Today is a very special day for Black people, advocates for Black liberation and human rights, and Muslims. Today, we honor the legacy and the revolutionary work of Malcolm X (Omowale El Hajj Malik El Shabazz).
Since Malcolm X was first a Muslim, I wll honor brother Malcolm in Al-Islam. I will start by saying A’uudhu billaahi minash Shaitaanir Rajeem (Arabic words for I seek the refuge of Allah from Satan, the accursed)!
Bismillah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem (Arabic words for In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful).
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Allaah says in the Holy Qu’ran’s Surah 2 (Arabic word for Chapter) ayat (Arabic word for verse) 154, “And, say not of those who are slain in the way of Allaah: “They are dead.”Nay, they are living, Though ye you just don’t perceive.”
In the Afrikan cultural tradition of honoring the ancestors, we pour water on the earth for this great ancestor. We say in the Yoruba words Ibaye ( blessing to the ancestors) Asé oooooooo (it is so or so be it)!
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Today is the annual pilgrimage to Malcolm X’s (Omowale El Hajj Malik El Shabazz) gravesite to honor this great ancestor. This event has been taking place in the Black community for over 60 years!
This Monday, May 19th is Malcolm’s 100 birthday. Today hundreds will pay respect to Malcolm at his gravesite, but millions will pay homage to him around world.
Unfortunately, our black nationalist freedom fighter, as he called himself in a speech he gave in 1964 called the Ballot or Bullet, was murdered on February 21, 1965 in New York City at the Audubon Ballroom fighting for Black liberation and human rights.
To this day, Malcolm X is still a shinning example of Black pride, Black manhood, Black fatherhood, Black husbandary, a principled Black activist, a world Pan Africanist, and an Islamic devotional Muslim.
May Allaah (the Creator) forgive brother Malcolm X (Omowale El Hajj Malik El Shabazz) of his sins and grant him paradise. Aameen!
-Bashir Muhammad Ptah Akinyele
*Bashir Muhammad Ptah Akinyele is a community activist, a member of the Muslim community in New Jersey, and a member of ASCAC (the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations). He is also a history and Africana Studies (Black Studies ) teacher at Weequahic High School in Newark, NJ.
*As Salaamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh (Arabic for May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you)! Hotep (an ancient African Kemetic / Egyptian word for Peace)! P.E.A.C.E. (Proper Education Always Corrects Errors)!
