Ishmael Muhammad

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Ishmael Muhammad (born in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1964)[1] is an American member of the Nation of Islam, and son of Elijah Muhammad and Tynnetta Muhammad. He is the Nation of Islam national assistant minister to Louis Farrakhan. In 1995, Muhammad was a speaker at the Million Man March.[2]

Of Elijah Muhammad's 21 children, he is the eldest son of his mother Tynnetta Muhammad.[3][4][5] He is the Student Minister at Mosque Maryam, the headquarters of the Nation of Islam (NOI).[6] Muhammad is also a Council Member and "is sometimes considered the most likely successor" to Louis Farrakhan.[7]

Muhammad was featured on the Nation of Islam's national stage at the 2013 Holy Day of Atonement event on October 20, at which Muhammad delivered the keynote address in place of Louis Farrakhan who was unable to attend due to illness. Farrakhan's selection of Muhammad to speak in his absence may shed light on the future direction of the group's leadership.[8] He played a prominent role at the large-scale event accompanying the funeral of his mother in February 2015.[9]

For several decades, Ishmael Muhammad lived in Cuernavaca, Mexico, focusing on religious study, before returning to the NOI headquarters in Chicago. It is speculated that he may become the next leader of the Nation of Islam.[10]

  1. ^ "Nation of Islam's New Shoes". NewsOne. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Official Program". Washington, D.C.: Million Man March. 1995-10-16: 8. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Karl Evanzz, The Messenger, p. 452-454
  4. ^ MacFarquhar, Neil (2007-02-26). "Nation of Islam at a Crossroad as Leader Exits". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Gardell, Mattias, In the name of Elijah Muhammad: Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, Duke University Press, 1996, page 125
  6. ^ "The Nation of Islam - Central Region - Chicago, Illinois - Central Regional Headquarters". Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  7. ^ Lepeska, David (2011-04-09). "Farrakhan Using Libyan Crisis to Bolster His Nation of Islam". New York Times. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
  8. ^ "Farrakhan's Absence From NOI Event Spotlights Possible Successor, Ishmael Muhammad". Access ADL. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  9. ^ Mother Tynnetta Muhammad - A heartfelt and fitting tribute to a perfect example
  10. ^ Malik, Asad (June 2018). "Life After Louis Farrakhan: Who Will Be the Next Leader of the NOI?". www.panafricanalliance.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17.