Imam Warith Edine Muhammed Life and Death (October 30, 1933 - September 9, 2008)

Muslim leader Warith Deen Mohammed Life and Death

The Honorable al-Imam Warith Deen Mohammed (October 30, 1933 - September 9, 2008) was an influential American Muslim leader and the son of Clara and Elijah Muhammad.

Iman W. Deen Muhammed, one of the major leaders of African American Muslims nationwide, looks through the Museum of African American History with Bamidele Agbasegbe Demerson, Director of Exhibitions and research Wednesday March 7, 2001. Iman W. Deen Mohammed is the son of the original Nation of Islam founder and is visiting Detroit in preperation for a interfaith conference later this month that will also be held at the museum

Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, a major Islamic leader in the U.S. who led thousands of African-American Muslims to orthodox Islam, died today at his Illinois home, his family said in a statement confirming earlier reports. He was 74.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office released Mohammed’s autopsy results today, finding his sudden death was caused by heart disease and complications of diabetes, according to the Associated Press

WARITH DEEN MOHAMMED 1933-2008
Hamtramck-born Islamic imam who led thousands dies..

IMAAM (WALLACE) WARITH DEEN MOHAMMED

IN MATTER OF 'AQEEDAH'

Along with what may be termed the rise of Orthodox or Sunnite Islaam in America, there has also appeared in the Twentieth century a variety of cults and sects all claiming to represent true Islaam. Most of these groups have or have had strong nationalist overtones and anti-white sentiments in their teachings, which is not surprising, since the vast majority of those who enter the fold of Islaam in America have been Black Americans and the reverberations of white supremacy on which the nation was built, were quite intense throughout the country until recently. The earliest of these groups is the “Moorish Science Temple of America” founded by Timothy Drew from North Carolina (1886-1929). Drew renamed himself Prophet Noble Drew Ali and opened the first branch of his cult in New York in 1913. [E.U., Essien-Udom, Black Nationalism, (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1962), p. 33]

CHICAGO (AP) — Imam W.D. Mohammed, who succeeded his father as leader of the Nation of Islam but abandoned its teachings of black supremacy and moved thousands of its followers into mainstream Islam, died Tuesday. He was 74.

Sultan Muhammad confirmed his uncle's death, but did not immediately offer details. He said the family planned to issue a statement later in the day

W.D. Mohammed: A Witness for True Islam
The passing of Imam Warith Deen (W. D.) Mohammed is not only a loss for his community and the world of Islam but also for all of us. He was truly an extraordinary man and religious leader, a charismatic figure whose profile seemed to defy the usual definition of the term. Indeed throughout the years the militant and more physically imposing Louis Farrakhan, who in fact enjoyed far, far fewer followers, managed to overshadow W. D. Mohammed in media coverage.

I first met Warith Deen at a small Catholic-Muslim gathering and discussion group hosted by the then Cardinal of Baltimore. The Vatican's top official for inter-religious dialogue was also present. Two memories stand out. At first, as I sat at the discussion table, I couldn't recognize who W. D. Mohammed was. There was little in the way he carried himself, spoke or acted that signaled that there was a prominent personality at the table. He neither dominated nor pontificated. Second, after the meeting when I was out on the street on my way home, I noticed an incredible entourage of cars with an imposing police escort. I was sure, it was the Vatican's cardinal being whisked to the airport and accorded the security he warranted. As the entourage passed, there was W. D. Mohammed in the main limo.

Warith Deen Mohammed (then known as Wallace D. Mohammed) became the Supreme Minister of the Nation of Islam upon the death of his father, Elijah Muhammad in February 1975. Soon after the son set out on what would become a substantial reformation of the doctrines and organization of the Nation. He integrated the Nation within the American Muslim community, the broader American society, and the global Islamic community.

The Nation and its teachings were brought into conformity with orthodox Sunni Islam. Wallace Mohammed made the pilgrimage to Mecca and encouraged his followers to study Arabic in order to better understand Islam. The community came to observe Islam's Five Pillars and black separatist doctrines were dropped as they community proceeded to participate within the political process and system. The equality of men and women believers was reaffirmed; women were given more responsible positions in the ministry of the community. The name of Nation was initially changed to the World Community of al-Islam in the West (WCIW); Mohammed Speaks became the Bilalian News, named after the first black convert to Islam.

In 1980, as if to signal his and the community's new religious identity and mission, Wallace changed his name to Warith Deen Mohammed, renamed the WCIW the American Muslim Mission, and the Bilalian News became the American Muslim Journal (later renamed Muslim Journal). While the great majority of the Nation followed him, a number of dissidents resisted the changes; Louis Farrakhan broke ranks and revived the name "Nation of Islam" in 1981. Many years later, in 2000 W.D. Mohammed and Farrakhan publicly embraced, and declared unity and reconciliation

W.D. Mohammed became a prominent figure in inter-religious affairs. He was the first Muslim to give an invocation in the U.S. Senate and in 1993, he offered the prayer during the first Inaugural Interfaith Prayer Service of President Bill Clinton. On September 11, as Americans commemorate the attacks and tragedy of 9/11, Warith Deen Mohammed will be buried. His passing and the memory of his accomplishments are a witness and fittingly a reminder of the heart of Islam and the vast majority of its followers.

Here's a list of common variants of his name:
W.D. Muhammad
Wallace D. Muhammad
Wallace Delaney Muhammad
Wallace Deen Muhammad
Warith Deen Muhammad
Warithuddin Muhammad
Warith Deen Muhammad
W. Deen Mohammed

Inna lillah... Imam Warith Deen Muhammad passes on.

September 11, 2008 - The Janaza of Imam Warith Deen Muhammad attended by thousands!
Author: MR Filed under: America, History, Islam Date: Sep 12,2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warith_Deen_Muhammad

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080909/NEWS08/80909074/&imw=Y

http://www.pbs.org/thisfarbyfaith/people/warith_deen_mohammed.html

http://www.allaahuakbar.net/wallace_deen_mohammed.htm

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j6vbZPQJkrWEhK3NxkZhCSwqRNTwD933FN080

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/john_esposito/2008/09/wd_mohammed_a_witness_for_true.html

http://jannah.org/madina/index.php?topic=1387.0

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/132/story_13220_1.html

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j6vbZPQJkrWEhK3NxkZhCSwqRNTwD933HK880

http://www.mujahideenryder.net/
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