only three representatives of the United States. Also in 1995 he was selected as a President of the World Conference of

Religions for Peace Religions for Peace is an international coalition of representatives from the world's religions dedicated to promoting peace founded in 1970. The International Secretariat headquarters is in New York City, with regional conferences in Europe, A ...

(WCRP) and addressed its governing board in

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

, Denmark.''Muslim Journal'', April 7, 2000, page 14.''Life The Final Battlefield'', W.D.M. Publications, Chicago, 2008 In January 1997, he was appointed to then President Bill Clinton's Religious Advisory Council. In 2000, he was named to the Executive Committee of the Religious Alliance Against Pornography (RAAP).Masjid Al-Mu'minun 1127 Hank Aaron Dr SW Atlanta, GA 30315: Imam W.D. Mohammed
/ref> He made his opinions on political matters known. On July 4, 1976 he started the New World Patriotism Day celebrations which were conducted on

Independence Day An independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or more rarely after the end of a military occupation. Man ...

in major cities across America. In 1984, Mohammed went against the mainstream African American political establishment and opposed Reverend

Jesse Jackson Jesse Louis Jackson ( né Burns; born October 8, 1941) is an American political activist, Baptist minister, and politician. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as a shadow U.S. senato ...

's run for the Democratic nomination for president. In 1985, to protest the Chicago

probate court A probate court (sometimes called a surrogate court) is a court that has competence in a jurisdiction to deal with matters of probate and the administration of estates. In some jurisdictions, such courts may be referred to as Orphans' Courts o ...

handling of an American Muslim Mission case, he organized a "Walk for Justice" that drew 500,000 participants. On December 23, 1989 he spoke at the ''Annual Conference of the Islamic Committee for

Palestine __NOTOC__ Palestine may refer to: * State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia * Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia * Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East J ...

'' on the plight of the

Palestinians Palestinians ( ar, الفلسطينيون, ; he, פָלַסְטִינִים, ) or Palestinian people ( ar, الشعب الفلسطيني, label=none, ), also referred to as Palestinian Arabs ( ar, الفلسطينيين العرب, label=non ...

. In 1990, Mohammed supported and endorsed Neil Hartigan for

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Roc ...

. He gave his support to the peacemaking and humanitarian efforts of Bishop Samuel Ruiz. On September 10, 1990 he participated in the international conference on the "Current Situation in the Gulf", where he made his opposition to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait a matter of public record. He stated: "We consider President George Bush to be an honorable man. We commend his actions in ordering the surgical strikes on Iraqi military installations. These efforts to avoid excessive loss of human life are appreciated.” On behalf of the Muslim American Community, he donated $85,000 to

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the ...

to aid his efforts to end

apartheid Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...

in South Africa during a personal meeting in

Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...

on June 30, 1990. On

September 11, 2001 The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercia ...

, he denounced the terrorist attacks as un-Islamic.

Islamic beliefs and ideology

Fiqh

While emphasizing unity within the Muslim community, Warith Deen Mohammed called upon the American Muslim community to establish a new school of ''

fiqh ''Fiqh'' (; ar, فقه ) is Islamic jurisprudence. Muhammad-> Companions-> Followers-> Fiqh. The commands and prohibitions chosen by God were revealed through the agency of the Prophet in both the Quran and the Sunnah (words, deeds, and ...

'', a code of conduct for the observance of rituals, morals and social legislation in Islam. He told '' Islamica'' magazine in 2008 that he felt that the ''

madhhab A ( ar, مذهب ', , "way to act". pl. مَذَاهِب , ) is a school of thought within ''fiqh'' (Islamic jurisprudence). The major Sunni Mathhab are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali. They emerged in the ninth and tenth centuries CE ...

''—the schools of thought within fiqh—were geographically influenced and should be regionally developed, suggesting that "I think we are gradually getting a sense of madhabs in America, especially those like me. We are getting a sense of madhabs. And with the coming generation I think that we will be getting a much stronger sense of it. It is coming more and more."

Imagery and color symbolism

Mohammed was sensitive to the potential impact caused by the use of images and symbols in religion. In a 1975 article, he explored this topic and in 1976 published the first article on the subject in the ''Bilalian News'' (later the ''Muslim Journal''). Titled "A Message of Concern", this article has run in every copy of the publication since. He spoke about the subject, as well. For instance, in a June 17, 1977 Friday service, he taught on "The meaning of colors in Scripture and the Natural Powers of Black and White", describing ancient scriptural symbolism and its effect on modern-day scriptural and religious interpretation. He also elaborated on how colors in scripture have triggered racist influences in religious societies. In 1977 he formed the ''Committee for the Removal of All Images that Attempt to Portray the Divine'' (C.R.A.I.D.).

Personal life

Warith Deen Mohammed's first wife was Shirley Mohammed, with whom he had four children."W. DEEN MOHAMMED: A leap of faith"
page 4, ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television a ...

''. By 1994, according to ''The Los Angeles Times'', Mohammed had been married four times and had fathered eight children. Mohammed married Khadija Siddeeq in 2004. Mohammed's eldest child Laila Mohammed stated that Warith Deen practiced

polygamy Crimes Polygamy (from Late Greek (') "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, sociologists call this polygyny. When a woman is marri ...

. However this polygamy assertion is disputed within the community. Beyond his public role in religion and politics, Mohammed was involved in

real estate Real estate is property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this (also) an item of real property, (more genera ...

, import clothing and skin care. During his excommunications from the Nation of Islam in his 30s, he served as a laborer. Imam Mohammed was also a businessman and endeavored to promote business among those that accepted to follow his leadership example.

Death

Mohammed died in Chicago in early September 2008 of a likely

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which m ...

. His body was found in his home by his assistant Rafa Muhammad on Tuesday September 9. In addition to

cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, ...

, Mohammed suffered from

diabetes Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level (hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ...

. According to the '' Final Call'' newspaper, "The

Janazah Funerals and funeral prayers in Islam ( ar, جنازة, Janazah) follow fairly specific rites, though they are subject to regional interpretation and variation in custom. In all cases, however, sharia (Islamic religious law) calls for burial ...

prayer service was delayed for close to an hour so the huge crowd that had assembled could be organized and situated."Life and ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed remembered
/ref> The ''

'' wrote that 8,000 Muslims attended his funeral. His funeral was held at the Islamic Foundation Masjid in Villa Park, Illinois. Imam W.D. Mohammed was buried at Mount Glenwood Memory Gardens (South) Glenwood, Cook County, Illinois.

Honors

On his 44th Birthday October 30, 1977, Mohammed received the

Key to the City The Freedom of the City (or Borough in some parts of the UK) is an honour bestowed by a municipality upon a valued member of the community, or upon a visiting celebrity or dignitary. Arising from the medieval practice of granting respected ...

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

, Michigan from the then Mayor of Detroit Coleman Young, along with a Proclamation declaring October 30, 1977 Wallace D. Muhammad Day in Detroit."Bilalian News" ''Muslim Journal'' Vol. 3, No. 2, November 18, 1977. Then

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the ...

Governor Bill Clinton proclaimed March 26, 1983 "Economic Dignity Day" in the state of Arkansas. In doing so he stated the following: ''Whereas, through the leadership and efforts of Warith Deen Muhammad, the American Muslim Mission is on the path of economic progress and achieving growth through unity...(I) urge all citizens to engage in activities which promote economic progress.'' On July 4, 1983 Muhammad shared the Reviewing Stand for the 1984 ''New World Patriotism Day Parade'' in Chicago with then

State Senator A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Description A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 ...

, Emarald Jones,

State Representative A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...

, Howard Brooks, parade

Grand Marshal Grand marshal is a ceremonial, military, or political office of very high rank. The term has its origins with the word " marshal" with the first usage of the term "grand marshal" as a ceremonial title for certain religious orders. The following ...

Harold Washington Harold Lee Washington (April 15, 1922 – November 25, 1987) was an American lawyer and politician who was the 51st Mayor of Chicago. Washington became the first African American to be elected as the city's mayor in April 1983. He served as ma ...

the then

Mayor of Chicago The mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of city government in Chicago, Illinois, the third-largest city in the United States. The mayor is responsible for the administration and management of various city departments, submits proposals and r ...

, and many other dignitaries. Mayor Harold Washington issued a proclamation declaring July 4, 1984 as ''New World Patriotism Day Coalition Parade Day'' in Chicago. In 1988, King

Hassan II of Morocco Hassan II ( ar, الحسن الثاني, translit=al-Ḥasan aṯ-ṯhānī;), with the prefix "Mulay" before his enthronement 9 July 1929 – 23 July 1999) was the King of Morocco from 1961 until his death in 1999. He was a member of the 'Ala ...

, invited Mohammed to participate in the traditional devotions during Ramadan, stating: ''Through you Imam W. Deen Mohammed all the people in America are represented.'' In 1992, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt honored Warith Deen Mohammed with "The Gold Medal of Recognition" for his religious work in the United States. He received the Focolare Movement "Luminosa Award for Unity" in 1997. On May 17, 1999, he received a Certificate of Appreciation from the

United States Department of State The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an United States federal executive departments, executive department of the Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government responsible for the country's fore ...

. In 2002, '' Ebony Magazine'' selected him as one of its "100 Most Influential Black Americans". On December 9, 1994 he received the Cup of Compassion from the

Hartford Seminary The Hartford International University for Religion and Peace (formerly Hartford Seminary) is a private theological university in Hartford, Connecticut. History Hartford Seminary's origins date back to 1833 when the Pastoral Union of Connecti ...

in Hartford, Connecticut.''Islam's Climate for Business Success'', The Sense Maker, Chicago, 1995, Library of Congress Card Number: 95-071105, On April 6, 2002, Mohammed was made a member of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Board of Preachers at

Morehouse College , mottoeng = And there was light (literal translation of Latin itself translated from Hebrew: "And light was made") , type = Private historically black men's liberal arts college , academic_affiliation ...

in Atlanta, and his portrait was hung in the International Chapel there. On Saturday, September 3, 2005, the

Council on American–Islamic Relations The Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a Muslim civil rights and advocacy group. It is headquartered on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., with regional offices nationwide. Through civil rights actions, media relations, civic e ...

(CAIR) presented an award to W. Deen Mohammed in recognition of his outstanding leadership role in the American Muslim community at The Mosque Cares sponsored Annual Islamic Convention. In eulogizing Mohammed on CNN blogs, the Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago, Ahmed Rehab, called him "America's Imam.""Farewell America's Imam"

Cable News Network CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by th ...

Publications

Books authored

* ''The Teachings of W. D. Muhammad'', Muhammad's Mosque #2, Chicago, 1976 * ''The Lectures of Emam W. D. Muhammad'', Muhammad's Mosque #2, Chicago, 1976 * ''Book of Muslim Names'', The Honorable Elijah Muhammad Mosque #2, Chicago, February 1976 * ''The Man and the Woman in Islam'', The Honorable Elijah Muhammad Mosque #2, Chicago, February 1976 * ''As the Light Shineth from the East'', W.D.M. Publications, Chicago, 1980 * ''Prayer and Al-Islam'', Muhammad Islamic Foundation, Chicago, 1982,

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The librar ...

Card Number: 82-61077 * ''Religion on the Line'', W.D.M. Publications, Chicago, 1983 * ''Imam W. Deen Muhammad speaks from Harlem, N.Y. Book 1'', W. D. M. Publications, 1984 * ''Imam W. Deen Muhammad speaks from Harlem, N.Y.: Challenges That Face Man Today Book 2'', 1985 * ''Meeting The Challenge:

Halal ''Halal'' (; ar, حلال, ) is an Arabic word that translates to "permissible" in English. In the Quran, the word ''halal'' is contrasted with '' haram'' (forbidden). This binary opposition was elaborated into a more complex classification k ...

Foods for Our Everyday Needs'', The Honorable Elijah Muhammad Masjid, Chicago, 1986 * ''An African American Genesis'', M.A.C.A. Publication Fund, Chicago, Illinois, 1986,

Card Number: 86-63266 * ''Focus on Al-Islam: Interviews with Imam W. Deen Mohammed'', Zakat Publications, Chicago, Dec. 1988,

Card Number: 89-090728 * ''Al-Islam: Unity, and Leadership'', The Sense Maker, Chicago, 1991,

Card Number: 91-061449, * ''Worst Oppression Is False Worship "The Key Is

Tauheed Tawhid ( ar, , ', meaning "unification of God in Islam (Allāh)"; also romanized as ''Tawheed'', ''Tawhid'', ''Tauheed'' or ''Tevhid'') is the indivisible oneness concept of monotheism in Islam. Tawhid is the religion's central and single mo ...

-Oneness of Allah,"'' W.D.M. Publications, Chicago, 1991 * ''Growth for a Model Community in America'', W.D.M. Publications, Chicago, 1995 * ''Islam's Climate for Business Success'', The Sense Maker, Chicago, 1995,

Card Number: 95-071105, * ''Mohammed Speaks'', W.D.M. Publications, Chicago, 1999 * ''Blessed Ramadan – The Fast of Ramadan'' * ''Plans for a Better Future: Peace, Inclusion and International Brotherhood'' * ''The Schemes Of Satan the Enemy of Man'' * ''The Champion We Have In Common: The Dynamic African American Soul Books'' 1, 2, 3, & 4, The Mosque Cares Publications, August 2005 * ''A Time for Greater Communities'' Volumes 1–4 * ''Securing our Share of Freedom'' * ''Prayer in al-Islam, A Learner's Guide w/Instructional CD'', WDM Publications, Chicago, 2007 * ''Return to Innocence: Transitioning of the Nation of Islam'', The Sense Maker, Chicago, 2007 * ''Life The Final Battlefield'', W.D.M. Publications, Chicago, 2008

Pamphlets

* ''A Look At W. Deen Mohammed: Muslim American Spokesman for Human Salvation'', A Ministry of W. Deen Mohammed Publication, Chicago, 1993

Video and audio presentations

* Imam W. Deen Mohammed: "Systems of Knowledge", ''Muslim News Magazine'', recorded as a television special by MNM during the 1994 Islamic Convention in Washington, D.C. This classroom lecture was delivered in front of more than 200 Imams and scholars at the Renaissance Hotel. "Systems of Knowledge" is a classroom presentation on the essence of Quranic Arabic and its meaning to all mankind. This presentation marked the only time that Mohammed allowed cameras into one of his private Imam classes. RT: 60 minutes. 1994.

References

External links

Chicago Tribune Bio

WDM Ministry

WDM Publications

Life and ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed remembered

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mohammed, Warith Deen 1933 births 2008 deaths Nation of Islam religious leaders African-American Muslims Muslim reformers American religious leaders Elijah Muhammad family 20th-century Muslim scholars of Islam 21st-century imams American imams Anti-racism in the United States People from Hamtramck, Michigan Religious leaders from Michigan Religious leaders from Chicago Islam in Michigan American Muslim activists American scholars of Islam 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American people