SG13_week_23_fri by Barnar Muhammad

THE NATION OF ISLAM S

FRIDAY CLASS WEEK 23 SELF-IMPROVEMENT The Price of Redemption (Study Guide 13)

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Study Course Instructions This study course is designed to be done both in a course room, mosque, study-group or self-paced at home. Certain parts of this course (Key Word Study) will be done with a partner. Other parts will be done independently (by yourself). When its time to partner, you and your partner (twin) are to follow the steps provided in this guide. The study course is laid out in the order you do them. It is important not to skip any steps of the guide. THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE TO BE FOLLOWED IN OUR CLASSES.

1.) Select a partner (closest to you) and study the Key Words together, through reviewing the questions and answers to master. (If done in course room or mosque/study group the time allotted is 30-45 minutes) 2.) First time through: The student has the questions and answers in front of him or her. The partner asks the student the question, and the student answers it. He/She can look at the answer if needed. The answer does not have to be word-for-word or memorized; just the concept must be correct.

Purpose of this Study Course Guide: The purpose of this study course guide is to guide you through this course of study.

3.) Second time through: Once finished with the drill the first time, you start again from the beginning, this time without the answers in front of you. Your partner asks the question and you answers. If the answer is incorrect, your partner shows you the answer. Look at the answer again and repeat until you have grasped the concept, then continue to the next one.

Time to Complete: Although the hour and a half that we have for study this evening will hopefully allow you to progress through most of this study, however it is strongly recommend that you continue to work on this study course at home at your own pace. Important Note: During the study course session, if you have any questions raise your hand for assistance. Each believer (student) should have a copy of this handout and its instructions to take home and continue studying on their own. All steps may not be completed in the class sessions in its entirety.

Step 2: Independent Reading After completing step one, you may begin to read the selected reading materials. Step 3: Check Your Understanding Questions: Time Frame: 30 min Review the lists of questions. Each question Time Frame: min is formulated to check your30 understanding of the key concepts and ideas found in the reading. Answer each question on a sheet of paper and be prepared to discuss your answers at the conclusion of this session. Sufficient time may not be given during class session to answer all of the questions. If you do not finish in class, please continue this step at home.

Study Course Steps Step 1: Key Word Clearing Key words are important words related to key concepts found in the reading. Having a good understanding of the meanings of these words will help each student better understand the important concepts and ideas of the study, as well as eliminate misunderstandings that come with misunderstood words. Use the key word list and definitions found in this packet to do the drill (exercise) a and b.

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What is meant by redemption? Redemption is an act of redeeming or the state of being redeemed. To 'redeem' means to 'buy back'. This suggests that the item being bought back was once owned by the buyer and for some reason he had temporarily lost possession of it. Thus, a price has to be paid for the object to be returned. What is a habit? A habit is an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary. What is the definition of prescription? A prescription is a direction, usually written, by the physician to the pharmacist for the preparation and use of a medicine or remedy.

KEY WORD CLEARING

What does reveal mean? Reveal means to make known; disclose; divulge. What is the meaning of indecency? Indecency is the quality or condition of being indecent (indecent means offending against generally accepted standards of propriety or good taste; improper; vulgar). What is the definition of remembrance? Remembrance is a retained mental impression; memory. What is an impediment? An impediment is an obstruction; hindrance; obstacle.

What is virtue? Virtue is the quality or practice of moral excellence or righteousness; a particular moral excellence; uprightness; rectitude; chastity; virginity. What does it mean to be natural? Natural is existing in or formed by nature (as opposed to artificial); not acquired; innate; as is normal or to be expected; ordinary or logical. What does it mean to strive? Strive means to exert oneself vigorously; try hard; to make strenuous efforts toward any goal. It is to contend in opposition, battle, or any conflict; compete. What is meant by refuge? Refuge is that which is a shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc.; a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble. What is a parable? A parable is a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson. What is work? Work is exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; labor; toil. It is physical or mental effort directed towards doing or making something.

What is meant by development? Development is the act or process of growing, progressing, or developing.

What does it mean to restrict? Restrict means to put a limit on; keep under control. It means to limit someone to only doing or having (a particular thing) or staying in (a particular place).

What does it mean to recite? Recite means to repeat the words of, as from memory, especially in a formal manner. What does it mean to enjoin? Enjoin is to prescribe (a course of action) with authority or emphasis; to direct or order to do something. What does it mean to be pervasive? Pervasive means (especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people.

What does it mean to sacrifice? Sacrifice means to surrender something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim. What does dedicated? Dedicated means (of a person) devoted to a task or purpose; having single-minded loyalty or integrity. It means to be exclusively allocated to or intended for a particular service or purpose.

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Minister Louis Farrakhan NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HONORABLE ELIJAH MUHAMMAD AND THE NATION OF ISLAM

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. October 9, 1988 As–Salaam Alaikum.

Dear Believer: May this letter find you and your family well and in good spirits with the joy of the expectation of the dedication of our new National Center. Although you may be disappointed that the dedication of our National Center has not taken place as we had planned, you know as well as I that we may plan, but Allah also plans and Allah is the Best of planners. The more we struggled to complete the restoration, the more I began to see that it would not take place on October 9. We can only dedicate this magnificent house once. Allah demands that we be right when it is dedicated. Moreover, Allah demands that we be right, because we are not just dedicating a magnificent house to the Lord of the worlds but we are dedicating ourselves to the Lord of the worlds and His Cause (Resurrection of the dead). Even if the Mosque were completely ready, Allah has shown me that we are not yet ready and so we as Believers must be prepared for the dedication. Therefore, under the guidance of Allah, the dedication will take place on February 26, 1989, giving us four (4) months to properly prepare ourselves and complete the renovation and restoration of the National Center. What must we do to be in a state of readiness for the historic occasion spoken and written of by prophets? Firstly, I made a call to all who believe in and were touched by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad to come. Why? No matter what our sins have been, the Holy Qur’an teaches us that Allah forgives sin altogether. I know that you, as well as I, want the Blessings of the Forgiveness of Allah for whatever we have done to offend Him, His Teachings, ourselves and one another. It is written in the Holy Qur’an that the Believers seek the Forgiveness of Allah and seek His Mercy. Allah says of Himself, He is Oft-returning to Mercy, the Forgiving. All praise is due to Allah for these Qualities. 4 4

Were it not for these Qualities, we would have no chance to see the Hereafter. “Except those who repent and amend and make manifest (the truth), these it is to whom I turn (mercifully); and I am the oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful.” Holy Qur’an 2:160 “O you who believe, keep your duty to Allah and believe in His Messenger – He will give you two portions of His Mercy, and give you a light in which you shall walk, and forgive you. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful –” Holy Qur’an 57:28 “And He it is Who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons evil deeds, and He knows what you do; and He answers those who believe and do good deeds, and gives them more out of His grace. And for the disbelievers is a severe chastisement.” Holy Qur’an 42:25,26 My desire is that all Believers put ourselves in position to be forgiven for all of our sins, that Allah may heal the wounds of the Nation, so that when the house is dedicated, we also stand before the world a magnificent spiritual house, restored, consecrated, and dedicated for the rest of our lives in fulfillment of these words in our daily prayers: “My prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” There are five (5) major steps that MUST be taken immediately by us, the Believers, in order to put ourselves in the desired position: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Prayer Fasting The Dietary Law of One Meal a Day Charity and Sacrifice Work

I have prepared Study Guide 13 for you during this Saviours’ Day, to help you in your efforts to apply these principles of action over the next four (4) months, so that even as the Mosque is being made ready, we are being made ready for our dedication. Let us work as best we can to purify ourselves, not despairing, becoming disheartened or losing faith. In 1 Kings 9 and 2 Chronicles 7 Solomon dedicates the completed house to Allah (God). Allah (God) accepted his prayer and supplication, saying “...I have hallowed this house, which thou has built, to put my name there forever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.” But He did not make this commitment unconditionally, saying “And if thou wilt walk before me, as David, thy father, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my ordinances.... Then I will establish the throne of thy Kingdom.... But if ye all shall at all run from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them...then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them, and this house which I have hallowed for my name; will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people.” Dear Laborers and Believers, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad told us that the Nation would never fall again. The only way we can insure ourselves of being the ones who bring about the fulfillment of this declaration is to dedicate ourselves completely to Allah5 and then never deviate from our commitment to Him. 5

We can only protect ourselves from deviation through obedience. The Great Madhi, Master Fard Muhammad, to Whom praise is due forever, has stated, “THE RESTRICTIVE LAW IS OUR SUCCESS.” There is no way of circumventing this Truth and still be successful. We are exhorted to follow the religion of Abraham, which is obedience to the Will of Allah (God). This is the key to Peace and the contentment of mind. “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever to us thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 I appeal to you in the Name of Allah, to reflect on these words, take them into your heart and act upon them. May Allah Bless, Guide and Protect you. May He strengthen you and make you successful in your endeavors to His Will. As–Salaam Alaikum Your Brother and Servant,

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan National Representative of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad and The Nation of Islam

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THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION by The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan Study Guide #13 was given to the students and followers of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad in October 1988 as preparation for the re-dedication of the headquarters mosque of the Nation of Islam – Mosque Maryam also known as the National Center.

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE BELIEVERS PRAYER It takes 21 days, according to scholars, to break old habits and make new ones. Let the Nation of Islam get into the habit of prayer, 5 times a day at the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner. “Recite that which has been revealed to thee of the Book and keep up prayer. Surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil; and certainly the remembrance of Allah is the greatest (force). And Allah knows what you do. Holy Qur’an 29:45 Prayer will give us the strength to resist the impediments to our development. Start immediately, beginning with the Dawn prayer. “Keep up prayer from the declining of the sun till the darkness of the night, and the recital of the Qur’an at dawn. Surely the recital of the Qur’an at dawn is witnessed.” Holy Qur’an 17:78 “So when you have finished the prayer, remember Allah standing and sitting and reclining. But when you are secure, from danger, keep up (regular) prayer. Prayer indeed has been enjoined on the believers at fixed times.” Holy Qur’an 4:103 “Successful indeed are the believers, Who are humble in their prayers, And who shun what is vain, And who act for the sake of purity, And who restrain their sexual passions...” Holy Qur’an 23:1-5 “Each morning, let us rise and pray at 5:00 a.m. Let us resist the power of sleep and pray with Allah on our minds instead of sleep. During the day, no matter how busy or involved we are in our work, let us excuse ourselves after the noon hour to remember Allah; then we may go right back to our activities. At the end of the day, let us resist tiredness and remember our Lord.” Study Guide 7: Building The Will – Part III In our study of the prophets, we saw that patience was a pervasive virtue. They were mocked and ridiculed by the disbelievers for long periods of time, but were instructed by Allah to “bear patiently what they say.” In overcoming the natural force of impatience, they were rewarded with vision, or the ability to see beyond the present. They could ‘see’ through their patience, that the ends for which they were striving would ultimately come about. Impatience, or the desire for relief or change, may be removed from us, not by yielding to this natural force, but by seeking refuge in Allah. Whenever impatience threatens to cause us to turn away from a desired goal, we must go to Allah, the Lord of the ways of Ascent, in prayer. Prayer will give us the security and peace of mind that will relieve our irritation. It is in that frame of mind that we then must re–identify with our desired goal. The desire (and the willingness to be patient in order to obtain it) will then return. Prayer is the re–affirmation of desire. We endure by re–affirming and re–identifying our desire 7

until we reach the goal. Let us recite in earnest the following prayer as taught to us by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad : “O Allah! I seek Thy refuge from anxiety and grief and I seek Thy refuge from lack of strength and laziness and I seek Thy refuge from cowardice and niggardliness and I seek Thy refuge from being overpowered by debt and the oppression of men. O Allah! Suffice Thou me with what is lawful to keep me away from what is prohibited and with Thy grace make me free from want of what is besides Thee.” “We, the lost–founds, should repeat the above prayer seven times a day. For it sums up our greatest hindrance to freedom and self–independence.” Message To The Blackman In America Page 152 Prayer is a pillar of Islam and is to be enforced in the home. With respect to the instructions above, do not be harsh or extreme. You are only now enforcing this rule, therefore allow some time for your children to adjust to it. Set the good example and your children will follow it. FASTING Let the Nation of Islam institute a monthly three–day fast, beginning with the first Friday of each month. “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard against evil.” Holy Qur’an 2:183 In Islam, fasting is an institution of the improvement of the moral and spiritual condition of human beings. Fasting, abstention from food in obedience to Allah (God), helps us build the will to resist the impediments to self–development. Fasting in the right spirit helps us display repentance. We must be of humble spirit that we may show Allah (God) that we are sick/sorry over all that we have done to offend Him. Our monthly fast begins after the evening meal on Thursday and ends with an evening meal on the following Sunday. **During Ramadan, members of the Nation Of Islam, who are able, will continue practicing the three day monthly fast by taking water, coffee or tea only in the evening. Afterwards, we will resume the abstention from liquids and food between dawn and sunset until the end of Ramadan. ONE MEAL A DAY “Eat one meal a day or one meal every other day, and it will prolong your life. Do not think that you will starve. On the contrary, you will be treating yourself to life, and a life filled with sickless days. You can hardly get sick eating this way... In eating once a day or once every other day, you must not eat between meals. And, you should try to eat at the same hour tomorrow as you eat today. Do not change your meal hours if you can help it... Do not even drink juices, milk, or soft drinks between meals... And, do not eat candies or fruits between meals. You are welcome to drink water, but I know you will not want too much water between meals since your stomach will not call for it. You may drink coffee between meals, but do not fill your cup with half sugar and half cream and pour coffee on top of that (smile). This (that I am trying to teach you) is the way that He (Almighty Allah) has taught me for you. I have given to you in this book the type of food that you should eat as Allah has given it to me.” “How To Eat To Live – Book 1” by The 8 Honorable Elijah Muhammad 8

CHARITY AND SACRIFICE “And the parable of those who spend their wealth to seek Allah’s pleasure and for the strengthening of their souls is as the parable of a garden on elevated ground, upon which heavy rain falls, so it brings forth its fruit twofold; but if heavy rain falls not on it, light rain suffices. And Allah is Seer of what you do.” Holy Qur’an 2:265 Charity is a principle of action which is necessary for the spiritual advancement of man. The advancement we make through charity is towards Allah. The Arabic word for Sacrifice is “Qurban”, which means “To draw near”. We must give of what we need, that is, we must sacrifice, to draw closer to Allah. To give only of that which we feel comfortable parting with is charity. We receive credit for this act of kindness. But what we are after is not just credit, but purification. Establishment of Truth requires sacrifice. “O you who believe, shall I lead you to a merchandise which will deliver you from a painful chastisement? You should believe in Allah and His Messenger, and strive hard in Allah’s way with your wealth and your lives. That is better for you, did you but know!” Holy Qur’an 61:10,11 Sacrifice means “the surrender of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.” It is from the word “sacer”, meaning “holy”. The significance of this is that the more we sacrifice, the closer we become to Allah. “Nay, whoever submits himself entirely to Allah, and he is the doer of good to others, he has his reward from his Lord, and there is no fear for such, nor shall they grieve.” Holy Qur’an 2:112 In the 9th Surah of the Holy Qur’an, “The Immunity”, verses 38-42, it speaks of the Tabuk Expedition, when the Muslims had to confront the strength and opposition of the Roman army. They had to overcome many hindrances to raising an army, including drought, heat and a long journey. This effort required great sacrifice on the part of the believers. Indeed, the sacrifice required was so great that it drove the hypocrites from among the believers. “Had it been a near gain and a short journey, they would certainly have followed thee, but the hard journey was too long for them. And they will swear by Allah: If we had been able, we would have gone forth with you. They cause their own souls to perish; and Allah knows that they are liars.” Holy Qur’an 9:42 WORK What is “work”? It is Force times Distance; the exertion of energy on an object that is not moving on its own, resulting in the movement of that object. No matter how much force is applied, if the result is not motion, there has been no work. In April 10, 1988 issue of The Final Call, I wrote an article entitled, “We Must Depend On Allah and Ourselves”. In it, I reminded the Believers that the Honorable Elijah Muhammad has warned us against sitting at home waiting on a mystery god! He has said we can’t sit down; we can’t lay down. We must get up and go to work doing something for ourselves! In the Lessons given to us by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, we are given the following 9 9

question and answer: “Will you sit at home and wait for that mystery god to bring you food?” “Emphatically, No. Me and my people have been lost from home for three hundred and seventy–nine years, have tried this so–called mystery god for bread, clothing and a home, and we receive nothing but hard times, hunger, naked and out of doors; also we were beat and killed by the ones who advocated that kind of god and no relief came to us until the Son of man came to our aid, by the name of our Prophet, W.D. Fard.” The National Center Drive to repurchase our mosque and school began in earnest on February 26, 1988, when laborers from around the country gathered here in Chicago. In order to complete our mosque and school, additional funds are necessary. More funds will be required to complete the Salaam Restaurant Complex. We were able to redeem what was lost through work. We know that we worked because we made motion. We were successful because of work. We applied force to an object (our own inertia) and made motion. In order to restore and preserve what we have redeemed, every Believer is hereby requested to work through the sales of the Nation’s products, including The Final Call newspaper and ads and subscriptions to the newspaper, our tapes, books and records, and the Clean N’ Fresh personal care products. This will be not only a source of income to the Nation but also to the Believer who actively engages in these sales , but it also serves as an effective means of making contact with our people. The ultimate goal is the resurrection of our people. Fill the mosques! The Great Madhi, Master Fard Muhammad, to Whom praise is due forever, told us to “Work cheerfully and fear not. You are the Best, the Righteous, the Powerful.”

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STEP 3: Check Your Understanding The following questions are for discussion at the conclusion of the study session. The remaining questions can be completed at your own pace as you continue your study at home. You can use your book if you need help answering the questions. Write your answers on a sheet of paper.

Questions For Discussion: 1. Is there a price to pay to redeem a people like the black man and woman in America? Explain. 2. What did the initial dedication and the most recent re-dedication of the Mosque Maryam (National Center) mean? What’s the significance for each individual Believer? 3. What did Minister Farrakhan mean when he stated that “we as Believers must be prepared for the dedication?” What must be done to be properly prepared? 4. How can prayer keep us away from indecency and evil? 5. How is success determined in the Holy Quran? How does this world (Satan’s) define success? 6. What can impatience cause us to do? 7. What are the necessary steps in overcoming impatience? 8. What is the purpose of fasting? 9. How is charity a necessary part of our spiritual development? 10. Why does sacrifice have greater benefits than charity? 11. What is meant by “we must depend on Allah and ourselves?” 12. Why does Master Fard Muhammad instruct us to “Work cheerfully and fear not. You are the Best, the Righteous, the Powerful.”? What do you think this means?

Questions For Further Study: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

How can each believer ensure that the Nation of Islam will never fall again? Give examples of the prophets and how they were able to overcome their own impatience. What does it mean to see through one's impatience? What prayer are we instructed to say seven times a day? Why? What have you sacrificed to help in this cause? Why? What is the definition of "work"? Describe some of the "works" of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. What does this say about his faith and love? 8. Jesus states, "greater works than these shall you do.” What do you think this means? 9. What are the impediments that prevent us from having works like the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan? 10. What is the work of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad that we have been invited to help? 11