Weblog of Dawud Walid

The following text below is a response to the following post - http://modernmuslimwoman.com/2008/01/saviors-day-now-discriminates-on-basis.html?cliqr=&blog_item_id=55198 - regarding “Savior Day” as coordinated by The Mosque Cares Ministry of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed.

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Two points of clarification regarding your post:

1) “Savior Day”, not Savior’s Day, as instituted by Imam WD Mohammed was NOT instituted about 5 years ago to bring back the observance of the birthday of Mr. Fard Muhammad. To the contrary, “Savior Day” without the apostrophy “s” is a pyschological tool that he’s using on a group of primarily middle aged and older followers to break them from their Messianic complex, meaning looking for a man to save them. Some of these same people virtually flesh worship the Imam, which the younger generation of his followers especially those such as myself that have formally and academically studied Islam here and abroad are totally opposed to. The theme of Savior (Save-Your) Day has a reference in the Qur’an, “Oh you who believe! Save YOUR-SELVES and your families from the fire that is fueled with men and stones.” I’ve attended two of them, and they had nothing to do with racialism or bringing back the days of his father.

2) Did not the Prophet (SAAS) have small majalis or small meetings just for men to discuss private issues within a closed group, and didn’t he (SAAS) set aside a day to speak to sisters without the presence of men? The answer is of course he (SAAS) DID. This is in Islamic history. Therefore, we should not insinuate or imply that this is somehow violating the Sunnah. If it is meant is in the spirit of birr & taqwa, closed meetings (An-Najwa) are permitted in the Qur’an (58:22). Some of our brothers need a verbal chin check away from the sisters due to the male ego. This isn’t just Black men; this is all men. As a Blackamerican Muslimah, I hope that you can appreciate the need for our problems to get talked to and checked if need be.

And surely ALLAH knows best.