 
Theology Thursdays: On The Importance Of Closing The Gap: Inner Views of The Heart, Mind & Soul Of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan Conducted & Compiled by Jabril Muhammad
I consider it one of the greatest honors that I have ever had to have been given the privilege of writing The Foreword to, and sharing in the editing of one of the most important books I have ever handled, Closing The Gap: Inner Views Of The Heart, Mind & Soul Of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan Conducted & Compiled by Jabril Muhammad.
I publicly thank Allah (God), the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Minister Jabril Muhammad for this experience.
There are not many books that I can confidently state will transform a human being – regardless to race, religion, creed and class - simply through proper reading and studying. Closing The Gap: Inner Views Of The Heart, Mind & Soul Of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is one of a handful of such books.
It is also the only book I know of that contains certain details of Minister Louis Farrakhan's early life in Islam; and the entertainment business; his relationship with Malcolm X; the painful trials he has gone through; the purpose of suffering and pain; American politics; the organizational structure and future of the Nation Of Islam; the relationship between his musical talent and the mission of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad; and the root and nature of science. This book is an ocean of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom filled with insightful views and feelings on so many diverse topics.
Of this book, and the brilliant and inspired nature of the Minister's answers to penetrating questions, three verses of the Holy Qur'an come to mind - Surah 25 verse 33, Surah 27 verse 76, and Surah 31 verse 27 which read (In the Yusef Ali translation):
Surah 25 verse 33: And no question do they bring to thee but We reveal to thee the truth and the best explanation (thereof)
Surah 27 verse 76: Verily this Qur'an doth explain to the Children of Israel most of the matters in which they disagree
Surah 31 verse 27: And if all the trees on earth were pens and the Ocean (were ink), with seven Oceans behind it to add to its (supply), yet would not the Words of Allah be exhausted (in the writing): for Allah is Exalted in power, full of Wisdom
I can't see how anyone - Believer, Historian, Critic, Activist, Shriner, Intellectual, Theologian, Artist, Preacher, or Journalist - can intelligently speak, write on or think about Minister Farrakhan in 'up-to-date' fashion without having what is contained within this book.
There is simply nothing available like it.
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There are important differences in the Foreword, Preface and Introduction of a book. I studied those differences and compared and contrasted them in order to help me understand how to approach writing what I did for this monumental book. My Foreword – to this 436-page book – is designed to help the reader think through the concept of relationships and how they have a bearing on the quality of life that we all live.
When I wrote what I did, I was unaware of the contents of a letter, signed by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and written to Brother Minister Jabril Muhammad that would immediately precede my writing, which precedes one by my brilliant Sister, Latonja Muhammad, who has the honor of writing the Introduction to this awesome book. Her writing precedes one by Brother Jabril entitled, “The Meaning Of This Book’s Cover.” That writing is critical to understanding the purpose and function of this book.
Minister Louis Farrakhan’s letter to Minister Jabril Muhammad should be carefully studied. It helps deepen one’s understanding of the premise, motive and context of Closing The Gap. And no communication – whether written or spoken – can be entirely understood without knowing the premise, motive and context associated with it.
Consider this excerpt of Minister Farrakhan’s letter to Minister Jabril:
"I thank Allah for putting it into your heart, Brother Jabril, to ask me these questions. I thank Allah for helping me to answer these questions in such a way that it might serve the purpose of closing the gap between the followers and their leader, but more importantly, in closing the gap between us and Allah (God). It is misunderstanding, distrust, and suspicion that have made the gap. It is understanding and the purification of the heart, through trials, that will allow the mind and the heart, to read the words of this book and close the gap between us and Allah (God), and by so doing close the gap between us and his servant, and close the gap between one another."
Among an oasis of other things, I thought of the above words of Minister Farrakhan’s communication, in relation to this part of another communication from him – his September 11, 2006 letter regarding is schedule and health condition:
"Therefore, in this period of testing, I am postponing indefinitely all engagements, meetings and appointments so that I can concentrate, with Allah’s (God’s) Help, to bring myself back to a state where I may be able to continue to serve the rise of our people. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad in the days of His serious illness said, 'My illness is a test for those around me.' This is a test, not only for me, but it is a test for the members of the Nation of Islam, as well.
In this period of testing, you can prove to the world that the Nation of Islam is more than the charisma, eloquence and personality of Louis Farrakhan. In this period of testing, you can prove that the Nation of Islam is under-girded by an Idea that represents the Kingdom of God on Earth, an Idea that can never be uprooted, never be destroyed and can only increase its power, effect and influence over the hearts and minds of the people of the Earth. In this period of testing, you can prove that the Nation of Islam, a body of people submitting to the Will of Allah (God), is more than the physical presence of any individual, and that it will live long after I and we have gone, because it is rooted in an Idea that comes directly from Allah (God) Himself.
I will be available to give guidance in any major situation that may arise, but I would prefer that the Executive Board of the Nation of Islam help to solve the problems of the Nation, without asking me. Then, at this time of testing, it will show me that you are ready to move beyond personality to live and function on the principles that make personalities attractive."
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I recently wrote:
A key to reproducing and multiplying the positive effect that Minister Farrakhan has had on our people and the world lies not in imitating his personality, but rather as best we can, duplicating his heart.
Two aspects to the process of doing this are drinking in his Study Guides, "Self Improvement: The Basis For Community Development"; and the proper reading and study of the forthcoming book, Closing The Gap: Inner Views Of The Heart Mind & Spirit Of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan Conducted and Compiled by Jabril Muhammad.
Of this book, Closing The Gap, the man who conducted and compiled it, Jabril Muhammad writes, “Closing The Gap can help us become one with Minister Farrakhan because of the nature of his answers to questions which reveal his heart, and which contain the well spring, source, or the basis of his motives and actions. This book demonstrates why the Honorable Elijah Muhammad called him a beautiful man and said to him that through him he would get all of his people.”
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Much conjecture, speculation, and reasoning has taken place – especially over the last seven years – over the question of succession in the Nation Of Islam. This same type of thinking and discussion took place in the 1970s as well. Around that time, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad addressed such by stating that Allah (God) would handle that process. He also said that after him would come God. Many have understood and interpreted his words differently. In doing so, many have ignored or dismissed a key to this process which is explained in the scriptures. With the exception of his Teacher, Master Fard Muhammad, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad cited no two references or authorities with greater respect or frequency than the Bible and Holy Qur'an. Why don't many of his followers do the same? Because there is and was a gap.
In all of my discussions I have never had anyone refute or overcome the position that I and many share that as Aaron is written to be by Moses, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is by his teacher, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. This is a huge subject, it gets into scriptural exegesis (including the deep area of ‘signs’ and ‘types’), and the appropriate use of analogies, but I am prepared to discuss and even intelligently argue this position with anyone, from the perspective of theology and historiography (which would include an accurate identification of facts regarding the history of the Nation of Islam). This subject is a big one and its implication is even bigger. If properly understood and accepted it compels a totally new view of religion, history, current events, and every discipline imaginable – political science, economics, and even culture to name a few.
How did Allah (God) handle the question of succession where it related to Moses?
I will begin an introduction to an approach to this subject by citing four references: Our Saviour Has Arrived by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad; The Torah; the Holy Qur’an; and The Honorable Elijah Muhammad from the Theology Of Time Lecture Series of 1972. More specifically pg. 108 of Our Saviour Has Arrived; The Book of Exodus, Chapter 4, verses 14 (in part) to 16; and Holy Qur’an Surah 7, verse 142 and Surah 32, verse 23 and 24; and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s words from July of 1972.
Here they are:
Our Saviour Has Arrived pg. 108:
"But Allah (God) Will Not Let any of us be blind, today, to the truth. This is why He Came Himself; to be sure that there will not be any mistake made. Allah (God) Makes For Himself A Messenger.
Then Allah (God) Guides the Messenger Himself. He does Not Leave the Messenger to do all of the Guiding.
Then Allah (God) Sends Angels to see that His Guidance is carried out like He Taught the Messenger to do."
Exodus 4: 14 to 16:
"What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him."
Surah 7, verse 142 (Maulana Muhammad Ali translation):
"And We appointed for Moses thirty nights, and completed them with ten, so the appointed time of his Lord was complete forty nights. And Moses said to his brother Aaron: Take my place among my people, and act well and follow not the way of the mischief-makers."
Surah 32: 23 to 24:
"We did indeed aforetime give the Book to Moses be not then in doubt of its reaching (thee): and We made it a guide to the Children of Israel.
And We appointed, from among them, Leaders, giving guidance under Our command, so long as they persevered with patience and continued to have faith in Our signs."
From The Theology Of Time in July of 1972:
"Now, if we see one emerged out of all this darkness, what force of power in the darkness brought it out? One could not have come out of darkness unless force was in the darkness to bring it out.
In the universe now there is a force in the universe that moves seemingly unmovable stars. After so long, and so long, the star, which we saw here – at this point – has moved over here, to another point. And if that star moved over here to another point, within ten, twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty or a hundred years or a thousand years – force made it to move.
It could not move alone.
So this teaches us, Brother – you go back and get your scientists and I will contend with him and he will contend with me, that the force of the actual space, seemingly looking as though it doesn’t, is moving. To bring us objects that is hidden in it, to our view.
We don’t wind up the universe like that. And tell it to bring Jupiter over to us. No, Jupiter is moving by force. It is already out.
Again, we don’t say to a star that is a hundred trillion years, probably back out there, to ‘come out and show us yourself.’ There are already forces...out there to bring it to our view."
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught that the function of stars was to serve as justifiers or witness bearers. And that they were signs of his followers.
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All of the above deserves a lengthy and deep discussion, but if carefully reasoned over, they begin to thoroughly answer the question of succession, and make it clear that as there was an expansion from Master Fard Muhammad to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and from 'The Messenger' to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, there is another expansion from 'The Minister' to A Body, Community and Nation of Stars. Then, from those Stars, there will be an expansion to a seemingly countless multitude of others of all races, hues and colors. This can be argued from the Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s words and actions alone – if that were the only reference point allowed or respected, in a discussion.
This book, Closing The Gap, to me, if properly read and studied ‘takes care’ of the expansion from “The Minister” to the “Nation Of Stars,” so to speak, in a special way. It can help us respond to this aspect of what Minister Farrakhan placed emphasis on in his September 11, 2006 letter when he wrote: “…at this time of testing, it will show me that you are ready to move beyond personality to live and function on the principles that make personalities attractive.”
Why and How?
Because Closing The Gap:Inner Views Of The Heart, Mind & Soul Of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan provides a standardized picture and pattern of the aspect of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s being which makes him most attractive – his heart, mind and soul. But especially his heart of love, for the Truth, the Source of Truth, and the people to whom Truth is directed. By properly reading and studying this book, we can experience a transformation that makes us more beautiful, magnetic and attractive on behalf of the principles of freedom, justice and quality; and thus, properly closing the gap, not only between the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and ourselves; or the Creator and ourselves; but also that which exists between one another.
By purification and properly organizing our mind, heart, and soul as individuals, we set the stage for perfectly organizing ourselves as a community, Nation, and International family around talents, skills, interests and systems.
If we do this properly we will end, in our persons, the unhealthy dichotomy between the spiritual and the material that has given so many of us a double and confused mind, out of which we have acted accordingly. One should be as steeped into the spiritual essence of life as they are in supposedly 'secular' or organizational theory and practices. The more we learn the more we will understand and see the unity of the spirit and the material.
We must never forget that the first organization is the the human being, and that the basic unit of any community or society is a single person.
We can't truly unite collectively with others, until we, ourselves are united, internally.
If Minister Louis Farrakhan were not so united and organized internally, he would not have the power of attraction that he does.
Let's close the gap...
Order your copy of this important book today at:
http://store.finalcall.com/
Note: If you are interested in joining a special online study group around this book, and each of its Ten Sections, please e-mail us at closingthegap@blackelectorate.com.
Cedric Muhammad Thursday, October 19, 2006 To discuss this article further enter The Deeper Look Dialogue Room
The views and opinions expressed herein by the author do not necessarily represent the opinions or position of BlackElectorate.com or Black Electorate Communications.
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