Self
Improvement as the Basis for Community Development
In The Name Of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful.
I Bear Witness That There Is No God But Allah And I Bear Witness
That Muhammad Is His Messenger.
As–Salaam Alaikum.
Dear Helper in the Cause of Allah:
This letter is to introduce you to the new study guide material.
These study and training units are based upon a speech which I delivered
September 21, 1986 in Phoenix, Arizona.
This speech, in my judgement, formally ushers in that which is
the launching pad of a worldwide movement.
Each study session is designed on the guidance of Allah to produce:
self-examination; self-analysis; self-correction; and, to quicken
in each of us, the self-accusing spirit. For, it is only when we
are awakened morally that we have to face the self-accusing spirit
which leads to our resurrection.
Resurrection is that process that begins with the self-accusing
spirit and does not end until we become one in perfect harmony or
peace with Allah and His Creation.
"In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1. Nay, I swear by the day of resurrection!
2. Nay, I swear by the self-accusing spirit! 2606 (footnote)
3. Does man think that We shall not gather his bones?
4. Yea, We are Powerful to make complete his whole make..."
Holy Qur'an 75:1-4
Muhammad Ali Translation
Note that Verse 2 of Surah 75, Al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection),is
explained in footnote 2606 as indicating a spiritual resurrection.
The rising to life of the spiritually dead and the Great Resurrection
are one and the same. And the first stage in our spiritual resurrection
occurs through the stimulation of our self-accusing spirit; that
is, when the inner voice speaks, guides, warns reproves, exhorts
and accuses us of going contrary to what is right.
If you will notice, this inner voice does the work of a Messenger
of Allah (God). Would you knowingly kill one of Allah's (God's)
prophets or messengers? What would be the punishment if you did.
Every time we act to still the voice of correction, coming from
within ourselves, we are in fact murdering the Messenger of Allah
(God). The result is spiritual blindness, leading to spiritual death,
leading ultimately to an untimely physical death.
The more we feed on truth and right guidance from Allah (God) the
stronger the voice becomes. That inner voice is like a seed which
can ultimately grow into its perfected state, to be the Mind of
God Himself in you.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus..."
PHILIPPIANS 2:5
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said to me that if he could choose
any symbol to represent His Work, it would be the trumpet; for the
trumpet is the symbol of resurrection. It is a man, a voice and
a truth that is capable of quickening to life the inner voice, the
spirit, the essence of Allah(God) in man.
This quickening to life and this process of heeding truth and right
guidance is the process which brings about a transformation in the
Believer. As you know, mere belief counts for nothing except that
it is carried into practice. This phase of our development is designed,
by the help of Allah, to bring about a transformation or complete
change in our lives. This is done by stimulating self-analysis and
self-correction in us. Our self-improvement actually brings into
fruition the awesome power of Allah (God) to "make complete
his (our) whole make." (Holy Qur'an 75:4)
No Believer is exempt from this study. Those whose desire is to
be qualified as laborers, must be foremost in study and self-analysis
in this transformation of our lives.
Each student, after studying the principle under analysis, must
then analyze self and critique self. The study sessions, while leading
the student to self-examination, first; self-analysis, second; self-correction,
third; must simultaneously be therapeutic. Therefore, these sessions
must be twofold, consisting of both theory and practice. The practice
will refine the theory.
The student will receive assignments which allow him or her to
apply the principle just learned. At the following session, the
student will relate his or her experience in applying the principle
and what the results were. The discussions will also consist of
narratives from the students: when, in our personal experience,
we failed to apply the principle and what were those results.
Let us remember: that the mosque is a place where people can repair
or come out of a world that represents death and inhale the spirit
of life in an atmosphere of peace, harmony, freedom, justice and
equality; which is to give a prototype of the Kingdom of Islam (God).
Today, however, the mosque must also be launching pad for our activities,
to establish the Kingdom of Islam (God) on Earth. Therefore, self–development
is an absolutely essential component of this microcosm of the new
world.
It is not enough that we grow horizontally through the acquisition
of farms, factories, banks, industry, trade, commerce, money, good
homes. Why? Because horizontal growth alone is death. All dead things
are on a horizontal level. Therefore, we must grow vertically; grow
in uprightness, or we will be overcome by our horizontal growth.
In all of our prayers in which we ask for blessings on Muhammad,
we ask Allah to "...bless Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad,
as Thou did bless Abraham and the followers of Abraham..."
The Qur'an says that Abraham was an upright man and he was not of
the polytheists.
These study sessions and practical application, if it be the Will
of Allah, will strengthen us both vertically and horizontally.
May Allah bless you in your endeavors to do His Will for yourself
and His people.
AS–Salaam Alaikum
Your Brother and Servant,
Minister Louis Farrakhan
National Representative of
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad and
The Nation of Islam
LF/am
Original
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