THE NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MOST 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.
As–Salaam Alaikum.
Dear Believer:
May this letter find you in the best of health and spirit.
I hope that you are “chewing” the “meat” of this past study guide (Number 10: “THE GOD
WITHIN”). When one is given a piece of meat, the chewing process is necessary in aiding
digestion. In fact, the digestive process begins with mastication (chewing).
The reason we are not giving you the new study guides as quickly as the earlier ones is due to the
nature of the material you have just completed in Study Guide 10. To rush over these important
and pregnant lessons is to do a disservice to ourselves. One of the reasons for faulty digestion is
insufficient time allowed in the chewing process.
This “meat” (Self–Improvement Course) needs to be thoroughly chewed. It begins with our
taking of material into the mind and using all that we know and all of our life experience to break
it down. By adopting the aforementioned process and then placing this guide in study groups,
each one of us taking our turn at exposing our thoughts on the subject matter, this is “group
chewing” which aids in “group digestion” of the material.
These steps are absolutely necessary, for after we finish the Self–Improvement Series, we will
review the books and writings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the lessons given to us by
Master Fard Muhammad. For what purpose? To see more deeply into Their words to us, out of
which will come a mature expression of Their wisdom.
INTELLECTUAL COWARDICE. Fear of the unknown restricts movement into new fields of
knowledge. “Intellectual cowardice” is the fear of delving into what we have been taught and
going beyond our immature expression of the wisdom of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.
Some of us feel very comfortable with the way we expressed ourselves during the time that the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad was among us. Yet, Master Fard Muhammad, to Whom praises
are due forever, said, “Baby language will not be tolerated.” What is “baby language”? We
thought it meant profane language to express ourselves.
“Baby language” also means expressing the Wisdom of Allah (God) in an immature way. So the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad chided me for teaching the Word in the way he had forty (40)
years before. He said, “What I want you to do is give the meaning of those histories (allegorical
expressions).”
Please do not fear to venture beyond your present expression of the Wisdom of the Honorable
Elijah Muhammad. If we express this wisdom as babies, then we will only attract other babies to
play with us. (Smile!) But if we express ourselves in a mature way, we attract people of wisdom
from all over the Planet Earth to build with us a new civilization.
May Allah (God) bless you to overcome any fear of going one step beyond.
Thank you for reading these words.
As–Salaam Alaikum
Your Brother,
Servant of the Lost–Found Nation of Islam in the West
LF/am
Self-Improvement Study Guides - Study Guide 11: Allah (God) Is The True Center of Everything
STUDY GUIDE 11
ALLAH (GOD) IS THE TRUE
CENTER OF EVERYTHING
READING MATERIAL
Holy Qur'an
Surah 5 "The Food", Section 2,"Duty of Uprightness"
Surah 57 "The Iron"
Self-Improvement
Pages 18-21
FACT (S)
"ME, ME ALONE, SHOULD YOU FEAR...AND KEEP YOUR DUTY TO ME, ME ALONE." HOLY QUR'AN 2:40,41
"THEE (ALONE) DO WE SERVE AND THEE (ALONE) DO WE BESEECH FOR HELP." HOLY QUR'AN 1:4
"SAY: HE, ALLAH, IS ONE. ALLAH IS HE ON WHOM ALL DEPEND. HE BEGETS NOT, NOR IS HE BEGOTTEN; AND NONE IS LIKE HIM." HOLY QUR'AN SURAH 112
"THAT IS ALLAH, YOUR LORD. THERE IS NO GOD BUT HE; THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS; THEREFORE SERVE HIM, AND HE HAS CHARGE OF ALL THINGS.' HOLY QUR'AN 6:103
"JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD, THY GOD, WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND. THAT IS THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT." MATTHEW 22:37,38
DISCUSSION
Subject Matter
... In The Book (Genesis 32:24), Jacob Wrestled With An Angel All Night Long, Until His Life Was Preserved. We Have To Wrestle With The God Force in Our Own Selves in Order To Advance. If We Do Not Wrestle And Overcome It With An Intelligent, Enlightened, Mature Mind, We Can Become A Devil.' Self-improvement p. 18
"You Can Turn Devil Overnight." HONORABLE ELIJAH MUHAMMAD
"We Have Reached The Point, Or Place In Time, Where The Childlike, Mischievous, Bloodshedding Nature Of Man Is Threatening His Own Existence. Man's Desire To Become The Center Has Ruined His Own World." Self-Improvement p. 18
PREPARATION
Please read and review the terms in the Glossary on the next page before discussing the subject matter contained in this study guide.
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GLOSSARY
CENTER A point, pivot, axis, etc. around which anything rotates or revolves; the source of an influence, action, force; a person upon which interest or emotion focuses; the core or middle of anything."
BEST Of the most excellent sort; surpassing all others; most desirable, most favorable, most profitable; in the highest degree; to the greatest extent; under the most favorable conditions of interpretation; to outdo, overcome, do as well as one can do with; the thing, condition, circumstance, action, that is most suitable."
INSTITUTION An established law, custom, practice, system, etc. An organization having a social, educational or religious purpose, as a school, church, hospital, reformatory, etc.
To institute: "To set up, erect, establish, found, introduce, start or initiate."
STEWARD "One who acts as a supervisor or administrator, as of finances and property, for another. A person put in charge of the affairs of a large household or estate; a keeper; a ward."
"The act, practice or result of (terrorism). The condition of being (pauperism). The action, conduct or qualities characteristic of (patriotism). The doctrine, school, theory or principle of (socialism). Devotion to (nationalism, racism, sexism). An abnormal condition caused by (alcoholism)."
MISCHIEF "Harm or trouble, especially as a result of an agent or cause. An injury caused by a person or other agent, or an evil due to some cause. A source of harm, evil or annoyance."
DUTY "That which one is expected or required to do by moral or legal obligation. The binding or obligatory force of that which is right; action required by one's position; an act or expression of respect."
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QUESTIONS
1) In the Holy Qur'an, Allah (God) introduces Himself as the Best Knower. (2:1) What significance is there in His choice of this Attribute?
2) In Surah 5, "The Food", Allah (God) asks Jesus, "...didst thou say to men, Take me and my mother for two (2) gods besides Allah?" Allah (God) obviously already knew the answer to this question. Why did He ask it? (5:116)
3) Allah (God) also questions Jesus about his mother being taken for a god besides Himself. What is the significance of this inquiry?
4) In Surah 9, "The Immunity", Allah (God) says, "They take their doctors of law and their monks for Lords besides Allah and also the Messiah, son of Mary. And they were enjoined that they should serve one God only..." 9:31. How does this verse relate to us today?
5) What relationship is there between the problems with the Caucasian-ruled world and the subject matter of this study guide?
SUPPLEMENT
1) What significance is there in Allah's (God's) introduction of Himself as the Best Knower?
We are looking at "I".
In the Book of Proverbs 3:5,6, we are told: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
Note the plural "ways" and "paths". In Surah 70 of the Holy -Qur'an He is called "Lord of the ways of ascent".
He tells us He is the Best Knower that we may recognize that He, Allah (God), must become the True Center of everything that we think and do.
In each one of us He has placed a certain gift, the fulfillment of which causes us to make our contribution to the whole. Since Allah (God) is the Giver of all gifts and the Nourisher of us all unto perfection, it is only proper that He be acknowledged as the True Center of our existence.
If He directs a path, then it will ultimately lead to Him. His Attributes are Perfect, His are the Best of names. This means that with His direction, we achieve excellence in whatever field we choose.
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"You are the center of nothing. And you are deluding yourself if you think you are. There is always a True Center and you are not it; neither am I." Self Improvement p.14)
I say that we delude ourselves because in perceiving ourselves as the center, we lose the benefits of the only One Who has absolute power to bring our desires to fruition.
This is verified by the Holy Qur'an, where Allah (God) asks the question:
"What is the matter with you that you hope not for greatness from Allah? And indeed He has created you by various stages. See you not how Allah has created the seven heavens alike and made the moon therein a light and made the sun a lamp? And Allah has caused you to grow out of the earth as a growth, then He returns you to it, then will He bring you forth a new bringing forth. And Allah has made the earth a wide expanse for you that you may go along therein in spacious paths."(72:13-20)
In the Bible, we find Moses objecting to the Lord's command that he lead the children of Israel out of Egypt:
I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not 1, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say." (Exodus 4: 10, 11)
If you or I choose to pursue psychology, the study of the mind, we should ask, "Who made man's mind?" It is the Originator and the Maker Who will lead us to new discoveries; to perfection in our respective fields. If He is the Center of our thinking to new discoveries; we will transcend the understanding of those before us.
"And certainly We created man, and We know what his mind suggests to him and we are nearer than his life-vein." (50:16)
Allah (God) keeps us from ever being slaves to the writers of books and the scholars whose knowledge of their own field is not absolute.
It is only Allah (God) Who knows best about all things. He is the Best Guide, Best Teacher, Best Director.
2) Why does Allah (God) question Jesus concerning that which he taught the people?
The false teachers of Christianity have deceived a great number of people all over the Planet Earth into believing that Jesus and his mother, Mary, are equals
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with the Creator. This has served to expand and perpetuate -polytheism, the gravest of sins.
"Wonderful Originator of the heavens and the earth! How could He have a son when He has no consort? And He created everything and He is the knower of all things...That is Allah, your Lord. There is no God but He; the Creator of all things ... Vision comprehends Him not and He comprehends all vision; and He is the Subtle, the Aware." Holy Qur'an 6:102
Jesus never taught the people to worship him, he taught the people to worship Allah (God) alone. Both the Bible and the Holy Qur'an attest to his complete and perfect devotion to a Power greater than himself.
"I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." John 8:28
Jesus was able to deny guilt of setting himself up as a God besides Allah, both in the Holy Qur'an and the Bible.
"I said to them naught save as Thou didst command me: Serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord; and I was a witness of them so long as I was among them, but when Thou didst cause me to die Thou wast the Watcher over them. And Thou art Witness of all things." Holy Qur'an 5:117
"And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only True God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do." John 17:3
"While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name." John 17:12
These scriptural passages plainly reject the false conception that Allah (God) has a son, partner or associate. But the false teachers of religion have misguided the thinking of the people.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but, after their own lusts, shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Timothy 4:3,4
A person who teaches people must make sure that he or she is clear of the thought of trying to become the center or focus of the Believer. -
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad always said that he wanted to be in his place and not in the place of his Sender. "I don't want to get out of my place."
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If we have been guilty of teaching the people to make us the focus of their worship, then we must correct the wrong. It is painful to undo what we have done incorrectly. But it is a blessing to have the opportunity to correct the wrong; and in so doing, Allah (God) allows us a way to turn the people around and lead them aright.
"Surely I have turned myself, being upright, wholly to Him Who originated the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the polytheists." Holy Qur'an 6:80
The dialogue between Allah (God) and His servant, Jesus (Holy Qur'an 5:116,117) places teachers on notice as to how they will be questioned. The criterion of success in the eyes of Allah (God) is not the prophet or teacher's ability to excite the people, nor even to produce reform in the people; the criterion of success is whether he performs his duty correctly. His duty is to teach the oneness of Allah (God) and that nothing is worthy of worship besides Him.
"Yea, whoever fulfills his promise and keeps his duty -- then Allah surely loves the dutiful." Holy Qur'an 3:75
3) Why does Allah (God) question Jesus about his mother, Mary?
Note that Jesus, not Mary, is asked about the people setting her up as a God besides Allah. ,
Had Jesus been guilty of teaching the people to worship. Mary, it would have indicated that she'-, had failed in her duty as a mother.
An infant naturally centers his focus on his mother. It is she who should teach the child Who the True Center is.
"Train up a child in the way he should go and, when he is old, he will not he depart from it." Proverbs.2 22:6
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said that 75% of His Work was with the woman. Her importance to the life of a nation cannot be overemphasized in the learning process of the human being.
The Holy Qur'an teaches us that Mary believed in the oneness of Allah (God) and glorified Him.
'Whenever Zacharias entered the sanctuary to see her, he found food with her. He said, 'O Mary, whence comes this to thee? She said, it is from Allah. Surely Allah gives to whom He pleases without measure.' (3:36)
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The Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught us that a nation can rise no higher than its woman.
The false teachers of religion have conditioned the people to believe that Mary's exaltation was due to being a virgin mother. The belief in this myth causes men and women to become blinded to the fact that Mary, a human being and a female, conceived a child through a man, in accordance with the laws of nature. It was her belief and her righteous conduct that made her pleasing to Allah and an example for all women; a position that can be attained by all women who submit to Him.
And when the angels said: O Mary, surely Allah has chosen thee and purified thee and chosen thee above the women of the world. 0 Mary, be obedient to thy Lord and humble thyself and bow down with those who bow.' (3:41,42)
4) How does Surah 9, Verse 31 of the Holy Qur'an relate to us today?
We take our teachers, preachers, gurus, physicians, nutritionists, spiritual advisors, palm readers, political leaders, critics (art, literature, entertainment), astrologists, sports figures, meteorologists (weathermen), etc., as lords besides Allah.
The deception about Jesus has been of far-reaching impact, but it is not the only deception. Allah (God) warns us against worshipping anyone or anything besides Him.
Throughout the Holy Qur'an we are warned against setting up other human beings, as lords besides Allah:
"Say: Shall I take for a friend other than Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, and He feeds and is not fed? Say: I am command to be of the first, of those who submit. And be thou not of the polytheists." 6:14
"And He is the Supreme, above His servants. And He is the Wise, the Aware." 6:18
"And this world's life is naught but a play and an idle sport. And certainly the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who keep their duty. Do you not then understand?" 6:32
"And if Allah touch thee with affliction, there is none to remove it but He. And if He touch thee with good, He is Possessor of power over all things." 6:17
Only Allah possesses absolute knowledge, wisdom and understanding. None of us are his equal. We must respect one another's intelligence and recognize the limitations in one another. We are all from Him.
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And in whatever you differ, the judgment thereof is with Allah. That is Allah, my Lord; on Him I rely and to Him I turn ... Nothing is like Him; and He is the Hearing, the Seeing ... His are the treasures of the heavens and the earth --- He amplifies and straitens subsistence for whom He pleases. Surely He is Knower of all things." Surah 42, "The Counsel". Verses 10-12.
If we make these persons our center because we study from them, then their limitations become our own limitations, for they become our reference point.
Since Allah (God) is the True Center of all existence, then He and He alone is the only True reference point. Any other reference point will take us off point.
In all of our studies, we should begin with a look at His Word. We are conditioned to seek and then recite the writings of teachers and scholars as authorities above Allah (God).
We should consult the Holy Qur'an, asking, "What does the Best Knower say about this?" Then we use the scholars and scientists as witness bearers of His Truth.
We don't take seriously the Holy Qur'an or site. There is a tendency for Muslims to exalt the Hadith (sayings) of Prophet Muhammad above the word of the Holy Qur'an. Some Christians focus more on Paul than on the revealed word through Jesus. A true follower of Jesus or Muhammad will keep the people focused on Allah (God).
5) Analyze the problems of the Caucasian's world in the context of this study guide.
In analyzing the problems of the Caucasian's world, recognize that the problem is that he is trying to make himself the focus of the people. He is trying to make the people take his way of thinking, living and civilization, not Allah's (God's).
America is not a nation in obedience to Allah (God), therefore she cannot be the true center of power.
The Caucasian people have set up institutions that reflect a damaged perception of reality.
The institutions of this world are the stewards of the Life Force; in charge of the people of Allah (God). Looking at the world, there is a need for a change. The world leaders and teachers have failed to bring in the righteous fruits of the vineyard; therefore, they have failed to produce from their wisdom that which is acceptable to Allah (God).
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To "institute" means to -start or initiate". The institutions have failed precisely because they were not founded on Allah (God) as the center. Therefore, they have failed to assist the individual in becoming a master of Self, a controller of Self. They do not teach a God-centered chemistry, psychology, law, medicine, etc.
The children of the institutions ("alma mater") are bringing pain and suffering because they were not taught from a God-centered base. This has resulted in anarchy and complete and total rebellion.
In our lessons given to us by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad are our general orders. General Order Number 1 is "To take charge of this post and all temple property in view."
How can one take charge of "this post" (Self) when one knows nothing of Self and is neither cultivated nor developed in the proper way to take charge of Self?
The institutions are responsible for fostering the growth of the individual that he or she may take responsibility for Self. This they have failed to do.
A steward acts for another. The home, the school, the church, are only to be responsible for the individual for a certain period of time. But during that time, each one of these institutions is to feed the individual that the individual may recognize what life is, or the choices that he may make: heaven or hell, the two conditions of life.
The institutions have responsibility for feeding and nurturing the will that it be strengthened in the way of right; cultivate the natural desires and show those in its charge how to develop the desires that are proper and curb the desires that are improper; to develop their natural intelligence that they may distinguish between the proper and the improper and the will to bring into fruition what is right.
The failure of the institutions to perform their function renders them obsolete and justifies their removal by Allah (God) and He says, "Behold! I make all things new."