Imam Wallace D. Mohammed was born on Oct. 30, 1933, the son of Elijah and Clara Muhammad in Hamtramck (Detroit), Mich.; the seventh of eight siblings. He died on Sept. 9, 2008, in Chicago.
At a young age Wallace demonstrated a strong propensity of inquiry and deep study of whatever subject matter placed before him. His father and mother always taught their children to “question everything”; a discipline that instilled in them a desire to understanding a better life, especially in regards to improving the status of African-Americans.
The world took special note of Imam Mohammed on Feb. 26, 1975, when he was unanimously voted in as leader of the Nation of Islam (NOI), a quasi-Islamic community that promoted Black Nationalism, self-help “Do for Self,” while adorned with Islamic terms and Muslim etiquettes. As the new leader of the NOI, Imam Mohammed ushered in a new era of Islamic teachings that were in accord with the Holy Qur’an and the universal message of brotherhood as taught by Prophet Muhammed of Arabia.
The world stood in astonishment as Imam Mohammed single-handedly turned a whole community from Black consciousness towards human excellence. Dr. C. Eric Lincoln, America’s foremost writer on the Nation of Islam, witnessed the transformation of the NOI that was performed by Imam Mohammed.
Dr. Lincoln observed: “When Wallace Deen Mohammed renounced the political leadership of the Nation of Islam with its plush securities and emoluments and chose rather the spiritual leadership of the Muslim Community in the West, his was not merely a gesture of symbolism, but a clear clarion commitment to a religious investment reaching far beyond the accidents of the world today and tomorrow, and anchoring the well-being of his followers in the solid rock of classical Islam.”
In 1977 Imam Mohammed led the then largest delegation of Muslim Americans, most former members of the Nation of Islam, on Hajj, the pilgrimage to the Sacred House in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
In addition to his wife, Khadijah Siddeeq being a native of Indianapolis, Imam Mohammed was well received in our city and state. He visited our city often on many occasions to speak to the general citizenry or to participate in interfaith programs with Christians, Jews, Buddhists and believers of other faith traditions.
Upon hearing of the passing of Imam Mohammed, Rabbi Dennis Sasso acknowledged, “He was a man of deep learning, wisdom and peaceful ways. His vision helped to shape the American Muslim community and impacted upon the religious life of the whole nation.”
At the 1992 Indiana Black Expo, Imam Mohammed spoke at an education program sponsored by the Concerned Clergy under the leadership of the late Rev. C.V. Jetter of Shiloh Missionary Church. In January of 1997 with the support of Dr. Monroe Little, director of the African-American Studies Program of IUPUI, Imam Mohammed addressed an overflow crowd speaking on the topic, “Unity in the Community.”
A special friend of Imam Mohammed was Father Boniface Hardin the founder and president emeritus of Martin University. These two great men, while respecting the faith of each other, formed a bond of love and spiritual oneness that transcended all of the traditional restrictions and man-made religious boundaries that too often divide rather than unite humanity.
Father Hardin said, “Imam Mohammed was a very holy man, very nice and very warm. And the people knew I cared for him, I will always cherish him.” On Nov. 18, 2006, Imam Mohammed received an Honorary Doctorate of Islamic Thought from Martin University.
Another Indianapolis connection that Imam Mohammed enjoyed has international ties with a Catholic-based movement called Focolare that was birthed out of the turbulence of World War II in Trent, Italy, in 1942. Since 1997 every time Imam Mohammed addressed the public of our city, members of the Focolare Movement were present. Chiara Lubich, the matriarch founder of Focolare, began her mission of spreading “Christ Love” to aid those who were helpless victims of the war.
When Imam Mohammed traveled to Rome with Cardinal William Beeler to meet with Pope John Paul II in 1996 he was also introduced to Chiara Lubich and her worldwide community. Immediately Imam Mohammed embraced Chiara as a true Christian who lived the word of G_d. Reciprocally she acknowledged Imam Mohammed and his followers as true followers of Prophet Muhammed; thereafter, these two world leaders and their communities have worked in unity, an extraordinary oneness towards universal brotherhood.
Imam Mohammed was gracious and sharing. He always was sharing with others the blessings he had received from G_d, particularly his insights into Qur’anic and biblical Scriptures. He never held back knowledge and wisdom to any who sought his advice rather at a restaurant, at the airport or at a public lecture. He often said that he wanted to share with others the knowledge that G_d had taught him.
The most important contribution made by Imam Mohammed is his uplifting of human excellence; the original nature from G_d, Allah, upon which every human person is created, evolved and resurrected. He taught that the terms “Muslim” and “Christ” represented the same human quality of excellence that all individuals are innately endowed with. Imam Mohammed believed in the goodness of people. One of his often repeated phrases was “Goodness is on the rise!”
Imam Mohammed’s achievements are numerous, too many to mention in this time and space. He has authored numerous books, fulfilled thousands of speaking engagements all over the world, and is broadcasted via television and radio all over America, the Islands, and in Bermuda. (Locally Imam Mohammed can be heard on radio station WTLC-AM (1310) on the first Monday and Friday of each month.) To learn more about Imam W. Deen Mohammed and his legacy visit www.newafricaradio.com.
Other achievements of Imam Mohammed include:
1988 — Representing Muslims at the World Parliament of Religious Leaders for the Survival of the Earth.
1992 — Imam Mohammed delivered an invocation on the floor of the U.S. Senate (the first given by a Muslim).
1992 — Imam Mohammed delivered the first address by a Muslim on the floor of the Georgia State Legislature (the state of his father’s birth).
1993 ‐ Imam Mohammed participated in the inaugural Interfaith Prayer Service of President Bill Clinton.
1995 — Selected as president of the World Conference on Religion and Peace.
1995 — Attended “Acts of Kindness Week” along with Martin Luther King III and Rosa Parks in Dallas.
1995 — Addressed the Governing Board of the World Conference on Religion and Peace in Copenhagen, Denmark.
1995 — Delivered the keynote address at the Muslim-Jewish Convocation in Glencoe, Ill. ‐ the first serious public dialogue between top leaders of Islam and Reform Judaism.
1996 — Established the Collective Purchase Conference (CPC) — A member organization of distributors and investors of small businessmen and women throughout the economically strained African-American communities in the United States.
1997 — attended the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Teheran, Iran.
1998 — Addressed the Indiana House of Representatives and delivered the invocation for the Indiana Senate. Invited by Sen. Glenn Howard. Gov. Frank O’Bannon acknowledged Imam Mohammed as an “Honorary Hoosier.”
1999 — Participated in the Conference on Religion and Peace hosted by the Center for Christian and Jewish Understanding.
1999 — Participated in the World Conference on Religion and Peace-Assembly VII in Amman, Jordan. He was elected international president.
2000 — Imam Mohammed was appointed to the Executive Committee of Religious Alliance Against Pornography (RAAP).
2000 ‐ Nov. 12: The Focolare Movement and the American Society of Muslims hold an interfaith program in Washington, D.C.
2001 — Sept. 11: Imam Mohammed, in the strongest terms denounced the terrorist attacks on the United States as un-Islamic and evil.
2001 — Oct. 29: Imam Mohammed participated in an “Evening of Religious Solidarity” joined by Dr. Robert Schuller, Minister Louis Farrakhan and members of the Parliament of World Religions at The Mosque Foundation in Villa Park, Ill.
2002 — April 6: Imam Mohammed was inducted as a member of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in Atlanta. Imam Mohammed was honored with his portrait in the International Chapel of Morehouse University.
