A SHIFT IN FOCUS, AND OUTREACH??

The Nation of Islam, today announced that they are inviting hundreds of religious leaders tomorrow to a rededication of the historic Mosque Maryam, Which is in Chicago Illinois.
Minister Farrakhan is sceduled to speak.

The Nation of Islam purchased the former Greek Orthodox Church, in 1972 and has since been making renovations. The stately 1948 building, with a golden dome and topped with an Islamic crescent moon is alao adorned with Qu'ranic Verses in Arabic on the outside.

This event comes just weeks after the death of Imam W.D. Mohammed, the son of Nation Founder Elijah Muhammad, who broke with the group, bringing thousands of African Americans closer to mainstream Islam.

This is deemed by some, to be a conscious move to open the Mosque to the community and the community, to be reddicated to Islam.

With Malcolm X's Haj and his return to this country years ago, he was awakened to the cross- cultural and multi-racial aspects of Islam which is exclusionary to none.
There is a Latin liason outreach program, firmly in place. Also Minister Ishmael Muhammad a top assisting Minister of the Mosque, and a possible successor to Farrakhan, has talked about unity between ALL people, even at times speaking in spanish.

Farrakhan has tried to slowly bring the Nation of Islam movement closer to the mainstream of Islam. The major impediment being that Elijah Muhammad, was considered by many to be a prophet. Orthodox Islam teaches that there has been no prophet since Muhammad, in the seventh century. Also in the passing of years, he has worked to ameliorate, or remove altogether, some of the facets of the movement that are controversial with other beliefs, and Islam itself.

Tomorrow's address will mark the second major address this year and is expected to outline some of the goals and co-operative efforts toward reconciliation between the nation of Islam, Orthodox Islam, and other faiths represented in the community in which the Mosque, and the Nation, calls it's headquarters

His age of 75 is thought by some, to be the motivating factor in his increasing efforts to establish an aura of peace and reconciliation, between all people.

As one of the co-founders of The People of Abraham I applaud, as does Mr. Robert Salaam, this erstwhile effort of peace, and pray that it will be nurtured by his, and ALL, followers of Islam and all other religious structures around the world.

Copyrighted Oct.18 2008. Free use and disemination is encouraged and welcomed, in the interest of peaceful relations of all, world wide. Rev. Bruce Holzrichter Sr. Tree of The Mustard Seed Ministries. Dennisport Ma. 02639